Casino trumps new California Mine
The fight between Glamis Gold, now Goldcorp, over a new mine, the Imperial Mine in California tribal lands, landed in a Washington DC hearing many months ago. I have been unable to track down any information about the progress of the hearing and/or its conclusions. But now I have come across a report on a march by tribal members and their supporters to further their claim that the area of the mine is sacred and no mine should be developed. 
The final paragraph of the report reads:
Dominion readers might have heard of the Quechan resistance to Canadian mining corporation Glamis Gold / Goldcorp’s plans for the Imperial gold mine in the vicinity of this trail of sacred sites in the desert region. When California responded by requiring special mitigation measures for open pit mines near sacred sites, Glamis sued the U.S. government under NAFTA, a case that has yet to be resolved. Now, the Quechan Tribal Council is building a casino in part of Avikwalal…
The point that intrigues me is the innocence of the statement “Now, the Quechan Tribal Council is building a casino in part of Avikwalal….” 
I cannot work out if the writer is proud or distressed by the new casino. Or proud or distressed that a casino trumps a mine.
I cannot understand how a casino can be built on land so sacred that a mine cannot be developed.
4 comments
Perhaps I’m missing something vital in the story, but seems to me that it’s OK to build a casino on sacred land because the tribe worships making money. Just as many non-tribal businesses do. Now, if it had been a tribal proposal for the mine — rather than one from Goldcorp — the outcome might have been different.
I think the definition of sacred must be taken into account. I suspect that sacred means - it’s our land and we don’t want outsiders on our land unless we decide it’s okay. That would be much like how many people feel about their home property and their own backyards.
To clear the confusion, the casino location is more than a mile from the proposed goldmine, also, these alegations are being brought forward in an effort to undermine the current tribal councel. If you think American politics are sassy, step foot on a reservation.
I’m the author of the aforementioned Dominion blog update about the Longest Walk 2, the Glamis/Goldcorp mine, and the Quechan casino. I apologize for any confusion.
The Glamis/Goldcorp Imperial Project - not far south of the Chocolate Mtn Aerial Gunnery range - is located in Indian Pass, a sacred area to the Quechan. As with Jack, I have not seen any news about a conclusion to the NAFTA international arbitration process.
Many miles away - right near the Algodones Road/I-8 junction - a new casino is being constructed at the base of Avikwalal (”Pilot Knob”), a mountain held sacred by the Quechan and several other Colorado River Tribes. Construction equipment has already unearthed and in some cases destroyed ceremonial circles, bone fragments and pottery shards.
Many Elders and Tribal members oppose not the casino itself, but the site that the Tribal Council has chosen for the casino.
A resolution to protect the sacred areas of Indian Pass and Avikwalal (resolution #6, more info on http://www.longestwalk.org) was submitted to Congress by the Longest Walk 2, in which several Quechan Tribal members and Elders participated.
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