A Native American group is asking the U.S. Supreme Court to prevent Rio Tinto from developing a copper mine on sacred Arizona land, citing religious rights.
Ernest Scheyder reports for Reuters.
In short:
- Apache Stronghold, a Native American nonprofit, asked the Supreme Court to overturn a ruling that allows the Resolution Copper project to move forward.
- The land in question, Oak Flat Campground, is sacred to the Apache tribe, who argue the mine would destroy their worship site.
- The mine project would yield over 40 billion pounds of copper, key for electronics and electric vehicles.
Key quote:
“That legal argument is astonishingly broad and harmful to Native Americans and people of all faiths.”
— Luke Goodrich, Becket attorney
Why this matters:
The case highlights tensions between energy development and Indigenous religious rights. The Supreme Court’s decision could set a precedent on the balance between national interests and constitutional freedoms.
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