My identify is Laak’os Dagozhoogo Parsons. I’m Chippewa Cree from Northern Montana, and I come from the “Within the entrance on the finish” Bedonkohe band of the Chiricahua Apache in Arizona.
Because it has for generations earlier than me, the US authorities is constant its mission to erase Indigenous folks from our land and our faith.
On April 18, Donald Trump’s administration determined to push the Resolution Copper Mine at Oak Flat to a brand new precedence record in a part of the president’s government order to extend home mineral manufacturing, which he signed March 20, regardless of the awaited determination by the Supreme Courtroom on lawsuits over the proposed mine.
I’m urging not solely the federal courts to get up however for the entire nation to get up! This combat goes past the boundaries of Indigenous folks. Not solely are our non secular rights being affected, however our water, land and human rights are additionally being threatened.
Oak Flat is a holy place the place God touched the earth and from the place my folks originated. God created Oak Flat — similar to the Backyard of Eden — for the folks and the animals. For Apache folks, we have now a non secular connection that’s intertwined with the land. If Oak Flat is destroyed, how would future generations really feel the identical connection as these earlier than us?
As Indigenous folks, we really feel that the land and the individuals are one. Our individuals are not solely related to the land contained in the boundaries of the reservation created by the US once they made us prisoners of struggle however all of the land.
Six months in the past, I used to be blessed to have my coming-of-age ceremony at Oak Flat. I had dreamt of getting this dance as a little bit woman whereas watching these earlier than me do the identical. Many non secular issues occurred throughout my dance, however three recollections stick out essentially the most to me.

The primary is after I noticed a gila monster roaming the world of my camp. The gila monster represents sturdy drugs and is the oldest reptile amongst those who lived when my ancestors have been free. I felt as if the gila monster represented my ancestors watching over me throughout this non secular time.
Second, I noticed little ladies taking a look at me with admiration in the course of the ceremony. This was the identical means I as soon as felt seeing these earlier than me and understanding I used to be at some point going to change into the White Painted Girl. It was additionally unimaginable to look at the little boys standing with delight as they drummed and sang our Apache songs subsequent to the drugs males and camp singers. How can we not combat for his or her existence?
Lastly, on the finish of my ceremony, when my godmother took me to Nizhoni Butterfly Spring Canyon to wash the gleesh (white paint) out of my hair, there was no water left within the spring. Decision Copper had already begun pumping out the groundwater, and now the spring sits empty. With out water, there is no such thing as a life.

When will we get up? The earth is getting hotter, we are going to want all of the water we have now in Arizona to stay — and the remainder of the world will want their water too. How can our nation do that to its personal folks to learn a overseas mining firm? And let’s not overlook in regards to the poisonous waste that can be left for us to cope with. What occurs when Decision Copper leaves with their wallets full? We can be left with air pollution, contamination, sickness and no water.
I urge the Supreme Courtroom to not solely shield my non secular non secular rights, however my human rights to this holy place, as they’d give the identical safety to the holiest church buildings all through this nation.
I urge the folks throughout this nation to get up and notice that the US authorities is selecting greed over my folks and the folks of this nation. Our combat is your combat. We aren’t any completely different.

I’m the product of my ancestors — they shed their blood for me to proceed with our traditions and tradition. I’m resilient, and I’ll maintain combating for my lifestyle so future generations and people but to be born can see, stay and contact this holy place. I’ll proceed to combat for individuals who don’t have any voice as a result of they too need to be heard. I’ll defend Oak Flat as a result of nobody ought to ever need to really feel like they’re getting ripped away from their mom.
We can’t let the US and companies maintain stripping minerals from Mom Earth. We should not overlook that Mom Earth is the rationale we stay and breathe every single day.
Laak’os Parsons is a 14-year-old Chippewa Cree / Chiricahua Apache. She is an Apache Stronghold member and a Spirit of the Mountain Runner.
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