Courtesy photo Pictured from L-R: Allan Anspach B.I.A. Regional Director, Assistant Interior Secretary Larry Echohawk, ITCA President Diane Enos, Washington D.C. representative Bob Abby and other Arizona Indian Leaders look on as Chairman Nosie provides important information pertaining to Mining Devastation to natural Resources.

It all started at the end of 2008 when word was received that the Oak Flat land exchange was being revived by a company called Resolution Copper who portrayed Goliath, the bully giant who in this scenario had the money and political clout to support the land exchange activity. Then there was the San Carlos Apache Tribe, who were like David in size, limited in resources and with unnoticeable political influence. Then in January 2009, it became known that Resolution Copper, along with Arizona’s congressional trio of McCain, Kyl and Kirkpatrick, were all on the same team to put the Oak Flat land exchange as legislation for federal passage. It appeared like they took this action as not a big deal and an easy passage with no opposition. In fact, no consideration was made for the Oak Flat’s environmental impacts or those citizens who had ties to Oak Flat and its surrounding lands.

Back in January, it was a minor thought at best given our present day economy, the ranking of money and jobs had overwhelming odds over any individual, group or organization that would oppose this bill. This left the San Carlos Apache Tribe in a brief oppressed state of affairs.

It would be a long haul for San Carlos as Resolution Copper had a tremendous advantage with their war chest that was filled with financial resources and along with the two Republican Arizona Senators and a Democrat congresswoman in their pockets. Resolution Copper’s primary goal was to get Bill S409 through congress and stand to gain billions and billions of dollars. It appeared to be a done deal with the majority of the region’s elected leaders supporting this bill, along with other organizations and individuals on the bandwagon. The risks of contamination in the geographic area’s water supply would be at its highest, the subsidence of Oak Flat and visions of a large crater loomed larger than ever and hope just seemed dim.

That is until the San Carlos Apache Tribe’s Chairman Wendsler Nosie, Sr., went to work with support of tribal members and Indian Tribes throughout the country.

In spite of the overpowering force that Resolution Copper seemed to possess through their touting jobs, money, mass advertising in the local market, individuals being bused in from other areas than our region to initiate local rallies and make it appear that only a few actually opposed their movement and making it known the political grip that they appeared to have on the Arizona environment. Chairman Wendsler Nosie, who not on their list or was far from being considered to be a factor in the opposition of the Land Swap proposal began doing what he believed was the right thing to do. That was to protect what was once the ancestral homelands of the Apaches and Yavapais. This particular place referred to as Oak Flat was held in the highest regards by the Indigenous People for centuries, namely the Apaches and Yavapais who came to this holy site for spiritual and cultural respect in order to give thanks and revive their hopes and their beliefs in their never ending struggles to survive. The perseverance involved many long days filled with meetings at all levels; planning and strategizing in the best interest of the people, and honoring the cultural gifts of spirituality, the tides have turned.

The dedication and hard work has lead to what once seemed to appear impossible to a shining glimmer of hope. The Land Swap proposal Bill S409 is presently stalled in congress, it is stopped! Why? S409 was stopped due to a disregard of environmental laws such as the National Environmental Policy Act (NEPA) among others. In fact, during the introduction of S409 on June 18, 2009, Forest Service Deputy Chief Joel Holtrop told the Senate Public Lands and Forests Senate Subcommittee that the Administration has serious concerns about S409 regarding the environment as a result of the San Carlos Apache Tribe voicing its opposition with reference to the cultural significance of Oak Flat and the environmental impact to the land.

All the while this intense and controversial litigation happening in Washington D.C., not much was communicated from the Arizona congressional delegation.

The historic maneuvering by Chairman Nosie has resulted in Interior Secretary Ken Salazar visiting Oak Flat on August 21, 2009 and meeting with the leaders of the San Carlos Apache Tribe, White Mountain Apache and Fort McDowell Yavapai Nation to hear the other side that Resolution Copper failed to include in their communication to congress.

The complete lack of respect and lack of inclusion of Arizona’s sovereign nations, the Apaches and Yavapais by Arizona’s United States Senators John McCain and Jon Kyl in addition to our Congressional Representative, Ann Kirkpatrick was inexcusable. The government to government relationship was neither considered nor respectfully taken into account. Lastly, the voice of individual citizens was not honored as their was no town hall meeting held at San Carlos as they had equally important concerns regarding Oak Flat.

Through Chairman Nosie’ efforts, the voices that had been ignored now boomed loudly at the Forest Service’ congressional testimony in June, 2009 and the recent face to face to meeting under the “Old Oak Tree” at Oak Flat in August, 2009. This notable event will be recorded in the history books to reflect an important meeting between two (2) governments: the United States of America and the San Carlos Apache Tribe.

The hope continues as most recently, Assistant Interior Secretary Larry Echohawk , a member of the Pawnee Nation of Oklahoma returned to Arizona and met at the Inter-Tribal Council of Arizona facility in Phoenix on September 28, 2009 with a number of Arizona’s Indian leaders . It was a follow up on the meeting held at Oak Flat back in August 2009. The Assistant Secretary’s visit shows that all parties involved in this controversy are heard and laws that protect the environment for the future of both wildlife and human habitat in our region will be followed for the very intent that they became law. The determination of the San Carlos Apace Tribe has begun to take hold in standing their ground in blocking this bill as it was significant both on a cultural and environmental basis.

Assistant Interior Secretary Larry Echohawk concluded at the ITCA meeting in Phoenix with, “I will do what I can to hear and help address the concerns and to work in the best interest of all Indigenous people of this country, including Arizona.”