BY LARS ÅKERSON Lars Åkerson is an interpreter and a Coalition member. THIS APPEARS IN THE MARCH 2022 ISSUE OF SOJOURNERS. SUBSCRIBE AND READ THE FULL TEXT OF THE ARTICLE HERE. WHEN MAYA COMMUNITY educator Wilma Esquivel Pat opened a recent forum on the autonomy of Indigenous peoples, her remarks recalled her people’s struggle for self-determination in … Continue reading ECHOES OF COLONIALISM

by Carol Rose, February 2022 February 17-20 was an annual gathering at Oak Flat.  This year runners and walkers arrived with prayer on their sneakers from all four directions, plus a group from the Poor People’s Campaign representing many directions.   Prayer runners were high school students and 60+ years old.  Prayers pounded an abandoned … Continue reading Oak Flat: Prayer Run from all 4 Directions and a Non-Consultation

Reflection July 2021 by Carol Rose There are many ways sacred land can be under fire.  For many years Chich’il Bildagoteel, sacred land also known as Oak Flat, has been threatened with destruction by being hollowed out and collapsed by a copper mine.  This season the threat of fire has also been literal.  The first … Continue reading What prayer does when Oak Flat is under fire

Español abajo For the Maya, the jungle is a sacred living being. The jungle shelters us, feeds us, heals us, and gives us tools and materials to build our homes and those of the animals. For us, the jungle is shelter. It is the skin and clothing of our Mother Earth. From our worldview, the … Continue reading Maya Struggles for Mother Earth: A guest post by Manuel May with Ka’ Kuxtal Much Meyaj

At the entrance to the womblike valley of Oak Flat, near the deeply rooted ancient oaks, Wendsler Noisie, San Carlos Apache leader, talked with me about about questions raised by a U.S. Forestry official. He asked why did they included non-Apache/settlers who also said that Oak Flat is sacred among the responses of the Environmental … Continue reading Oak Flat is Sacred… and not only to the San Carlos Apache!