Apaches Against Rio Tinto
The Koori Mail newspaper recently printed a letter, seeking Indigenous people who have had dealings with mining giant, Rio Tinto. The letter was written by a Murri woman, Jacinta Allison, who is married to Apache man Brad, and lives on traditional Apache lands in Arizona. That letter has gained many responses – including first-hand stories about how Rio Tinto approaches mining on Indigenous land in Australia. The founder of Apaches against Rio Tinto, Brad Allison says the Reservation has already been slashed four times, to allow mining. Mr Allison says that while he has received support from some elders, many are drawn by the prospect of employment opportunities and money, on a reservation where most jobs are in government agencies. The Apache people believe all species are interdependent. By destroying this natural harmony Mr Allison fears for the impact on animals, insects, water, plants and the medicine roots that Apache rely on for traditional healing.