Spiritual Significance & Faith Communities' Support
A Trump Executive Order Will Destroy Oak Flat, My People's Holy Land. We Must Fight Back.“I am urging not only the federal courts to wake up but for the whole country to wake up!” By Laak’os Parsons | HuffPost | May 1, 2025
Spiritual Significance
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Why Oak Flat is sacred to the San Carlos Apache Tribe
The Battle to Save Oak Flat | Liberty Magazine, Jan/Feb Edition | Reverend Jennifer Hawks, January 1, 2022 | "In the fight to save Oak Flat, supporters of religious freedom have an opportunity to come alongside our indigenous neighbors and stand with them as they fight for their ability to practice their religion. The First Amendment of the U.S. Constitution—“Congress shall make no law respecting an establishment of religion, or prohibiting the free exercise thereof”—enshrines these dual protections into federal law. But it is up to all of us to see that these protections extend equally to all Americans, not just those who worship like us."
Call to Prayer with the Apache Stronghold: To Remind Us We Are One Drum, One Prayer, One Circle
Kairos Center, Steve Pavey, October 21, 2021
Why Oak Flat in Arizona is a sacred space for the Apache and other Native Americans
RNS, Alejandra Molina, Emily McFarlan Miller, March 5, 2021
Defending Oak Flat and Deconstructing White Christian Privilege | Huffington Post, Jul 2015, Alison Harrington | "Last week, while addressing a crowd in Bolivia, Pope Francis asked for forgiveness: “I humbly ask forgiveness, not only for the offenses of the church herself, but also for crimes committed against the native peoples during the so-called conquest of America.”
Letters of Support: Faith Communities
Please Support H.R. 1884 Save Oak Flat Act | We write on behalf of the undersigned conservation, Indigenous, and religious groups representing millions of members and supporters to urge you to support H.R. 1884, the Save Oak Flat Act. July 8, 2021
Letter to President Biden from member, Social Justice Committee, Minister’s Conference of Winston-Salem & Vicinity & Participant, Apache-Stronghold on behalf of Bishop Todd Fulton and Dr. Keith Vereen, Co-Chairs, Social Justice Committee and Elder Tembila Covington, President, MSWSV. "On behalf of the undersigned religious freedom and human rights groups, organizations, and individuals, we write in support of protecting the sacred area known as Oak Flat located in the Tonto National Forest in southeastern Arizona. As voices from America’s religious community, we ask that your Administration would take all of the necessary steps to ensure protection of this place of sacred significance to Native peoples." Jan 2021
Oak Flat Statement of Support | Poor People's Campaign: A National Call For Moral Revival | From Bishop William J. Barber II, DMin and Rev. Dr. Liz Theoharis, Feb 10, 2022 "This land to the Apache people is as important as the national cathedral is to Americans, the Vatican is to Catholics, Jerusalem and the holy mount is to the Jewish people and Mecca is to Muslims."
The Environmental and Spiritual Significance of Chi’chil Biłdagoteel, an Apache Sacred Site
A Thesis Presented to The Faculty of the Environmental Program, The Colorado College by Emily Lucas, May 2017
Introduction: Indigenous peoples across the United States and around the world are disproportionately affected by environmental issues, including mining. Mining on tribal lands has created a plethora of environmental hazards, and side effects like tainted groundwater and tailings have increased rates of diseases like cancer in indigenous communities. Furthermore, the loss of traditional territory can be culturally and spiritually devastating, even in cases where the tribal government agreed to allow mining. Despite mining companies’ promises of economic opportunity, such jobs often fail to materialize, while negative consequences appear in abundance.
The Environmental and Spiritual Significance of Chi’chil Bildagoteel, an Apache Sacred Site PDF