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Apache tribe marches to protect sacred Arizona site from copper mine

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A statue of Geronimo, a former ...hange. REUTERS/Stephanie Keith

1 of 14 © 2024 Stephanie Keith

A statue of Geronimo, a former leader of the Apache people, is seen on the site of the original Apache reservation in San Carlos, Arizona, U.S., February 20, 2020. People from the San Carlos Apache tribe are advocating against the sale of Oak Flat, currently part of Tonto National Forest and considered by the Apache to be sacred land. Resolution Copper, a mining company, plans to create potentially the largest copper mine in the United States on the Oak Flat site. The 2015 National Defense Authorization Act authorized Resolution Copper to use the land in Oak Flat in exchange for five other parcels of land scattered across Arizona. Former Arizona senators, Jeff Flake and the late John McCain, supported the idea of the land exchange. REUTERS/Stephanie Keith

Aaron J. Sender runs his leg of...hange. REUTERS/Stephanie Keith

2 of 14 © 2024 Stephanie Keith

Aaron J. Sender runs his leg of a relay run from the Old San Carlos site in San Carlos, Arizona, U.S., February 20, 2020. The relay run is part of an annual event to call attention to an Apache holy site called Oak Flat. People from the San Carlos Apache tribe are advocating against the sale of Oak Flat, currently part of Tonto National Forest and considered by the Apache to be sacred land. Resolution Copper, a mining company, plans to create potentially the largest copper mine in the United States on the Oak Flat site. The 2015 National Defense Authorization Act authorized Resolution Copper to use the land in Oak Flat in exchange for five other parcels of land scattered across Arizona. Former Arizona senators, Jeff Flake and the late John McCain, supported the idea of the land exchange. REUTERS/Stephanie Keith

Herbert Braidhair participates ...hange. REUTERS/Stephanie Keith

3 of 14 © 2024 Stephanie Keith

Herbert Braidhair participates in a relay run in San Carlos, Arizona, U.S., February 21, 2020. The relay run is part of an annual event to call attention to a place outside the reservation called Oak Flat. People from the San Carlos Apache tribe are advocating against the sale of Oak Flat, currently part of Tonto National Forest and considered by the Apache to be sacred land. Resolution Copper, a mining company, plans to create potentially the largest copper mine in the United States on the Oak Flat site. The 2015 National Defense Authorization Act authorized Resolution Copper to use the land in Oak Flat in exchange for five other parcels of land scattered across Arizona. Former Arizona senators, Jeff Flake and the late John McCain, supported the idea of the land exchange. REUTERS/Stephanie Keith

Carrie Sage Curley (C) holds a ...hange. REUTERS/Stephanie Keith

4 of 14 © 2024 Stephanie Keith

Carrie Sage Curley (C) holds a sacred staff while leading a walk in Globe, Arizona, U.S., February 21, 2020. The walk/relay run is part of an annual event to call attention to a place outside the reservation called Oak Flat. People from the San Carlos Apache tribe are advocating against the sale of Oak Flat, currently part of Tonto National Forest and considered by the Apache to be sacred land. Resolution Copper, a mining company, plans to create potentially the largest copper mine in the United States on the Oak Flat site. The 2015 National Defense Authorization Act authorized Resolution Copper to use the land in Oak Flat in exchange for five other parcels of land scattered across Arizona. Former Arizona senators, Jeff Flake and the late John McCain, supported the idea of the land exchange. REUTERS/Stephanie Keith

A group of Apache people and th...hange. REUTERS/Stephanie Keith

5 of 14 © 2024 Stephanie Keith

A group of Apache people and their allies walk past a mining facility during a march in Globe, Arizona, U.S., February 22, 2020. The march is part of an annual event to call attention to a place outside the reservation called Oak Flat. People from the San Carlos Apache tribe are advocating against the sale of Oak Flat, currently part of Tonto National Forest and considered by the Apache to be sacred land. Resolution Copper, a mining company, plans to create potentially the largest copper mine in the United States on the Oak Flat site. The 2015 National Defense Authorization Act authorized Resolution Copper to use the land in Oak Flat in exchange for five other parcels of land scattered across Arizona. Former Arizona senators, Jeff Flake and the late John McCain, supported the idea of the land exchange. REUTERS/Stephanie Keith

Supporters join a group of Apac...hange. REUTERS/Stephanie Keith

6 of 14 © 2024 Stephanie Keith

Supporters join a group of Apache people and their allies who are participating in a march in Globe, Arizona, U.S., February 22, 2020. The march is part of an annual event to call attention to a place outside the reservation called Oak Flat. People from the San Carlos Apache tribe are advocating against the sale of Oak Flat, currently part of Tonto National Forest and considered by the Apache to be sacred land. Resolution Copper, a mining company, plans to create potentially the largest copper mine in the United States on the Oak Flat site. The 2015 National Defense Authorization Act authorized Resolution Copper to use the land in Oak Flat in exchange for five other parcels of land scattered across Arizona. Former Arizona senators, Jeff Flake and the late John McCain, supported the idea of the land exchange. REUTERS/Stephanie Keith

Kelly Moody passes the sacred s...hange. REUTERS/Stephanie Keith

7 of 14 © 2024 Stephanie Keith

Kelly Moody passes the sacred staff to the next runner as a group of Apache people and their allies participate in a relay run outside of Globe, Arizona, U.S., February 22, 2020. The march/ relay run is part of an annual event to call attention to a place outside the reservation called Oak Flat. People from the San Carlos Apache tribe are advocating against the sale of Oak Flat, currently part of Tonto National Forest and considered by the Apache to be sacred land. Resolution Copper, a mining company, plans to create potentially the largest copper mine in the United States on the Oak Flat site. The 2015 National Defense Authorization Act authorized Resolution Copper to use the land in Oak Flat in exchange for five other parcels of land scattered across Arizona. Former Arizona senators, Jeff Flake and the late John McCain, supported the idea of the land exchange. REUTERS/Stephanie Keith

Carrie Sage Carley, from the Sa...hange. REUTERS/Stephanie Keith

8 of 14 © 2024 Stephanie Keith

Carrie Sage Carley, from the San Carlos Reservation, runs along the side of the road as a group of Apache people and their allies participate in a relay run outside of Globe, Arizona, U.S., February 22, 2020. The march/ relay run is part of an annual event to call attention to a place outside the reservation called Oak Flat. People from the San Carlos Apache tribe are advocating against the sale of Oak Flat, currently part of Tonto National Forest and considered by the Apache to be sacred land. Resolution Copper, a mining company, plans to create potentially the largest copper mine in the United States on the Oak Flat site. The 2015 National Defense Authorization Act authorized Resolution Copper to use the land in Oak Flat in exchange for five other parcels of land scattered across Arizona. Former Arizona senators, Jeff Flake and the late John McCain, supported the idea of the land exchange. REUTERS/Stephanie Keith

Wendsler Nosie (second from lef...hange. REUTERS/Stephanie Keith

9 of 14 © 2024 Stephanie Keith

Wendsler Nosie (second from left) is hugged by his granddaughter Naelyn Pike in Oak Flat after a group of Apache people and their allies participated in a relay run outside of Globe, Arizona, U.S., February 22, 2020. The march/ relay run is part of an annual event to call attention to a place outside the reservation called Oak Flat. People from the San Carlos Apache tribe are advocating against the sale of Oak Flat, currently part of Tonto National Forest and considered by the Apache to be sacred land. Resolution Copper, a mining company, plans to create potentially the largest copper mine in the United States on the Oak Flat site. The 2015 National Defense Authorization Act authorized Resolution Copper to use the land in Oak Flat in exchange for five other parcels of land scattered across Arizona. Former Arizona senators, Jeff Flake and the late John McCain, supported the idea of the land exchange. REUTERS/Stephanie Keith

Wendsler Nosie (R) listens to a...hange. REUTERS/Stephanie Keith

10 of 14 © 2024 Stephanie Keith

Wendsler Nosie (R) listens to a Pomo Indian man sing a fire song in Oak Flat after a group of Apache people and their allies participated in a relay run outside of Globe, Arizona, U.S., February 22, 2020. The march/ relay run is part of an annual event to call attention to a place outside the reservation called Oak Flat. People from the San Carlos Apache tribe are advocating against the sale of Oak Flat, currently part of Tonto National Forest and considered by the Apache to be sacred land. Resolution Copper, a mining company, plans to create potentially the largest copper mine in the United States on the Oak Flat site. The 2015 National Defense Authorization Act authorized Resolution Copper to use the land in Oak Flat in exchange for five other parcels of land scattered across Arizona. Former Arizona senators, Jeff Flake and the late John McCain, supported the idea of the land exchange. REUTERS/Stephanie Keith

A group of children play in the...hange. REUTERS/Stephanie Keith

11 of 14 © 2024 Stephanie Keith

A group of children play in the Oak Flat campground outside of Globe, Arizona, U.S., February 22, 2020. People from the San Carlos Apache tribe and their allies are advocating against the sale of Oak Flat, currently part of Tonto National Forest and considered by the Apache to be sacred land. Resolution Copper, a mining company, plans to create potentially the largest copper mine in the United States on the Oak Flat site. The 2015 National Defense Authorization Act authorized Resolution Copper to use the land in Oak Flat in exchange for five other parcels of land scattered across Arizona. Former Arizona senators, Jeff Flake and the late John McCain, supported the idea of the land exchange. REUTERS/Stephanie Keith

A group of children play in the...hange. REUTERS/Stephanie Keith

12 of 14 © 2024 Stephanie Keith

A group of children play in the Oak Flat campground outside of Globe, Arizona, U.S., February 22, 2020. People from the San Carlos Apache tribe and their allies are advocating against the sale of Oak Flat, currently part of Tonto National Forest and considered by the Apache to be sacred land. Resolution Copper, a mining company, plans to create potentially the largest copper mine in the United States on the Oak Flat site. The 2015 National Defense Authorization Act authorized Resolution Copper to use the land in Oak Flat in exchange for five other parcels of land scattered across Arizona. Former Arizona senators, Jeff Flake and the late John McCain, supported the idea of the land exchange. REUTERS/Stephanie Keith

Wendsler Nosie (L) speaks with ...hange. REUTERS/Stephanie Keith

13 of 14 © 2024 Stephanie Keith

Wendsler Nosie (L) speaks with a supporter in the Oak Flat campground outside of Globe, Arizona, U.S., February 22, 2020. People from the San Carlos Apache tribe and their allies are advocating against the sale of Oak Flat, currently part of Tonto National Forest and considered by the Apache to be sacred land. Resolution Copper, a mining company, plans to create potentially the largest copper mine in the United States on the Oak Flat site. The 2015 National Defense Authorization Act authorized Resolution Copper to use the land in Oak Flat in exchange for five other parcels of land scattered across Arizona. Former Arizona senators, Jeff Flake and the late John McCain, supported the idea of the land exchange. REUTERS/Stephanie Keith

A view of people camping in the...hange. REUTERS/Stephanie Keith

14 of 14 © 2024 Stephanie Keith

A view of people camping in the Oak Flat campground outside of Globe, Arizona, U.S., February 23, 2020. People from the San Carlos Apache tribe and their allies are advocating against the sale of Oak Flat, currently part of Tonto National Forest and considered by the Apache to be sacred land. Resolution Copper, a mining company, plans to create potentially the largest copper mine in the United States on the Oak Flat site. The 2015 National Defense Authorization Act authorized Resolution Copper to use the land in Oak Flat in exchange for five other parcels of land scattered across Arizona. Former Arizona senators, Jeff Flake and the late John McCain, supported the idea of the land exchange. REUTERS/Stephanie Keith

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Apache tribe marches to protect sacred Arizona site from copper mine

Copyright Stephanie Keith 2024

Updated Mar 2020

Hundreds of Apache tribe members and supporters marched for four days to a sacred campground in southeastern Arizona earlier this month, hoping to protect the land from copper mining while bringing awareness to injustices against Native Americans.

The 45-mile march, from the San Carlos Apache Indian Reservation, ended Sunday, Feb. 23 on what is known as Oak Flat, a 2,400 acre (970 hectares) parcel of public land in the Tonto National Forest near Superior, Arizona.

The San Carlos Apache tribe, which has considered Oak Flat holy land for centuries, says it is threatened by Resolution Copper Mining, which plans to extract 1.9 billion tons of copper beneath part of the hallowed ground from one of the largest untapped deposits in the world.

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