The Quechan Nation is again calling on a Canadian company to withdraw plans for a gold mine at a sacred site in California.

The tribe has been working to protect the Indian Pass area from development. The Interior Department and the state of California took steps to ensure Glamis Gold couldn't operate a mine at the site.

Glamis responded by taking the U.S. to the NAFTA arbitration tribunal, seeking $50 million in damages for not being able to develop the land. The tribunal, however, rejected the claim.

"The award shows that the Tribunal understood that the Indian Pass area is a sacred area to the Quechan people, worthy of protection from hard rock mining," Quechan Nation President Mike Jackson Sr. said in a press release. "After battling the mining company for nearly fifteen years, it is good to have this decided."

Goldcorp Inc., Canada’s largest gold mining company, purchased Glamis Gold in 2006.

Get the Story:
Goldcorp Loses Bid for $50 Million in Compensation From U.S. (Bloomberg News 6/9)
NAFTA Tribunal recognizes sacred place of Quechan Tribe – denies Glamis Gold's claim in full (Quechan Nation 6/9)
NAFTA Tribunal Dismisses Glamis Claim (State Department 9/6)