Protect Chi’chil Bildagoteel (Oak Flat)& the 50th Anniversary Wounded Knee Pt.2

American Indian Airwaves

Part 1 The Apache Stronghold with Indigenous allies and US and international supporters have tirelessly been working to stop a nearly eight-year-long process to exchange Oak Flat, a 2,200-acre site in Tonto National Forest, to Resolution Cooper, a subsidiary of Rio Tinto and BHP, which plans to construct one of the largest cooper and ore mining pits in the world. The mining project would not only and permanently destroy the active cultural and sacred site that would result in compounded and contributory forms of genocide towards many Native American nations, but once complete the mining project is completed, it would leave 1,000-foot-deep crater over 2 miles across and use enough water to supply a city of 140,000 annually for its estimated life. In 2015 when the United States congress passed the annual National Defense Authorization Act (NDAA), it included the rider: The Southeastern Arizona Land Exchange and Conservation Act 2014 (“Act”) authorizing the United State Forest Service to exchange lands to Resolution Cooper. Since 2015, the Apache Stronghold along with allies have been the forefront at trying to stop the land exchange including legally challenging the US government. We begin today’s interview with Lian Bighorse and Vanessa Nosie, of the Apache Stronghold on the Spiritual Convoy to the 9th Circuit Court of Appeals, which concludes on the court date of March 21st, 2023, in Pasadena, CA where the “Court” could rule that the Oak Flat Land Exchange Act of 2014 is illegal and therefore prevent the proposed construction of Resolution Cooper’s proposed copper and ore open-pit mine. Guests: Lian Bighorse and Vanessa Nosie, Native American activists, plus more, of the Apache Stronghold. Website: Apache-Stronghold, click here. (http://apache-stronghold.com/) Facebook, click here. (https://www.facebook.com/SaveOakFlatArizona/) Linktree, click here (https://linktr.ee/saveoakflat) Part 2 2023 marks the 50th Anniversary of the Occupation of Wounded Knee which is the outcome of over 200 members of the American Indian Movement and supporters occupying Wounded Knee, Lakota Nation (South Dakota) for 71 days from February 27th, 1973, to May 8th, 1973. The Occupation of Wounded Knee was in response to a call to action for help from traditional Lakota residents whose civil, human, and Treaty of Fort Laramie rights were constantly being violated by corrupt Native American and United States government officials. The Wounded Knee Occupation resulted in a 71-day military standoff with U.S. government officials – the largest military attack in United States history, and quickly drew domestic and international support from people, organizations, and foreign governments throughout the world. Today’s guest was a rookie NPR reporter on his first assignment, covering the entire occupation of Wounded Knee in the Lakota Nation (South Dakota) in 1973. Under a United States government media blackout prohibiting journalists to enter Wounded Knee, our guest managed to enter Wounded Knee where he spent the entire 71 days interviewing Native American activists, participating in community gatherings, and documenting what happened inside of Wounded Knee as well as recording the corrupt and militarized actions of the Guardians of the Oglala Nation (GOONs), the Federal Bureau of Investigation (F.B.I.) and other government agencies actions. Archived programs can be heard on Soundcloud at: https://soundcloud.com/burntswamp American Indian Airwaves streams on over ten podcasting platforms such as Amazon Music, Apple Podcast, Audible, Backtracks.fm, Gaana, Google Podcast, Fyyd, iHeart Media, Player.fm, Podbay.fm, Podcast Republic, SoundCloud, Spotify, Stitcher, Tunein, YouTube, and more.