The U.S. Supreme Court has refused to weigh in on a case in which Native Americans of the Apache tribe sought to block efforts by two mining firms, BHP and Rio Tinto, from undertaking copper mining activities on land that the tribe regards as sacred according to their religious beliefs.
On Tuesday, the highest court in the U.S. turned down a request to hear the Apache Stronghold’s appeal against a lower federal court’s decision to let the mining project to proceed in Arizona. With this new decision, the mining giants now have leeway to proceed with their project.
The Apache community in that area refers to the land in question as Chi’chil Bildagoteel (Oak Flat). The area is awash with oak groves, and the native tribe asserts that they have used the location for a long time as a place of burial, prayer and other religious ceremonies. However, Resolution Copper, a joint-venture between BHP and Rio Tinto, sees the location as a place hosting the number two largest deposit of copper on the globe.
Back in 2014 while Barack Obama was president, Congress gave the nod to a decision to grant Resolution Copper 9.71 square kilometers of land within the state as a swap for other tracts of land the company owned in Arizona. This tract they were given included the land that the Apache claim is of sacred importance to them.
Consequent to that Congressional approval, the tribe initiated a legal challenge that lasted several years. The Apache insisted the land in question offered them a direct corridor through which they could access their creator. They added that the ceremonies and rites they carry out at Oak Flat cannot be undertaken anywhere else.
Furthermore, the appellants added that this proposed project is in violation of a treaty signed in 1852 between the Apaches and the American government. In that agreement, the government undertook to always protect that land in a bid to secure the long term happiness and prosperity of the tribe.
The court decision on Tuesday effectively shuts down all avenues for the Apaches to retain the land and use it as they have done throughout history. What is now foremost are the estimated 18 billion or more kilos of copper underneath the oak trees in the area.
These conflicts between indigenous groups or locals and mining firms have been avoided by firms like Aston Bay Holdings Ltd. (TSX.V: BAY) (OTCQB: ATBHF) that conduct their exploration and development activities in jurisdictions which aren’t linked to any religious or other sacred activities.
NOTE TO INVESTORS: The latest news and updates relating to Aston Bay Holdings Ltd. (TSX.V: BAY) (OTCQB: ATBHF) are available in the company’s newsroom at https://ibn.fm/ATBHF
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