“What’s happening here at Oak Flat to the Apache, is also happening to you and everywhere in America. And we know the answer to ‘How did it start?” - Dr. Wendsler Nosie Sr., Apache Stronghold

I met Dr. Wendsler Nosie, Sr. exactly 7 years ago from today and these were a few of his words that got my attention that day. Since then, Wendsler and the Apache Stronghold and more importantly, Oak Flat and Mother Earth have taught me to see with new eyes to understand the threat to our existence that we all face and the sacred gift of creation that we all stand to lose together. Last week on April 17, we learned that the U.S. federal government is planning to move forward with the transfer and destruction of Oak Flat to a foreign mining company all while their case to protect Oak Flat has been submitted to the U.S. Supreme Court.

Wendsler went on to share more with me that day 7 years ago saying that“What will save America is to recognize America’s ugly history. We have to go back to the beginning, to its first chapter.” What we all have to open our hearts to see is that while Oak Flat and the Apache religion is under imminent threat of destruction, so is all of creation. And the threat to us all and Oak Flat comes from the greed of the U.S. settler colonial and capitalist system that values profits and the interests of corporations over our responsibilities to love each other and the earth. When will we see it and act to protect it.

The message remains the same — the future of Oak Flat, is the future of America, is the future of the world. When will we see that this political-economic system is killing us all and together resist it and defend what is sacred?