On Thursday 17 April, the US federal government announced its plans, as early as June 16, to begin the process of transferring the land of Oak Flat to Resolution Copper for destruction by mining. As Apache Stronghold has put it, “Oak Flat is on death row.” Apache Stronghold has filed an emergency motion in federal district court to stop the land transfer until the Supreme Court decides whether it will hear their lawsuit, which asserts that the destruction of Oak Flat would violate their religious freedom. As of 7 May, a court hearing on the emergency motion was in progress.
Supporters of Apache Stronghold participated in an 80-mile prayer run on 4 and 5 May from Superior, Arizona to Phoenix, Arizona. On 6 May, supporters marched to the courthouse in Phoenix and began a prayer vigil for the protection of Chi’chil Biłdagoteel, known in English as Oak Flat. This irreplaceable site, a place of springs and ancient oak trees in an arid landscape, is a sacred place where Apache people have gathered since time immemorial to connect with the land and the Creator, harvest medicinal plants and celebrate rites of passage. The US government is poised to turn this land over to Resolution Copper in a deal that exempts the company from nearly all federal environmental regulations, allowing it to proceed with a copper mining project that would undermine Oak Flat and eventually cause the land to collapse into a giant sinkhole. Apache Stronghold’s lawsuit argues that the US government has disregarded its own laws protecting religious freedom by failing to protect Chi’chil Biłdagoteel. Dr Wendsler Nosie Sr. of Apache Stronghold has commented that “The US government is rushing to give away our spiritual home before the courts can even rule—just like it’s rushed to erase Native people for generations. This is the same violent pattern we have seen for centuries. We urge the Supreme Court to protect our spiritual lifeblood and give our sacred site the same protection given to the holiest churches, mosques, and synagogues throughout this country.”
Apache Stronghold calls on people of faith to pray that the courts will agree to hear their case and protect Oak Flat. Their 3 May appeal to supporters, headlined, “The Judges Need to Hear The Heartbeat,” outlines what is at stake: “The impending order to begin a land exchange has put us at a crossroads for the future of all that is sacred to this planet. We need everyone to join us in prayer, so the heartbeat of Oak Flat can be heard everywhere! Your presence turned toward Chi’Chil Bildagoteel is needed now, wherever you are.”
At the time of writing, Judge Logan is considering whether or not to pause the land transfer. We pray that he grants a stay of execution. Pray for the US Supreme Court to take Apache Stronghold’s case and do justice to protect Mother Earth and Oak Flat. Pray for Apache Stronghold members who breathe deeply after the hard labour of the prayer run.
