The sneaky provision was added by the House and Senate Armed Services Committee. It would transfer Apache lands in the Tonto National Forest to Resolution Copper, a subsidiary of Rio Tinto, an Australian-English mining company. And guess who was the driving force behind this provision? Arizona's own Sen. John McCain. I wonder what his cut is?
The tribal leaders happened to be in Washington, D.C. for a White House Tribal Nations conference. In this case, irony is definitely not fun. Terry Rambler, chairman of the San Carlos Apache tribe had this to say:
“Since time immemorial people have gone there. That’s part of our ancestral homeland. We’ve had dancers in that area forever – sunrise dancers – and coming-of-age ceremonies for our young girls that become women. They’ll seal that off. They’ll seal us off from the acorn grounds, and the medicinal plants in the area, and our prayer areas.”Republicans have been trying for years to take away this land and rape it of its minerals. Democrats have always been able to help the tribe block the land grab. But now, with a majority in both the House and the Senate, this theft is very likely.
If you haven't seen what copper mining can do to the environment, you need to read the EPA's study about radioactive minerals associated with copper mining. The tailings concentrate uranium, thorium and radium. In situ leaching can distribute these into the groundwater. What copper mining does to the environment is ugly and dangerous.
But you know this means nothing to Republicans when it comes to coddling their favorite corporations. So what if the Apache lose a sacred place? Money is what the Republicans worship.
The Apache blood in my veins (about 1/16) is running red-hot at this degradation even being considered on ancestral lands. Haven't we had enough of Manifest Destiny? Hasn't the American Indian been robbed enough already? Why is money more important than ancestral rites and religion?
This NDAA bill now goes to the Senate. Yes, the Democrats may be able to block it. For now. But you can bet it will be attached to another bill once the GOP takes over the Senate (sorry, I just threw up in my mouth a little). There is a petition you can sign to tell the White House to stop this evil theft. Please take a moment to sign it. Aheeiyeh.
H/T: Last Real Indians
