Selling Off Apache Holy Land

crimsonaudio · May 31, 2015

http://www.nytimes.com/2015/05/29/opinion/selling-off-apache-holy-land.html?_r=0

The land grab was sneakily anti-democratic even by congressional standards. For more than a decade, the parcel containing Oak Flat has been coveted by Rio Tinto, Resolution’s parent company — which already mines on its own private land in the surrounding area — for the high-value ores beneath it.

The swap — which will trade 5,300 acres of private parcels owned by the company to the Forest Service and give 2,400 acres including Oak Flat to Resolution so that it can mine the land without oversight — had been attempted multiple times by Arizona members of Congress on behalf of the company. (Among those involved was Rick Renzi, a former Republican representative who was sent to federal prison in February for three years for corruption related to earlier versions of the land-transfer deal.) It always failed in Congress because of lack of support. But this time was different. This time, the giveaway language was slipped onto the defense bill by Senators John McCain and Jeff Flake of Arizona at the 11th hour. The tactic was successful only because, like most last-minute riders, it bypassed public scrutiny.

It’s worth noting that Rio Tinto affiliates have been McCain campaign contributors, and that Mr. Flake, before he made it to Congress, was a paid lobbyist for Rio Tinto Rössing Uranium (a huge uranium mine in Namibia).

seebell · May 31, 2015

Simply Slimy.

Tide1986 · May 31, 2015

Any reduction in Indian lands is a good thing in my opinion.

seebell · May 31, 2015

It's an increase in Indian lands. The foreign mining company swaps acreage they already own for half as much land in the Tonto National Forest where the copper ore is.

http://tucson.com/business/local/ma...cle_36556048-ba26-54ba-8445-0ff8b753e29b.html

trade 5,400 acres they already own for 2,400 acres of the Tonto National Forest, which sit above the massive ore body

http://www.dailykos.com/story/2015/05/29/1388723/-Arizona-s-McCain-and-Flake-swap-Apache-Holy-Land-to-foreign-mining-company-Contact-Congress#

This is outrageous. Oak Flat in Arizona, an Apache holy place where coming-of-age ceremonies have been performed for many generations and is a sacred place for prayer, has been handed over to an Australian-British firm, Resolution Copper Mining company. They predict that the mining will result in a two-mile wide, 1000 feet-deep crater. Read the op-ed piece in the New York Times today and then do something. Contact your congressional representative and/or senator and ask them to repeal this law. Had this been a holy site for any other major religion, this would not be happening.

Thanks for the heads up CA. I'm gonna email my elected officials.

Tide1986 · May 31, 2015

Again, having Indian-segregated lands is not a good thing in my opinion. Destroy away.

seebell · Jun 1, 2015

May the Ghost of Geronimo disturb your sleep.

May the Great Apache Thunder Bird cover your head with its giant droppings.

Why are they giving our copper away to a foreign firm? What's up with that?

Jon · Jun 1, 2015

Tide1986 said:
Again, having Indian-segregated lands is not a good thing in my opinion. Destroy away.

why?

Tide1986 · Jun 1, 2015

Jon said:
why?

I see no reason to maintain the farce that is having various Indian "nations" within our borders.

Jon · Jun 1, 2015

Tide1986 said:
I see no reason to maintain the farce that is having various Indian "nations" within our borders.

So you'd advocate just taking their land?

Tide1986 · Jun 1, 2015

Jon said:
So you'd advocate just taking their land?

I have no issue with it...they lost.

Bamaro · Jun 1, 2015

Tide1986 said:
I have no issue with it...they lost.

Thats disgusting if you are serious.:frown:

CajunCrimson · Jun 1, 2015

Being part Cherokee -- I can see both sides of this.

Giving them "nation" status - even if by name only - within our borders -- isn't that the equivalent of giving Mexico "nation" status within Texas, Arizona, New Mexico and California?

On the flip side -- our behavior was reprehensible toward the Native Americans --

Wow, I can't believe I"m being such a moderate, both-sides-of-an-issue-weenie.....it feels weird.

Tide1986 · Jun 1, 2015

Bamaro said:
Thats disgusting if you are serious.:frown:

My day is not complete unless I've disgusted you in some way.

Nevertheless, I'm serious. It's time for full integration.

crimsonaudio · Jun 1, 2015

It belongs to the public, under the multiple-use mandate of the Forest Service, and has had special protections since 1955, when President Dwight D. Eisenhower decreed the area closed to mining — which, like cattle grazing, is otherwise common in national forests — because of its cultural and natural value. President Richard M. Nixon’s Interior Department in 1971 renewed this ban.

My issue with this is two fold: the first lies above - this is land that belongs to the people and should not be leased out to private business, imo. Secondly, it is a special spiritual place for native Americans and we should respect that. If it were a Christian holy spot most people would be quite upset about it.

TIDE-HSV · Jun 1, 2015

Tide1986 said:
I have no issue with it...they lost.

So - you have no problem at all then with Reconstruction?

Tide1986 · Jun 1, 2015

TIDE-HSV said:
So - you have no problem at all then with Reconstruction?

Interesting question that cuts both ways. And it's partially that attitude by Northern apologists that colors my opinion on the matter.

Bama Reb · Jun 2, 2015

BamainBoston said:
Yeah, the whole reservation thing was a nice idea, but the only people it's benefited are casino operators.

And many of them aren't Indians.

mittman · Jun 2, 2015

BamainBoston said:
Yeah, the whole reservation thing was a nice idea, but the only people it's benefited are casino operators.

I think it was a necessity. They would not have been able to assimilate.

Now it is being abused. The only way to properly do away with it would be something like a reparations deal where a large sum of money would buy out the reservation and nation status. I am not sure that is something that anyone supports, and this does not appear to be an example.

Jon · Jun 2, 2015

mittman said:
I think it was a necessity. They would not have been able to assimilate.

Now it is being abused. The only way to properly do away with it would be something like a reparations deal where a large sum of money would buy out the reservation and nation status. I am not sure that is something that anyone supports, and this does not appear to be an example.

abused? they are a Sovereign nation, actually several sovereign nations, they can do whatever they want.

If I were them I'd legalize marijuana, mushrooms and other psychedelics and hold Bonnarroo type concerts once a month. Make a fortune. The Cherokee reservation is only a few hours from Atlanta, they'd sell out in seconds

mittman · Jun 2, 2015

Jon said:
abused? they are a Sovereign nation, actually several sovereign nations, they can do whatever they want.

If I were them I'd legalize marijuana, mushrooms and other psychedelics and hold Bonnarroo type concerts once a month. Make a fortune. The Cherokee reservation is only a few hours from Atlanta, they'd sell out in seconds

Probably not the correct term, I agree they can do what they want. I have family in Wetumpka who lived right next to that monstrosity. It was a fairly nice neighborhood. Let's just say they are not being very good neighbors.

I am glad you are not in a leadership position of a nation with property next to mine

Selling Off Apache Holy Land

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