Ha'Kamwe' Background information from #SacredLand. #NoLithiumMining! #ProtectHaKamwe!

"Ha’Kamwe’ is a naturally occurring hot spring in the #BigSandyRiver basin where the #Mojave and #Sonoran deserts meet in what is now known as #Arizona. Ha’Kamwe’ is a sacred healing place for the Hualapai Tribe. This important cultural and ecological site is threatened by a proposed #LithiumMine, as a subsidiary of the Australian company Hawkstone Mining Ltd. seeks permission to explore and drill on three sides of the spring, which would destroy cultural sites and block access to the oasis for desert #wildlife. Visiting the site with a reporter from the Phoenix New Times, Hualapai Tribe Director of Natural Resources, Richard Powskey, said, 'This spring is a place for healing and medicine and other things that they have here. Our people are buried all through here. There’s a grave just on the other side of this hill right here.'"

[...]

"At a Wikieup community information session in 2021 many of the 100 attendees were concerned that the proposed mine would drain too much water from this already drought-prone area. Caretaker Ivan Bender feels that the waterflow of the well that feeds Ha’Kamwe’ has already decreased due to the company’s drilling. There is a dispute between the company, the Tribe, and local ranchers regarding how shallow the water table is, with those who live in the area concerned that drilling could easily puncture the #aquifer.

"In the early 2000s a power plant was proposed in the area and though it was never built the Environmental Impact Statement for that project found 'the discharge from Cofer Hot Spring would be reduced, and possibly cease, as a result of groundwater withdrawal from the volcanic aquifer.'

"The #HulapaiTribe is concerned the proposed lithium exploration activity would deplete the spring as well.

"In April of 2021 the #Hualapai Tribe passed a resolution against the mine. 'The Hualapai Tribal Council strongly objects to any further permitting of surface or subsurface disturbances within the #SandyValley Lithium mining claim area, which will result in devastating impacts to significant cultural and spiritual resources; will threaten long-term tribal water rights and quality; will cause irreparable harm to the Tribe’s ability to continue cultural activities and to pursue economic development of Cholla Canyon Ranch, and will result in long term ecological destruction of a fragile desert environment, including plant and animal species with cultural significance. Further, should an open pit mine ever be permitted, it would create enormous public health issues caused by pollution, dust, noise, and overall safety concerns caused by having such a mine immediately adjacent to Hualapai land, as well as severe visual impacts.'

"The Inter-Tribal Association of Arizona, an association of 21 tribal governments in Arizona, which provides a forum for tribal governments to advocate for national and regional tribal concerns and to join in united action to address issues, passed a similar resolution.

"The Hualapai Tribe is demanding that the BLM develop a full Environmental Impact Statement as required by the National Environmental Policy Act. This would require a thorough examination of issues protected by the American Indian Religious Freedom Act. The Tribe asserts that these concerns were not adequately addressed in the published Environmental Assessment: “The BLM’s position as indicated in the EA implies that academically-based western science approaches to research take precedence over traditional #Indigenous knowledge. This position is unacceptable and is not in keeping with the requirement to make a good faith effort to identify cultural resources.'

"In January 2023, #Earthjustice collected and submitted 31,671 letters demanding the BLM conduct a full Environmental Impact Statement.

What You Can Do

"Sign up to support The Campaign to Protect Ha’Kamwe’ and follow the issue."

Learn more:
https://sacredland.org/hakamwe/