Happy Monday!
Here are some of the articles you may have missed this past weekend:
Apache Stronghold Files Updated Lawsuit Over Oak Flat Land Transfer
A coalition of Western Apaches, other Native peoples, and non-Native allies filed an updated lawsuit in federal district court on Friday, seeking to halt the planned destruction of Oak Flat, a sacred Native American site, by a Chinese-owned mining company.
In Apache Stronghold v. United States, Apache Stronghold is challenging the federal government’s recent decision to transfer Oak Flat to Resolution Copper, which plans to develop a massive underground mine that would eventually collapse the site into a crater roughly two miles wide and 1,100 feet deep—effectively ending Apache religious practices tied to the land.
“We will never stop fighting,” said Wendsler Nosie Sr. of Apache Stronghold. “This is a struggle for the soul of our people. Oak Flat is where generations of Native peoples have come to connect with the Creator and Mother Earth. We pray the court reverses this illegal land grab so we can continue those time-honored traditions.”
Indian Health Service Announces New Round of Water Infrastructure Funding
The Indian Health Service (IHS) announced on Tuesday it will allocate $700 million in fiscal year 2026 funding to support drinking water and sanitation projects across Indian Country, marking a major step in addressing long-standing infrastructure gaps in Tribal communities.
The funding comes through the Infrastructure Investment and Jobs Act, which provides a total of $3.5 billion to IHS between fiscal years 2022 and 2026 to build and upgrade critical Tribal water infrastructure. Projects include improvements to drinking water systems, wastewater treatment, and solid waste disposal facilities.
“Clean drinking water and sanitation are fundamental public health priorities, and too many communities across Indian Country still lack these basic services,” said Robert F. Kennedy Jr.. “Through the Infrastructure Investment and Jobs Act, we are delivering projects that expand access and improve conditions, and we will continue prioritizing Tribal health as a central part of our mission to Make America Healthy Again.”
Hualapai Tribe Mourns Former Chairwoman Louise Benson, Visionary Behind Skywalk
The Hualapai Tribe is mourning the loss of its former chairwoman, Louise Benson, who is credited with leading the creation of the Grand Canyon Skywalk at Grand Canyon West—a project that continues to serve as a major economic driver for the tribe. The tribe announced Benson’s passing on April 18. She was 83.
The Grand Canyon Skywalk attracts between 800,000 and one million visitors each year.
Benson’s father, Sterling Mahone, served as tribal chairman and first envisioned the development of Grand Canyon West. Benson carried forward his dream after becoming chairwoman. Her leadership was instrumental in the realization of the Diamond Bar Road project, which created a vital connection to the Skywalk, according to the tribe.