Native American Sacred Land Controversy: Historic Arizona Mining Town Supports Copper Project

Mayor Mila Besich, hailing from a long line of miners, has deep personal ties to the Oak Flat Campground. This place holds childhood memories of union picnics and World Series radio broadcasts for her family. However, Mayor Besich now finds herself leading Superior’s battle to construct a new copper project at Oak Flat, driven by concerns over the town’s economic prospects.

Today, the area, situated within Arizona’s “Copper Corridor” and on national forest land, features 20 rustic campsites nestled among ancient oaks. A hand-painted sign stands as a testament to the ongoing struggle: “Protect Oak Flat, Holy Land.” Hidden beneath the ground lies the world’s third-largest copper ore deposit, capable of producing 40 billion pounds (18 billion kilograms) of copper over 60 years.

Competing interests have sparked a fierce conflict between the roughly 3,000 residents of Superior, who see the potential for economic prosperity in a massive copper mine, and Native American groups fighting to preserve the sacredness of the land.

Mayor Besich highlights the impact on the town, asking, “What about our culture?”

Resolution Copper Mining, a joint venture between mining giants Rio Tinto and BHP, plans to establish one of the world’s largest underground copper mines in Superior, located approximately 70 miles (113 kilometers) east of Phoenix. Rio Tinto, the managing partner, asserts that the mine could meet a quarter of the growing demand for copper in the United States, driven by the need for electric vehicles and smartphones.

The permitting process for the project began almost ten years ago, but legal and political disputes between U.S. agencies and the nonprofit Apache Stronghold, which opposes a planned land exchange critical for the project, have caused significant delays. The Apache Stronghold has requested a permanent halt to the project, which the full U.S. 9th District Court of Appeals is currently considering. The primary obstacle at present is the absence of a new environmental impact statement.

Two other lawsuits challenging the initial environmental review, one filed by the San Carlos Apache Tribe and the other by environmental groups, have made no progress since the U.S. government withdrew the impact statement to engage in further consultations.

Oak Flat, situated on Tonto National Forest land, is set to be conveyed to Resolution through a land exchange approved by Congress in 2014 as part of a must-pass defense bill.

The congressional decision ignited anger among some Apache community members due to the site’s significance, which is home to ancient Emory oaks and other plants integral to their culture and religion. Known as Chi’chil Bildagoteel, the location is about an hour’s drive from the San Carlos Apache Reservation and has historically been used for girls’ coming-of-age celebrations.

Rio Tinto has promised to keep the campground open during the mine’s initial years of operation. However, once extensive rock removal begins, Oak Flat could eventually collapse, leaving behind a 1.8-mile (2.8-kilometer) crater.

Leading the Save Oak Flat campaign is Wendsler Nosie, a former San Carlos Apache tribal chairman and a long-standing activist. Previously, Nosie fought against a significant telescope project in southeastern Arizona on a site considered sacred by the Apache community: Mount Graham, or Dzil Nchaa Sí’an.

Nosie believes that many residents silently support his cause, saying, “they cannot openly show their support for me.”

When confronted by a mining company employee at a local restaurant, accusing him of jeopardizing jobs, development, and education, Nosie passionately spoke about his fight for the land, water, earth, religion, and their children. His words earned applause from fellow diners, who even paid for his dinner.

While the San Carlos Apache leadership opposes the mine, some tribe members support it due to the potential job opportunities it may bring, given the high unemployment rate on the reservation.

Karen Kitcheyan-Jones, a 64-year-old tribe member residing on the reservation, asserts that Oak Flat is not sacred, stating, “There are many places on the reservation where we can gather acorns and hold ceremonies.”

Brenda Astor, a San Carlos Apache member and Resolution’s principal adviser for Native affairs, points out that several enrolled tribe members also work for the mining company.

Despite strong opposition to the project from some tribes and others, the Forest Service withdrew Resolution’s initial environmental impact statement for Oak Flat two years ago to facilitate further consultations. No timeframe has been provided, but once a new review is published, the formal transfer process can commence unless halted by a federal court.

In March, U.S. Representative Raul Grijalva reintroduced legislation seeking to block the land transfer, but it has yet to gain significant traction in Congress.

Rio Tinto claims that the mine would create 3,700 jobs over its lifespan and contribute $88 million to $113 million annually in state and local tax revenues.

For a town still recovering economically since the closure of the Magma copper mine in 1982, which briefly reopened before shutting down permanently in 1996, these numbers carry significant weight. Superior, a community so small that it lacks a single stoplight and can be crossed by car in just over three minutes, was originally established as the town of Hastings in 1882 when the Silver King mine produced silver. The nearby mining towns of Globe and Miami, nestled in mountains adorned with saguaro cacti, share similar histories.

Despite its labor roots, Superior aims to diversify its economy, recognizing that relying solely on Resolution and its mine for the town’s future is not a sustainable strategy. The town is actively developing local tourism, hosting events like the Apache Leap Mining Festival, which draws hundreds of visitors each March. Additionally, the Prickly Pear Festival in August showcases local delicacies like cactus fruit ice cream and margaritas.

Nevertheless, in a state responsible for 70% of the nation’s copper production and in a town where the majority of residents’ parents and grandparents worked in the mines, the future largely hinges on ore extraction.

“It’s in our DNA,” says Rick Cartier, president of the chamber of commerce.

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More about Sacred land controversy

• Controversy over proposed copper mine in Arizona’s Oak Flat
• Resolution Copper Mining
• Apache Stronghold
• San Carlos Apache Tribe
• U.S. Forest Service
• U.S. 9th District Court of Appeals
• Rio Tinto
• Save Oak Flat
• U.S. Representative Raul Grijalva
• Arizona Mining Association