Members of the Western Shoshone Nation of Nevada are awaiting U.S. Supreme Court action on a sacred site case.

A group that includes the South Fork Band Council of Western Shoshone, the Timbisha Shoshone Tribe and the Western Shoshone Defense Project sued the the Interior Department over a proposed gold mine. The tribes say the massive development will harm Mount Tenabo, a sacred site.

But the tribes have agreed to drop their case unless the Supreme Court agrees to accept Navajo Nation v. U.S. Forest Service. Both cases affect tribal rights under the Religious Freedom Restoration Act.

In the meantime, a federal magistrate ordered the Western Shoshone plaintiffs to turn over a list of tribal members who have visited Mount Tenabo. The list was requested by Barrick Gold Corporation of Canada.

Get the Story:
Court calls for names of religious visitors to Cortez Hills (The Elko Daily Press 5/2)

Related Stories:
Judge won't block mine near Western Shoshone site (1/27)
Tribes ask Supreme Court to hear sacred site case (01/06)
Judge hears Western Shoshone suit against mine (12/02)
Western Shoshones sue Interior over gold mine (11/24)