2023 Archived Press Releases

For Immediate Release, October 27, 2023
Christian Prayer Rising at Oak Flat on November 4 Attracts Faith Leaders, Religious People from Across the Country to Pray and Stand in Unity with the Apache Stronghold for the Protection of Sacred Site, Oak Flat.
For Immediate Release, July 17, 2023
Politicians head to Arizona to tout destructive mining projectsHouse Republicans come to AZ to promote mining that will violate religious freedom and destroy the environment
For Immediate Release, May 20, 2023
Foreign Mining Giants Enter Legal Fight to Destroy Oak Flat, United States government teams up with Rio Tinto to destroy Native sacred site
For Immediate Release, May 19, 2023
UNITED STATES ACKNOWLEDGES THEIR ERROR IN FORECASTING THE ISSUANCE OF FINAL EIS ON OAK FLAT NEWS RELEASE (Naelyn Pike Statement)
For Immediate Release: May 18, 2023
UNITED STATES ACKNOWLEDGES THEIR ERROR IN FORECASTING THE ISSUANCE OF FINAL EIS ON OAK FLAT NEWS RELEASE | USDOJ Correspondence to Ninth Circuit Court Concerning Timing of EIS Completion (Wendsler Nosie Statement)
April 21, 2023 Apache activist Wendsler Nosie seeks Rochester allies in fight against mining on sacred land | WXXI News, April 21, 2023
Wendsler Nosie, an environmental activist and former tribal chairman for the San Carlos Apache Tribe, is in Rochester this week to discuss the fight to prevent the federal government from selling a chunk of sacred land to copper mining company Resolution Copper. Nosie is scheduled to give a talk at Ganondagan State Historic Site at 1 p.m. on Saturday, April 22, presented by RIT’s Native American Future Stewards program. He's also slated to visit SUNY Geneseo on Wednesday, April 26, to deliver the keynote address for Geneseo’s annual Great Day event, and he’s scheduled to speak at the Downtown United Presbyterian Church on Thursday, April 27, for an Earth Day event organized by the Gandhi Institute. His talk, titled “The Rumbling of Sacred Spaces: An Earth Day Message,” will touch on the fight for Oak Flat, and is part of a national tour of speaking engagements to raise awareness on the issue.
For Immediate Release: April 21, 2023
Foreign mining giants enter legal fight to seize sacred Native land Rio Tinto and BHP’s Resolution Copper seeks to join forces with the feds to destroy Oak Flat
Media Contact: Ryan Colby | media@becketlaw.org | 202-349-7219 | Becket Press Release @
https://www.becketlaw.org/media/foreign-mining-giants-enter-legal-fight-to-seize-sacred-native-land/
April 10, 2023 NGO Letter to President Biden RE: Please protect sacred Oak Flat and Native Copper American culture from Resolution
Center for Biological Diversity • Earthjustice • League of Conservation Voters • Natural Resources Defense Council • The Wilderness Society • Patagonia • A Community Voice • Access Fund • American University Washington College of Law's Environmental Law Society • American University Washington College of Law Native American Law Students Association • Archaeology Southwest • Arizona Faith Network • Arizona List • Arizona Sustainability Alliance • Arizona Working Families Party • Black Hills Clean Water Alliance • Brophy Native American Club • Chispa Arizona • Clean Water Alliance • Dos Aguas of the Southwest • Friends of Buckingham • Great Old Broads of Wilderness • High Country Conservation Advocates • Indigenou tagonia • A Community Voice • Access Fund • American University Washington College of Law's Environmental Law Society • American Un s Environmental Network • Living United for Change in Arizona • Malach Consulting • Mennonite Central Committee U.S. • Micah Six Eight Mission • Multicultural Alliance for a Safe Environment • Northeastern Minnesotans for Wilderness • Okanogan Highlands Alliance • Rock Creek Alliance • Rosewood Strong Community • Save the Scenic Santa Ritas • Spaces of Opportunity • The Clinch Coalition • Uranium Watch • Wateća Challenge • West Street Recovery Northeast Action Collective • Western Mining Action Network- Indigenous Caucus • Xplore Outside
April 5, 2023 Grijalva Urges Biden Administration to Save Oak Flat From Foreign Company Backed by Chinese Government, Requests Committee Hearing Mining
March 28, 2023 Apache Stronghold Letter to U.S. Congress, Religious leaders and People of America
For Immediate Release: March 15, 2023
Apache Stronghold back in court fighting for Oak Flat Ninth Circuit to rehear appeal of Native Americans and their allies
Media Contact: Ryan Colby | media@becketlaw.org | 202-349-7219
WASHINGTON – A group of Western Apaches, tribal leaders, faith leaders, National Congress of American Indians, the Advisory Council on Historic Preservation and grassroots organizations are headed back to federal court to protect their most sacred site from complete destruction by a foreign-owned mining company. On Tuesday, the Ninth Circuit will hear arguments again in Apache Stronghold v. United States after the court decided last fall to hear the case “en banc” — meaning in front of a full panel of eleven judges. Becket, along with attorneys Michael V. Nixon and Clifford Levenson, are defending the Apache’s’ right to continue their longstanding religious practices at Oak Flat.
For Immediate Release: March 11, 2023
APACHE STRONGHOLD vs. UNITED STATES PRELIMINARY INJUNCTION EN BANC HEARING MARCH 21, 2023 AT 10 A.M.
Apache Stronghold will travel to the Hearing on a Spiritual Convoy, traveling to Pasadena, California beginning Sunday March 12th. The convoy, in prayer, will visit supporting Tribes, Churches and organizations leading to the 9th circuit Appeal court en banc hearing to protect a Sacred and Holy land, Oak Flat. We invite all to join us in the journey to Pasadena to be present for our Appeal Hearing. The schedule for the convoy is attached.
For Immediate Release: January 10, 2023
Diverse coalition urges federal appeals court to protect Oak Flat Legal experts, native tribes, and religious groups seek protection of historic Native American sacred site in Arizona | Contact: Ryan Colby | media@becketlaw.org | 202-349-7219 | Dr. Wendsler Nosie Sr. | apaches4ss@yahoo.com | 928-812-4821