Environment | National | Politics

Wife of Bernie Sanders slated to visit sacred Apache site in Arizona






Democratic presidential candidate Bernie Sanders and Jane Sanders. Photo from Facebook

Leaders and members of the San Carlos Apache Tribe of Arizona will welcome Jane Sanders, the wife of Democratic presidential candidate Bernie Sanders, to one of their sacred sites this Sunday.

Jane Sanders is traveling to Arizona to meet with the Apache Stronghold. Tribal council member Wendsler Nosie, Sr. Nosie started the group to protect Oak Flat, an important ceremonial and gathering site, from being harmed by a controversial copper mine.

"I’m so excited that presidential candidate Bernie Sanders’ wife, Jane, has committed to visit Oak Flat to discuss the occupation by the Stronghold,” Nosie said in a press release.

As the Senator from Vermont, Bernie Sanders is no stranger to Oak Flat. Last summer, he introduced S.2242, the Save Oak Flat Act, a bill that repeals a rider that authorized the Resolution Copper mine.


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

In a video message played at the National Congress of American Indians winter session in Washington, D.C., last month, Sanders said is working "to stop the corporate assaults of the Southeast Arizona Land Exchange Act in Arizona." He was referring to the Section 3003 of the National Defense Authorization Act, the provision paved the way for the development at Oak Flat.

Despite its high-profile sponsor, S.2242 has not received a hearing in the Senate, and H.R.2811, remains in limbo in the House. The bills are not likely to gain traction because most of Arizona's Congressional delegation has supported the controversial mine.

Two of those members -- Rep. Paul Gosar (R-Arizona) and Rep. Ann Kirkpatrick (D-Arizona), who is running for Senate -- have even been trying to prevent the inclusion of Oak Flat on the National Register of Historic Places even though such a designation would not rescind the rider. At their insistence, the National Park Service extended a comment period on the proposal but that ended on Friday.

"Federal policies must change for us and all Americans in this country in order to secure the future for those yet to be born," Nosie said. "We must not lose these holy places, for they are the fabric of who we are to Mother Earth.”

Federal Register Notice:
National Register of Historic Places; Notification of Extension of Comment Period for Pending Nomination of Chi'chil Bildagoteel (Oak Flats) Historic District (February 29, 2016)

Join the Conversation

Related Stories:
Stephen Fox: Bernie Sanders works to protect sacred Apache site (03/03)
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)