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Photo by Steve Pavey |
January 14, 2021
Contacts:
Dr. Wendsler Nosie, Sr., Apache Stronghold, apaches4ss@yahoo.com
Michael V. Nixon, michaelvnixon@yahoo.com
French translation by Christine Prat
APACHE FILE LIEN ON OAK FLAT, TEMPORARY RESTRAINING ORDER TO STOP LAND TRANSFER FROM FOREST SERVICE TO FOREIGN MINING COMPANY
FLORENCE, Ariz.— Apache Stronghold, on behalf of traditional Apache religious and cultural leaders, filed a lien on Oak Flat, or Chi'chil Bildagoteel, Wednesday with the Pinal County Recorder’s Office in Florence, Ariz., to stop the transfer of Oak Flat to British-Australian corporate mining giant Rio Tinto and its subsidiary, Resolution Copper.
The lien seeks to prevent the U.S. Forest Service from transferring the title for Oak Flat to Resolution Copper while the Apache Stronghold’s case is being heard in court.
Apache Stronghold filed a lawsuit Tuesday in U.S. District Court in Phoenix challenging the land transfer on the grounds that the giveaway and destruction of Oak Flat violates the Religious Freedom Restoration Act and Apaches’ constitutional rights to religious freedom, due process, and petition and remedy, and is a breach of trust and fiduciary duties.