Seattle, WA (Grist) - Even as Oak Flat moves ahead, the mining industry commits to voluntary guidelines to consult with communities.

In mid-April, the Trump administration cleared the way for a controversial copper mine proposed for western Arizona. The mine would destroy parts of Chi”chil Biłdagoteel -- known as “Oak Flat” in English -- over the objections of the San Carlos Apache Tribe and at least 21 other tribal nations. The administration then fast-tracked the project to fulfill President Donald Trump’s goal of more aggressively developing domestic minerals such as copper and gold, which are essential for renewable energy technologies. Nine other mining projects were also fast-tracked, seven of them located in the Western U.S.

News Source : https://www.oregonlive.com/native-american-news/2025/05/at-un-mining-groups-tout-protections-for-indigenous-people.html