The federal government announced on Mar. 25 that it will move forward with plans to develop a copper mine at Oak Flat, a site considered sacred by Native Americans. The decision follows years of legal battles and opposition from Indigenous groups who argue the project threatens their religious freedom and cultural heritage.
The development is significant because Oak Flat is regarded as a “holy place” and “spiritual lifeblood” for the Apache people. Advocates say the destruction of this site would sever generations of connection between Apaches and their traditions.
Apache Stronghold, a coalition group opposing the sale since 2021, has fought against transferring the Arizona land to Resolution Copper, a British-Australian mining company. The group argues that such action violates U.S. religious freedom law and endangers centuries-old Native American customs. Despite these efforts, in May 2025, the U.S. Supreme Court declined to halt the transfer, followed by another unsuccessful bid in October 2025.
On March 23, the Department of Justice’s Environment and Natural Resources Division described securing a “major win” when the 9th Circuit Court of Appeals upheld an order allowing the sale to proceed. The government said this move enables them to “proceed with a congressionally mandated land exchange crucial to advancing development of one of the largest known copper deposits in the world.” Officials also stated that mining at Oak Flat “will play an important role in developing a stable, domestic copper supply.”
Wendsler Nosie Sr., representing Apache Stronghold, said in response: “We will never stop fighting to protect Oak Flat.” He added: “It is our spiritual lifeblood — the place where generations of Apache have gathered to worship, pray, and connect with our Creator… We will keep defending what is holy. We will continue pressing forward in the lower courts and urging America’s leaders to protect Oak Flat before it is too late.”
Support for protecting Oak Flat has come from Catholic leaders as well; in 2024, both the U.S. Conference of Catholic Bishops and Knights of Columbus filed briefs arguing that allowing mining misinterprets federal religious freedom law.
At issue is whether permitting mining at Oak Flat violates provisions under federal law stating that government cannot substantially burden an individual’s religion unless there is compelling governmental interest achieved by least restrictive means—a standard set by Congress through bipartisan legislation passed in response to previous Supreme Court rulings involving Indigenous rights.
