RELATED: US Forest Service temporarily halts transfer of Native American sacred site Oak Flat The Apache believe Oak Flat is a “blessed place” where Ga’an - guardians or messengers between the people and Usen, the creator - dwell.Ĭongress approved the transfer of the land to Resolution Copper in 2014 as part of the National Defense Authorization Act in exchange for 6,000 acres elsewhere. The Apache people hold a number of important ceremonies at Oak Flat that, according to their court filings, can take place only on the site, which would be destroyed by mining. Waya Brown, who is Apache and Pomo, dances in a circle at Oak Flat campground on Feb. Oak Flat, known in Apache as Chi’chil Biłdagoteel, is a 6.7-square-mile stretch of land east of Phoenix that falls within Tonto National Forest. In addition, Apache Stronghold has gotten support for its opposition to the land transfer from the Piipaash people of Arizona, Navajo and Akimel O’odham, as well as other Native American tribes. Apache Stronghold will also rally in support for the Poor People’s Campaign in the Bay Area. On their way west, the group will pray and gather with the Salt River Pima–Maricopa Indian Community near Phoenix, the Wishotoyo Chumash in the Los Angeles region and the Elem Indian Colony of Pomo Indians in Northern California. RELATED: Why Oak Flat in Arizona is a sacred space for the Apache and other Native Americans In Phoenix, the group will meet with members of the Native American club at Brophy College Preparatory, a Jesuit high school in Phoenix that participated in a protest run earlier this year in support of Oak Flat. Alison Harrington has advocated for Oak Flat, saying that “what is at stake at Oak Flat is everything.” They will stop at Southside Presbyterian Church in Tucson, Arizona, where the Rev. The group is a coalition of Apaches, other Native peoples and non-Native supporters seeking to preserve Oak Flat. Nosie’s father, Wendsler Nosie Sr., founded the group. “This court hearing is important not only for Oak Flat, but for all Indigenous people and (not just) our Indigenous religions, but we feel that if they can put our religion on trial, no one else’s religion is safe,” said Vanessa Nosie, a member of Apache Stronghold.
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