Apache Stronghold: Defend Oak Flats

A Call to Defend the Holy: Oak Flat
4-6 p.m. Sunday, September 7
Presbyterian Church of Oakland
2619 Broadway, Oakland

For the past 11 years, the San Carlos Apache have fought to protect and save their sacred land, Oak Flat, which is about 2 hours outside of Phoenix, Arizona. In 2014, Sen. McCain added a rider to a defense bill that began the possibility of the sale of Oak Flat to a multi-national copper mining company, Resolution Copper. This company would mine Oak Flat’s copper deposit resulting in a 1-mile crater where the sacred ground presently stands, as well as ground water contamination, air pollutants and destruction of the surrounding wildlife. Oak Flat would be destroyed entirely by copper mining. There are many aspects of religious significance of Oak Flat for the Apache, but one of the primary ones is it is the site for the sunrise ceremonies or coming of age ritual for young girls. It is considered the holiest site for the Apache people, having a similar significance to Jews and Christians of Mount Sinai.

The Apache Stronghold, founded by Wendsler Nosie, Sr., is the organizing body leading the fight to save Oak Flat through a spiritual battle that is also using legal means, and political education. The Apache Stronghold is in coalition with over 200 other Native American tribes, dozens of denominations and national faith bodies, and thousands of spiritual leaders across the United States (and world). At present there is a temporary injunction halting the land sale until the 9th Circuit Court can hear the case regarding religious freedom.

Concept:

Oak Flat represents many interconnected issues woven clearly into a battle against evil. It is about land occupation and environmental devastation. It is tied directly to the battles we see for our common humanity where companies and capital come first, and immigrants, unhoused people, indigenous communities, Black and brown communities and poor communities are disposable. It is also about the fight for a sacred place where women lead and come into a ritual affirming the divine feminine. This is why the communities fighting to save Oak Flat include religious people of all faiths, immigrants, survivors of Japanese internment camps and other communities facing displacement, environmentalists, and many others.

Oak Flat is a call to defend the holy. With the divisions and inaction present amongst religious progressives, the struggle to defend Oak Flat could be the path to a deeper spiritual education, seeding a vision and a network for interfaith movement committed to a radical multicultural pro-democracy movement, as well as a place of grief and lament for all that truly has been lost to us. It could help build movement and resurgence of energy for the many issues and places where people are occupied and isolated right now.

Come listen to Dr. Wendsler Nosie, Sr., founder of Apache Stronghold at 4-6 p.m., September 7, at First Presbyterian Church, 2619 Broadway, Oakland.

INFO: Rev. Leslie Takahashi leslie@mduuc.org