Traditional owners distraught by WA caves destruction back Apache tribe in US mine fight

Pressure is mounting on Rio Tinto over another cultural heritage controversy, with the traditional owners it outraged in WA backing a Native American mine fight.

The Aboriginal people left devastated by Rio Tinto’s cave blast in Western Australia’s Pilbara region say they are “deeply” upset by the miner’s massive US copper mine plan, which an Apache tribe has been fighting for a decade.

The Puutu Kunti Kurrama and Pinikura people were distraught after the global giant detonated the 46,000-year-old Juukan Gorge rock shelters in May to access an estimated $135m worth of iron ore at the Brockman 4 project.

It sparked international outrage and a parliamentary inquiry, which found Rio Tinto made a deliberate decision to choose the only one of four mine expansion options that involved destroying the caves despite having previously recorded their cultural significance.

After Rio Tinto made matters worse with its initial apology for causing “distress” to the PKKP, the company apologised unreservedly, key executives stepped down and it is now trying to make amends.

But that process is proving rocky, with the PKKP issuing an open letter on Monday decrying Rio Tinto’s Resolution Copper joint venture with BHP at Oak Flat in Arizona.

The San Carlos Apache tribe have been fighting Resolution Copper for a decade.

The PKKP is despondent the US Forest Service last month recommended allowing the mine to go ahead, through a land swap, despite a decade of objections by the San Carlos Apache tribe, who hold the area they call Chich’il Bildagoteel sacred.

“For the PKKP this decision made across the other side of the world is deeply upsetting but not surprising – it reflects what we have already told the Joint Standing Committee here in Australia, that Aboriginal culture and heritage is undervalued here and throughout the world,” the traditional owners said.

The PKKP said the ripples from the Juukan Gorge devastation had spread around the globe “like a big stone dropped into water”.

“What happened on our country was a lesson for the world and not only highlighted the attitudes and practices of companies operating on the lands of First Nations peoples but also the inadequacies of legislation to protect the interests and heritage of Aboriginal people,” the letter read.

“Ultimately the responses from governments and companies like Rio Tinto and BHP will be a critical test on how meaningful the commitment is to prevent something like the Juukan Gorge destruction happening again.

The fallout from Rio Tinto’s destruction of the ancient Juukan Gorge caves has been massive. Picture: Richard Wainwright/AAP

“We stand by the San Carlos Apache Tribe through these difficult times.”

Rio Tinto declined to comment.

Project director Andrew Lye last month said the miner would continue to consult and seek community input as it refined the plan over coming years to minimise any impacts on Oak Flat.

“Resolution Copper is committed to fostering constructive relationships with the local community and Native American tribes in Arizona, especially those with a historical connection to the land in and around the project area,” Mr Lye said.

“We are encouraged by the direct and positive engagement of the local community and many tribes throughout the permitting process.

“Resolution Copper will continue to engage with the local community and seek the consent of all 11 Native American tribes that have historical connections with the land involved in the project before any decision on development.”

On the Resolution Copper website, the joint venture said Arizonans had voiced their support for the project but “we understand concerns remain”.

Originally published as Traditional owners distraught by WA caves destruction back Apache tribe in US mine fight