Miners strategically dig tunnels underneath the ore body, about 7,000 feet deep. Eventually, the tunnels would collapse and the ore moved through other tunnels to a crushing facility. And it would leave a giant sinkhole where Oak Flat now stands.
Is Oak Flat sacred?
The land is sacred to Native Americans from the San Carlos Apache Indian Reservation and many other Arizona tribes. This federally-protected area is listed on the National Register of Historic Places, and features a National Forest Service public campground.
What is Oak Flat and how is it threatened?
In English, it is known as Oak Flat. Chich’il Bildagoteel is today threatened by a massive mine proposed by Resolution Copper, a subsidiary of Rio Tinto. Soils here sing with generations of sacred gathering, whether around a young woman for her coming-of-age ceremony or for seasonal acorn gathering.
Who owns Oak Flat in Arizona?
As the explosions undercut the copper ore, the land will collapse into a giant sinkhole. It’ll leave a crater nearly two miles wide. Oak Flat would be destroyed. For generations, the Nosie family from the San Carlos Apache tribe has been taking part in traditions at Oak Flat.
Why is Oak Flat sacred?
The Apache say their ancestors have “lived, worshiped on, and cared for Oak Flat” and its surrounding lands “since time immemorial,” according to one of several lawsuits. They believe that Usen, their Creator, made Oak Flat as a blessed place where Ga’an, who are considered the messengers or guardians, live.
How many abandoned mines are in Arizona?
The estimate for Arizona is over 200,000 abandoned mine features with an estimated 20,000 being located within the National System of Public Lands (NSPL).
Is Arizona an Indian land?
Arizona is home to 22 Native American tribes that represent more than 296,000 people. A total of 20 Reservations cover more than 19,000,000 acres, ranging in size from the very large Navajo Reservation, which is the size of West Virginia or Ireland, to the small Tonto Apache Reservation that covers just over 85 acres.
What was the last Native American tribe to surrender?
This Date in Native History: On September 4, 1886, the great Apache warrior Geronimo surrendered in Skeleton Canyon, Arizona, after fighting for his homeland for almost 30 years. He was the last American Indian warrior to formally surrender to the United States.
Who owns Apache Leap?
A subsidiary of Rio Tinto and BHPBilliton (the two biggest metal mining companies in the world, by annual revenue and market capitalization) is proposing to mine copper ore deep underneath Oak Flat, near the town of Superior, an hour east of Phoenix.
Why is Oak Flat important to the Apache people?
Why do mines get abandoned?
They pose environmental, health, safety and economic problems to communities, the mining industry and governments in many countries, including Canada. The Ontario Mining Act describes “abandoned mines” as an old land previously used for coal mining but is now unused due to hazardous environmental and health effects.
What is happening to Oak Flat?
Arizona’s Oak Flat, a site considered holy to the Apache, is slated to be transferred to a mining company, but many are fighting the controversial move. Oak Flat is a popular campground and hiking spot in Arizona’s Tonto National Forest, about 65 miles east of Phoenix.
What is Apache stronghold’s Oak Flat lawsuit?
Apache Stronghold filed a lawsuit in US district court in January arguing that the potential destruction of Oak Flat infringes on Native Americans’ ability to practice their religion.
Why did the Apache tribe want Oak Flat destroyed?
The Apache Stronghold group argued in the suit that the planned destruction of Oak Flat would violate religious freedom protections. It also argued that an 1852 treaty between the Western Apaches and the U.S. gives the tribe rights to the site.
What is Oak Flat Arizona known for?
Called Chi’chil Bildagoteel in Apache, Oak Flat is listed on the National Register of Historic Places for its spiritual and cultural significance to at least a dozen south-west Native American tribes. It contains hundreds of indigenous archaeological sites dating back 1,500 years.
