Native Issues
Indigenous Rights
Jun 10, 2025

Judge delays transfer of Oak Flat sacred site


June 10, 2025

A federal judge in Phoenix issued an injunction Friday that delays the transfer of Oak Flat, an Indigenous religious site in Arizona, to a multinational copper mining company, according to reporting by Grist. The judge called for a 60-day delay to allow advocates for Oak Flat to review an upcoming U.S. Forest Service environmental impact statement, expected June 16. The San Carlos Apache Tribe and a coalition of organizations, including the Center for Biological Diversity and a local Sierra Club Chapter, requested the delay. This decision comes after the United States Supreme Court declined to hear an appeal in the case more than a week ago, allowing a lower court order approving the transfer to stand.

We provide the independent reporting that non-Native, extractive outlets often overlook. We give our communities the context and the facts they need to make informed decisions.

As a 501(c)(3) nonprofit, we exist to illuminate tribal government decision-making for everyone who cares about transparency about Native issues. Because the consequences of restricted press freedom affect our communities every day, our trauma-informed reporting is rooted in a deep, firsthand expertise. Every gift helps keep the fire burning. A monthly contribution makes the biggest impact.