The sacred land of the San Carlos Apache is threatened with destruction.  This is a crucial time for solidarity action as the outgoing U.S. administration may shortcut the timeline before they leave office.

Chi’chil Bildagoteel (Oak Flat) is a sacred site of the San Carlos Apache people from time immemorial. It is a place of ceremony and prayer, a place to collect acorns and medicinal plants, and a burial site.  Apache leader Wendsler Nosie Sr. describes Oak Flat as analogous to Mount Sinai in religious meaning for their people.

The San Carlos Apache were “temporarily” removed from the area by the US government in the late 1800s, forced to reside in a US concentration camp—now reservation—60 miles/100 kilometers away. They continue to return to this sacred site regularly though, the latest example being in November 2020 when several young women’s Sunrise Ceremonies honoring their coming of age were held at Oak Flat.

Oak Flat is located in the southwest region of land occupied by Arizona/the United States.  Ownership of the area is currently claimed by the United States Forest Service.  In addition to being a sacred and archaeologically significant site, Oak Flat is an area of astounding high desert beauty with year-round water.  The white oaks that are hundreds of years old have been described as the strength of the valley, “like Sampson’s hair.”  Oak Flat is a popular climbing destination and includes a public campground. 

For years the spiritually-grounded movement of Apache and allies successfully resisted the threat of destruction by a “block cave” mine.  Resolution Copper’s plan is to hollow out a mountain-sized hole under Oak Flat for a mine and then let the entire area cave in, destroying both the land and the water sources. 

In 2014, Resolution Copper, a subsidiary of Rio Tinto, leveraged support in the U.S. Congress and a last minute “rider” was attached to a defense spending bill.  While allowing environmental and other checks to occur, this U.S. law promises to transfer Oak Flat to the mining company regardless of what those processes find.   Defenders of Oak Flat have proposed a law that would reverse that deal, the Save Oak Flat Bill.

It is likely that the US Forest Service will make a decision in December 2020 allowing the mine to move forward.  At that point there should be 60 days in which to file legal suits in opposition and ask for an injunction to stop the company from starting work on site.  However, Resolution Copper appears to be confident of their ability to move forward upon receiving a favourable decision.  For instance, they have already made arrangements to cut and sell the ancient oaks, destined to become Italian wine casks.   And with the current U.S. administration, it is possible that there will be an attempt to shortcut the 60-day period for legal processes. 

The ongoing resistance to save Oak Flat includes prayers and ceremony, sacred runs, physically taking up residence in the space, legislative proposals to reverse the land transfer, and social media campaigns. There has been active organizing throughout the process, including gatherings and actions of solidarity, in person before Covid-19, and online since, as well as preparation for legal action to postpone the process after the Forest Service decision.