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Superior Sun
Last month, citizens opposed to the Resolution Copper Project presented their views, concentrating on Oak Flats and the cultural significance that some members of the San Carlos Apache Indian Tribe place on the area.
This month, those who are in favor of the project presented their side of the issue to the Superior Town Council at a special meeting held Aug. 13.
The Superior Copper Alliance is a group that was “founded to support and promote responsible economic development in Superior and hold elected officials accountable” according to its Facebook page. They are changing the name to Copper Community Alliance to welcome those people from other communities outside Superior that are interested in joining their group and that support responsible mining and the Resolution Copper project.
Five members spoke out in support of the Rio Tinto Resolution Copper project in Superior: Carl Vogler, Susan Anderson, Tiffany Rowell, Karen Jones and Kathy Kitcheyan. They said there is a lot of conflicting information and misinformation about the project being spread by people and in the media.
One of the major points that those opposed to the project have said is that Apache Leap will collapse subsiding as the minerals are mined deep under the local wonder. Those who spoke last week refuted that claim. They also refuted the claim that rock climbing will be prevented. In fact, one of the presenters said, Resolution will set aside additional places for rock climbing.
If the project is approved and finalized, the Resolution Copper project will provide 25 percent of the copper needed by the United States; 3,700 jobs will be created; $20 million will be paid in state taxes. They also said that 84 percent of the people in the corridor support the mine opening.
Two members of the San Carlos Apache Tribe spoke about the high rate of unemployment (75 percent) on the San Carlos Reservation and that Oak Flats was never a sacred area for the Apache.
Kathy Kitcheyan is an educator and a former Chairwoman of the San Carlos Apache Tribal Council. She opened her speech in Apache and then explained in English that it is traditional when an Apache speaks in public to “acknowledge our clans.” Kathy told the Superior Town Council that her father was a medicine man and other ancestors were also medicine men. She is one of the few tribal members that can read and write the Apache language.
Kathy talked about the oral traditions of her people where history was not written but passed along in stories. She said that it was “never ever mentioned that Oak Flats was of significant interest or value.” She said it was a “rest stop” and an area where acorns were gathered. Even now she added, the Elders who do not want to speak about it have told her that Oak Flat is not sacred land.
She also talked about the youth needing employment, that they are losing hope and that a “silent majority” of the people on the reservation support the opening of the mine.
Go online to www.copperarea.com to view a video from last week’s meeting. A link will also be posted on the newspaper’s Facebook page at www.facebook.com/copperarea.
John Hernandez lives in Oracle. He is retired and enjoys writing and traveling. He is active in the Oracle Historical Society. He covers numerous public events, researches historical features and writes business/artist profiles.
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