The U.S. Supreme Court has rejected an appeal from Apache Stronghold to block the construction of a copper mine on Oak Flat, a site deemed sacred by the San Carlos Apache tribe. The court's decision maintains a previous ruling that allows the mining project to proceed, despite significant opposition. This land swap, initiated during the Obama administration, has sparked intense debates regarding Indigenous rights and the protection of sacred spaces, with the tribe emphasizing Oak Flat’s deep religious significance throughout their history.
At the heart of the case is a stretch of federal land in the Tonto National Forest, part of the western state of Arizona. The San Carlos Apache tribe know the land as Oak Flat or Chi'chil Bildagoteel in the Apache language.
Resolution Copper, a subsidiary of the mining conglomerates Rio Tinto and BHP, believes the site sits atop the second largest copper deposit in the world, which has created a conflict over the sacred land.
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