FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
San Carlos, AZ – Tribal elders of the San Carlos Apache Tribe are geared up to join the Protect Oak Flat Street Fair that is slated for Sunday, April 19th in Tucson, in conjunction with Cyclovia Tucson, a car-free community celebration.
Apache Elders at Oak Flat
“We are Apaches and we never give up,” pointed out Anthony Logan, Holy Ground Medicine Man, in his native San Carlos Apache language. We are here in prayer and still occupying our sacred ancestral land. Creator God gave us this land to take care of and to continue our Holy Ground ceremonies.”
“We have a responsibility to take care of our sacred sites and we will be blessed for our sacrifices made on behalf of our Mother Earth. We are still here at Chi’Chil’Bilda’Goteel,” concluded Medicine Man Logan.
Apache Stronghold has maintained a continuous “occupation” of the proposed mine site since February 7th, 2015.
“We continue to stand up and advocate for our Apache way of life, what we believe and what we have been taught by our ancestors,” says Audrey Johnson, tribal elder, in her native San Carlos Apache language. “Oak Flat is known to us as Chi’Chil’Bilda’Goteel and our Apache people and other Indigenous Peoples from all over have been occupying our ancestral land there. We are still opposing the Southeast Arizona Land Exchange where Resolution Copper Company under Rio Tinto/BHP is proposing to build a $64.1 billion dollar mine at Oak Flat. One of the key players in this “land grab” is Arizona Senator John McCain. He appears to have no disregard to our Apache People and our way of life. Shame on him.”
“Our waters will be contaminated and our ancestral land will forever be destroyed and our ceremonial and holy sites and even burial sites and we want the world to know that we oppose such desecration by a foreign company,” concluded tribal elder, Audrey Johnson.
What: Protect Oak Flat Street Party
Where: 238 E. 26th street
When: Sunday, April 19th, 10am-3pm
Everyone is invited to join in the cause from 10:00 a.m. to 3:00 p.m. and for more information, contact Wendsler Nosie, Sr., at (928) 200-5045 or Sandra Rambler at (928) 951-6939. Or visit www.Apache-Stronghold.com
