Sen. Bernie Sanders (I-Vermont), third from left in back row, with tribal leaders and tribal members in Washington, D.C., on November 4, 2015. Photo from Twitter

Stephen Fox seeks support for S.2242, the Save Oak Flat Act, a bill introduced by Sen. Bernie Sanders (I-Vermont), the Democratic presidential candidate. The bill ensures that Oak Flat, a sacred Apache site, won't be harmed by a copper mine in Arizona:

Tribes nation-wide and other Americans across the country deeply appreciate Senator Bernie Sanders’ efforts in the U.S. Senate to protect tribal sacred land in Arizona known as Oak Flat, located on U.S. Forest Service land, from destruction by foreign-owned mining conglomerates Rio Tinto and BHP Billiton through their U.S. limited liability company Resolution Copper Mining.

Taking on these mining companies and fighting back against the millions of dollars these companies and their allies spent and continue to spend on lobbyists and political contributions, Senator Sanders introduced S. 2242, the Save Oak Flat Act, to correct not only an injustice to Native Americans but also against the American people. This situation is generally unknown to most American citizens. Sanders’ legislation, the Save Oak Flat Act, would repeal Section 3003, the Southeast Arizona Land Exchange Act (Land Exchange), of the FY 2015 National Defense Authorization Act, which would privatize part of the Tonto National Forest and transfer Oak Flat, a sacred area of Apaches and other Native Americans, to Resolution Copper Mining, jointly owned by foreign-owned mining companies BHP Billiton (United Kingdom) and Rio Tinto (Australia), resulting in the destruction of this sacred area. Resolution Copper Mining seeks to develop the largest copper mine in North America on this sacred land that will result in the collapse of an area at least 2 miles in diameter and the destruction of the Oak Flat area.

The Save Oak Flat Act would immediately halt this giveaway of land and natural resources owned by the American people to foreign-owned mining companies. Sanders' bill is cosponsored by New Mexico's Senator Martin Heinrich and Wisconsin Senator Tammy Baldwin.

Get the Story:
Stephen Fox: Sanders Champions Legislation to Protect Oak Flat (Indian Country Today 3/2)

Related Stories:
Cronkite News: Lawmakers fight designation for sacred Oak Flat (3/2)
Updates from National Congress of American Indians DC session (02/25)
Bill in Senate repeals rider for mine at sacred Apache site (11/06)
Tribal leaders to appear at House roundtable on sacred sites (11/3)
Karen Kitcheyan Jones: Site not sacred to the Apache people (10/15)
Julian Brave NoiseCat: Sen. John McCain sells out on sacred sites (09/28)
Angela Aleiss: San Carlos Apache Tribe battles for sacred site (09/16)
Steven Newcomb: Sen. McCain to blame for shady land swap (08/18)
Dale Miles: Site was never sacred to San Carlos Apache Tribe (8/14)
Tara Houska: DC rally puts focus on threats to sacred Oak Flat (07/30)
War of words escalates on mine at sacred Apache site in Arizona (7/27)
EJ Montini: Money wins in war to protect sacred Apache site (7/24)
San Carlos Apache Tribe clashes with Rep. Gosar after rally (7/23)
San Carlos Apache Tribe lands in DC to rally for sacred site (7/22)
Interview: San Carlos Apache Tribe fights mine at sacred site (7/20)
Ernie Stevens: Support sacred Oak Flat and the Apache Stronghold (07/08)
Company pushing mine at sacred site gives $10K to Apache youth (07/08)
House adds sacred sites amendment to Interior appropriations bill (07/08)
Save Oak Flat caravan exits Arizona for journey to nation's capital (7/7)
Sen. McCain deemed responsible for land swap at sacred Oak Flat (7/2)
Save Oak Flat caravan plans journey to DC to protect sacred site (7/1)
Bill repeals land swap for mine on sacred Apache site in Arizona (06/19)
Supporters open national prayer days to protect sacred places (6/19)
March planned in nation's capitol over mine at sacred Apache site (06/04)
Steve Russell: Take fight over sacred Apache site to higher court (6/3)
Lydia Millet: Selling off sacred Apache land to foreign interests (5/29)
Rep. Ann Kirkpatrick to challenge Sen. John McCain in 2016 race (5/27)
Wendsler Nosie: US government approves theft of sacred land (02/20)
San Carlos Apache Tribe leads 40-mile march for sacred site (02/06)
San Carlos Apache Tribe to hold spiritual march to sacred site (2/3)
Michael Paul Hill: Saving sacred Apache land from exploitation (2/3)
Opinion: Tribal sovereignty ignored when it becomes unprofitable (01/19)
White House responds to petition against mine at sacred site (01/13)
Steven Newcomb: Sacred lands are Christmas gift for mining firm (12/29)
Apache Messenger: Crowd protests copper mine on sacred lands (12/22)
Congress passes bill with mine on sacred Apache land in Arizona (12/15)
Senate heads to final vote on package with mine on sacred land (12/12)
Rep. Gosar won't apologize for calling Native Americans 'wards' (12/11)
Jon Kyl: Land swap for mine on sacred Apache land isn't unusual (12/11)
Terry Rambler: Defense measure raids sacred places for one mine (12/10)
Affiliated Tribes of Northwest Indians join fight against mine deal (12/9)
Great Plains tribes call for removal of land swap from defense bill (12/8)
Senate expected to approve defense bill for mine on sacred lands (12/8)
Opinion: No sacred Apache lands in swap for copper mine project (12/8)
House approves bill to authorize mine on sacred site in Arizona (12/4)
Apache Messenger: Younger generation returns to sacred site (10/10)
San Carlos Apache Tribe testifies against land swap measure (11/21)
Tribal lobbying halts measure for copper mine by sacred site (11/14)