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Apache Stronghold, a coalition of Apache people, other Native people, and non-Native allies, is vowing to continue to fight to protect a sacred site in Arizona.
This, after a federal court blow to the group’s effort to protect Oak Flat from mining.
The Ninth Circuit Court of Appeals ruled 6 to 5 in Apache Stronghold v. United States, that the federal government can transfer Oak Flat to Resolution Copper, a foreign-owned mining company.
The group hoped to stop the copper mine project by preventing the federal government from transferring the land saying the project violates religious freedom. The site is where Apache religious practices take place.
In a statement after the decision Friday, Dr. Wendsler Nosie of the Apache Stronghold said the ruling targets the spiritual lifeblood of his people, but it will not stop their struggle to save Oak Flat, and he vowed to appeal to the Supreme Court.
The lawsuit was filed in 2021.
The Ninth Circuit ruled that the mine is not subject to federal laws protecting religious freedom.
Becket law firm, which is representing Apache Stronghold, said the decision was by a bare majority, with five judges disagreeing saying the judges said the decision misreads precedent and uniquely harms Native American religious exercise.
In a statement, Resolution Copper welcomed the ruling and said the project will help supply copper to the U.S., create jobs, and boost Arizona’s economy.
Apache Stronghold has 90 days to appeal to the U.S. Supreme Court.
The Eastern Shoshone Tribe has received ten bison from Yellowstone National Park.
Wyoming Public Radio’s Olivia Weitz reports for the Mountain West News Bureau.
The Eastern Shoshone tribe received a family group from the bison conservation transfer program. Since the transfer program got started in 2019, the tribe has received a total of 15 Yellowstone bison. Eastern Shoshone tribal member Jason Baldes manages the tribe’s herd.
“The plans are to continue to grow the population and change land use so they have a place to exist and are protected under tribal law. This is a batch of animals that is very important because of their genetics, and lineage and descendancy,” he said.
Baldes says the tribe’s herd size is now 98 animals with bison also coming from other sources besides Yellowstone.
https://www.facebook.com/shoshonebuffalo/videos/1038533400776738
Bloom Communications in Alaska, is helping companies that want to do work with Indigenous communities with an emphasis on understanding cultural differences, bridging cultural gaps, and fueling collaboration.
Hannah Bissett from our flagship station KNBA has more about corporate culture camps recently started in Anchorage and Fairbanks.
Based in Fairbanks, Bloom Communications was founded five years ago by Sharleen Osbloom.
“Because of the misunderstandings and, really lack of knowledge from non-Native people about Alaska Native people, culture, how life is like in rural Alaska and therefore I created the corporate culture camps.”
She says that the camps could aid businesses in understanding the cultural nuances and norms one might expect in Indigenous communities in Alaska. The workshops also emphasize education in the complex network of corporations and businesses that impact Alaska Native people.
The training centers on the history, geographical locations, and their impacts on subsistence. The training is in-person and is two days in total.
“I created the sessions to be very interactive so that those that attend will have an experiential learning experience.”
Osbloom says it’s also important to understand communication challenges in rural communities.
“You may not always get someone on the phone because the phones don’t always work in rural Alaska. If you want to send a large document to someone by email, they may or may not receive it because of the amount of data it takes.”
Beyond the numbers, she says there’s something more important for urban companies to understand, how to build relationships.
“Try to make positive long-lasting connections with Alaska Native people and different organizations and companies. And so do so in a respectful and collaborative manner.”
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