Tuesday April 20, 2021

Conflicts over lands and mining are not unusual to our region. Today on the news, we hear from our partners at KJZZ’s Tribal Natural Resources Desk in Arizona. There, Oak Flat in the Tonto National Forest has become a centerpiece of conflict between Native American tribes who want to preserve their sacred land, and the mining companies who say they want to generate revenue and create jobs. Congressman Raul Grijalva has introduced legislation to ban mining at Oak Flat, but its success is uncertain. We hear from a Washington Post reporter who recently wrote about these issues, focusing on just how unique and important the sacred land is to the Apache Tribe and others.

Show Notes:

Photo: Oak Flat/Center for Biological Diversity

The Washington Post: This land is sacred to the Apache, and they are fighting to save it
https://www.washingtonpost.com/history/2021/04/12/oak-flat-apache-sacred-land/