John,

Chí’chil Biłdagoteel, known as Oak Flat, is a sacred site in Arizona with cultural, spiritual, and historical significance for multiple Indigenous tribes.

It is not only a place of profound spiritual significance to Indigenous people, it is also an essential ecosystem for numerous species of plants and wildlife and is home to ancient petroglyphs, burial sites, and other cultural artifacts that tell the story of a rich history spanning thousands of years.

All of this is now threatened by Rio Tinto Resolution Copper Mining, which has a long history of environmental disasters and disregard for the rights of Indigenous people. Just three years ago they destroyed two ancient Aboriginal rock shelters in Australia, showing that they will destroy the sacred lands of Oak Flat if given the chance.

This beautiful landscape, rich in cultural heritage and biodiversity, will be gone forever unless a movement of people joins together to stop it.

The future of Oak Flat and the cultural heritage of these Indigenous communities now rests in the hands of Agriculture Secretary Tom Vilsack, who can stop the destruction by withholding the publication of the Final Environmental Impact Statement.

Act now to save Oak Flat and urge Vilsack to intervene and halt the mining project, preserving this sacred site for future generations.

The Indigenous communities connected to Oak Flat have maintained a deep spiritual connection to the land for countless generations and have acted as the guardians of Oak Flat's cultural heritage, preserving their ancestors' wisdom, stories, and traditions.

Their cultural practices are forever linked to Oak Flat, and the loss of this site would be a devastating blow to their cultural identity.

On top of that, Indigenous communities have been stewards of the environment, managing the land sustainably and ensuring the preservation of the region's biodiversity. The protection of Oak Flat is not only an act of preserving the cultural heritage of these communities but also a recognition of their valuable contributions to a deeper understanding of sustainable land management and the importance of preserving the environment for generations to come.

Protecting this vital Indigenous site would send a clear message that the United States respects and values the rights of Indigenous people and the sacred site while also setting a precedent for future preservation efforts across the country.

Now, the fate of Oak Flat lies in the hands of Agriculture Secretary Tom Vilsack, who has the authority to withhold the publication of the Final Environmental Impact Statement, effectively stopping the mining project.

Protect Oak Flat by urging Agriculture Secretary Tom Vilsack to withhold the publication of the Final Environmental Impact Statement.

Let us stand united to preserve Oak Flat and honor the Indigenous communities who have held this land sacred for millennia.

- Amanda

Amanda Ford, Director
Democracy for America
Advocacy Fund