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Posted on 05/27/2025 12:52:33 PM PDT by E. Pluribus Unum
The justices left in place a lower-court decision that allows the transfer of land in central Arizona known as Oak Flat that is sacred to Western Apache Indians.
The Supreme Court on Tuesday cleared the way for the federal government to transfer thousands of acres of national forestland containing a Native American sacred site to a copper-mining company. The justices left in place a lower-court decision that allows the transfer of land in central Arizona known as Oak Flat. The land, which has great spiritual value to the Western Apache Indians, sits on the world’s third-largest deposit of copper ore.
Justice Neil M. Gorsuch, whose rulings have long supported Native American rights, called the court’s refusal to review the case a “grievous mistake — one with consequences that threaten to reverberate for generations.”
“Faced with the government’s plan to destroy an ancient site of tribal worship, we owe the Apaches no less” than a consideration of their legal arguments, wrote Gorsuch, who was joined by Justice Clarence Thomas. “They may live far from Washington, D.C., and their history and religious practices may be unfamiliar to many. But that should make no difference.”
As is the court’s typical practice, the majority did not explain its reasons for declining to hear the case. Justice Samuel A. Alito Jr. did not participate in the decision and also did not explain his recusal.
In 2014, Congress passed legislation directing the government to transfer about 2,400 acres to Resolution Copper to build an underground mine in exchange for company-owned property. The copper mine will create a two-mile-wide crater, according to court filings, eliminating access to the sacred site.
The land swap had the backing of the administrations of both Presidents Joe Biden and Donald Trump. The government has said it plans to...
(Excerpt) Read more at washingtonpost.com ...
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No wampum for you.
The “sacred land” or “spiritual value” used to be used as the full stop to development. It was one below the “endangered” snail darter. Wonder what happened.
Sacred site here, sacred site there. Blah blah blah. Strip mine it, I say
Yes, I feel a new religion coming on for myself, inspired by this.
Don’t worry, someone will plant & dig up some bones, before long. Then, it’s a sacred burial site.
Yet another betrayal of the native Americans.
“Wonder what happened.”
Prolly cause no-one wanted to make a deal.
So.... someone decided to make it a steal.
One of my favorite T-shirts from long ago read:
EARTH FIRST!
We’ll strip-mind the other planets later.
What? No SACRED INDIAN BURIAL GROUND schtick as has been used for decades to stop development?
https://www.wardsauto.com/industry/not-enough-copper-to-support-ev-transition-study-says
Underground mine. Two mile wide crater? Oh well.
There is no such thing as a “native” American. No human was native to this Hemisphere. Everyone or their ancestors came from elsewhere. No special treatment.
as best as i can determine, ALL land prior to arrival of white man is sacred ...
Yeah a similar story played out with the discovery of gold in the Black Hills. It’s the worst kind of betrayal. It was supposed to be their land land not their land until the government finds something interesting on it.
Well, after all the copper’s been removed, they can fill the sacred site in again and give it back to the Apaches.
I still have two of those bumper stickers. (It’s “We’ll Mine Other Planets Later...”, though, at least the version that I have.)
“ALL land prior to arrival of white man is sacred ...”
Ain’t that the truth. Best deal would’ve been a fair % of the take plus $ for land use.... or lack thereof.
Native American sacred site
—
Why do they have so many “sacred sites”? Do what the rest of America does, put up a monument then pave it over! /s
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