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CTV News
7 hours ago
- Politics
- CTV News
On National Indigenous Peoples Day, Tsuut'ina Minor Chief expands on comments to U.S. President Donald Trump at G7
Saturday, Tsuut'ina Minor Chief Steven Crowchild expanded upon his conversation with U.S. President Donald Trump that took place last Sunday on the tarmac at Calgary International Airport. Crowchild welcomed the American president to Treaty 7 territory wearing a feathered headdress while Trump wore a white baseball cap with 'Make America Great Again' on it. Saturday at a media event on the Tsuut'ina Nation, Crowchild emphasized the inter-connectedness between water and peace. 'Where water is polluted or privatized, conflict brews,' he said. 'Where peace is broken, water systems collapse. 'If we truly want peace, we must protect water,' he said. 'If we truly want security, we must act on climate change and environmental justice now. Steven Crowchild U.S. President Donald Trump arrives on Air Force One at Calgary International Airport, greeting Indigenous leader Steven Crowchild, Sunday, June 15, 2025, in Calgary, Canada, ahead of the G7 Summit. (AP Photo/Gerald Herbert) Crowchild also called on all world governments including Canada and the United States 'to put the protection, dignity, respect and love for all our children and future generations at the centre of decision making -- and recognize access to clean water as a universal human right. 'And protect it in all national and international policies,' he added. 'Uphold Indigenous sovereignty and support Indigenous-led water protection and climate solutions. Fund global efforts to restore rivers, wetlands, and natural water systems as part climate adaptation and peace building. 'And ban the use of water as a weapon in conflict zones,' he said, 'and hold violators accountable under international law -- and above all, prioritize diplomacy and peaceful resolution over military escalation and arms spending.' As for his Sunday night meet-and-greet on the tarmac with the American president, Crowchild said it was brief. 'It was a simple conversation,' he said about the encounter, which received global attention when Crowchild described himself as 'filled with rage' while speaking with Trump. Steven Crowchild Tsuut'ina Minor Chief Steven Crowchild wearing the medal he showed President Trump at the G7 welcoming last Sunday night at Calgary International Airport (Tyler Barrow, CTV Calgary) 'After sitting with my quote unquote rage and praying, I was reminded that my rage came from a place of grief and love – love for my people, all humanity, and love for this beautiful planet that we share," he said. 'And grief for those in the world suffering from the actions, words and inactions of a certain individual,' he said, 'and many others who have the ability to bring peace to the world. 'Our conversation was short,' he said, continuing, 'I introduced myself in my language and said 'this is native land'. '(Then) I introduced myself in English and my nation,' he said. 'I showed him this treaty medal here and told him that it's older than Canada itself. Canada Trump G7 Summit Canada's Prime Minister Mark Carney walks with President Donald Trump after a group photo at the G7 Summit, Monday, June 16, 2025, in Kananaskis, Canada. (AP Photo/Mark Schiefelbein) 'I said welcome to treaty, native land – and I wish you safe travels home. 'I told him that I speak for my babies, elders and future generations and to be a good leader and protect water for future generations.' 'All he said in response was something along the lines of 'Yeah. Yeah. We can do that.'' 'So hopefully they can do that,' he said. 'Because our collective survival depends on it.' With files from CTV's Tyler Barrow
CTV News
8 hours ago
- Politics
- CTV News
On National Indigenous Peoples Day, Tsuut'ina Minor Chief Steven Crowchild expands on conversation with U.S. President Donald Trump at G7
Saturday, Tsuut'ina Minor Chief Steven Crowchild expanded upon his conversation with U.S. President Donald Trump that took place last Sunday on the tarmac at Calgary International Airport. Crowchild welcomed the American president to Treaty 7 territory wearing a feathered headdress while Trump wore a white baseball cap with 'Make America Great Again' on it. In a preamble to his explanation of his conversation with Trump, Crowchild emphasized the inter-connectedness between water and peace. 'Where water is polluted or privatized, conflict brews,' he said. 'Where peace is broken, water systems collapse. 'If we truly want peace, we must protect water,' he said. 'If we truly want security, we must act on climate change and environmental justice now. Steven Crowchild U.S. President Donald Trump arrives on Air Force One at Calgary International Airport, greeting Indigenous leader Steven Crowchild, Sunday, June 15, 2025, in Calgary, Canada, ahead of the G7 Summit. (AP Photo/Gerald Herbert) Crowchild said he was calling on all world governments including Canada and the United States 'to put the protection, dignity, respect and love for all our children and future generations at the centre of decision-making -- and recognize access to clean water as a universal human right. 'And protect it in all national and international policies,' he added. 'Uphold Indigenous sovereignty and support Indigenous-led water protection and climate solutions. Fund global efforts to restore rivers, wetlands, and natural water systems as part climate adaptation and peace building. 'And ban the use of water as a weapon in conflict zones,' he said, 'and hold violators accountable under international law -- and above all, prioritize diplomacy and peaceful resolution over military escalation and arms spending.' As for his Sunday night meet-and-greet on the tarmac with the American president, Crowchild said it was brief. "It was a simple conversation," he said about the encounter, which received global attention when Crowchild described himself as 'filled with rage' while speaking with Trump. Steven Crowchild Tsuut'ina Minor Chief Steven Crowchild wearing the medal he showed President Trump at the G7 welcoming last Sunday night at Calgary International Airport (Tyler Barrow, CTV Calgary) 'After sitting with my quote unquote rage and praying, I was reminded that my rage came from a place of grief and love – love for my people, all humanity, and love for this beautiful planet that we share," he said. 'And grief for those in the world suffering from the actions, words and inactions of a certain individual,' he said, 'and many others who have the ability to bring peace to the world. 'Our conversation was short,' he said, continuing. 'I introduced myself in my language and said 'this is native land'. '(Then) I introduced myself in English and my nation,' he said. 'I showed him this treaty medal here and told him that it's older than Canada itself. Canada Trump G7 Summit Canada's Prime Minister Mark Carney walks with President Donald Trump after a group photo at the G7 Summit, Monday, June 16, 2025, in Kananaskis, Canada. (AP Photo/Mark Schiefelbein) 'I said welcome to treaty, native land – and I wish you safe travels home. 'I told him that I speak for my babies, elders and future generations and to be a good leader and protect water for future generations.' 'All he said in response was something along the lines of 'Yeah. Yeah. We can do that.'' 'And then, that was the end of our interaction,' said Crowchild, who met the press on National Indigenous Peoples Day. 'So hopefully they can do that,' he said. 'Because our collective survival depends on it.' With files from CTV's Tyler Barrow
Yahoo
5 days ago
- Business
- Yahoo
Feds release Oak Flat copper mine review, clearing a hurdle for disputed land exchange
The U.S. Forest Service has released the final environmental review for a huge copper mine proposed 60 miles east of Phoenix, marking one of the final steps toward a controversial land exchange that has been embroiled in legal challenges over its potential damage to land held sacred by Indigenous communities. The document, known as a Final Environmental Impact Statement, is a six-volume review of the proposed Resolution Copper mine at Oak Flat, a parcel of land in the Tonto National Forest. In 2014, Congress approved the land exchange, requiring the federal government to transfer ownership of over 2,400 acres to Resolution Copper, a multinational company, in exchange for over 5,000 acres of ecologically valuable land within Arizona. The law says the trade must occur within 60 days after the publication of a Final Environmental Impact Statement. At over 2,500 pages, the document is at the center of a long legal battle, including two recent lawsuits seeking to stop the transfer of federal land to the multinational mining company, one brought by a coalition of environmental groups and the other by the San Carlos Apache Tribe. Sacred lands: A place of prayer faces obliteration by a copper mine The original environmental impact statement was published in 2021, but was rescinded by President Joe Biden for further tribal consultation. The document will be officially posted in the Federal Register on June 20, initiating the 60-day countdown for the land to be transferred. On June 9, a federal judge in Arizona ruled the Forest Service may not transfer the land until the end of the 60-day period, giving the plaintiff groups time to review the large document. Pending future legal action, the date for the land transfer has been set for August 19. The controversial mine, owned by international conglomerates BHP and Rio Tinto, would extract one of the largest undeveloped copper deposits in the world, and would, the company says, create hundreds of jobs and contribute millions to local, state and national economies. 'This project has undergone one of the most comprehensive environmental and social reviews in U.S. history. The republication of the FEIS reflects the thorough work by the USFS, local communities, and Native American Tribes and the seriousness with which all stakeholders have approached this process,' said Vicky Peacey, general manager of Resolution Copper, in a news release. 'We remain committed to earning trust through transparency, engagement, and responsible development as we move forward,' said Peacey. The mine would also form a crater approximately 2 miles wide and 1,000 feet deep, and destroy Oak Flat, also known as Chi'chil Biłdagoteel, which is held sacred by the San Carlos Apache Tribe and other Indigenous communities and is the site of religious ceremonies. Mining: Why can't the US mine and refine all its copper? What to know about new Trump order Opponents of the mine say the huge project will also destroy rare wetland habitats and deplete ground and surface water. 'We are reviewing the environmental impact statement now, but think it is highly unlikely the Forest Service addressed the significant issues with the prior document or corrected its deficiencies,' said Sandy Bahr, director of the Sierra Club Grand Canyon chapter, one of the groups involved with the lawsuit. 'This proposed land exchange will provide enormous financial benefits to these mining companies and cause significant harm to Oak Flat and to the public that cannot be mitigated,' said Bahr. In April, the Trump administration added the Resolution Copper mine, along with nine other projects, to a priority permitting list to increase the domestic production of critical minerals in accordance with an executive order signed in March. 'The Resolution Copper Project is a prime example of how we can harness America's abundant resources to fuel growth in rural America, reduce our dependence on foreign imports, strengthen our supply chains, and enhance our national security,' said Agriculture Secretary Brooke Rollins, in a news release. 'By advancing responsible mining, we are fulfilling President Trump's vision of ensuring America remains a global leader in mineral production while creating jobs for the people and communities we serve.' According to the USDA, the mine is projected to create nearly 1,500 jobs, provide between $80 and $120 million a year in estimated state and local tax revenue for rural economies, and contribute $200 million a year to the federal government. Because the United States lacks smelting capacity, opponents of the mine say the project will ultimately benefit global markets, as the multinational company is likely to send the copper ore overseas for processing. For over a decade, Oak Flat has been the subject of debate over religious freedoms, environmental conservation, mining reform and the green energy revolution. In May, the U.S. Supreme Court declined to hear the lawsuit brought by grassroots group Apache Stronghold, which argued the land swap was a violation of their rights under the First Amendment and Religious Freedom Restoration Act. John Leos covers environmental issues for The Arizona Republic and azcentral. Send tips or questions to Environmental coverage on and in The Arizona Republic is supported by a grant from the Nina Mason Pulliam Charitable Trust. Follow The Republic environmental reporting team at and @azcenvironment on Facebook and Instagram. This article originally appeared on Arizona Republic: US Forest Service releases environmental statement for Oak Flat mine
