Quechan Traditional Lands, Sonoran Desert
Victories! Indian Pass & Oro Cruz Gold Mine Proposals Defeated!
Greenaction is honored to work with Quechan Indian Tribe and its members led by the grassroots group Ah Mut Pipa Foundation to protect sacred lands from cyanide leach gold mine proposals, including a project proposed at Indian Pass and another, the Oro Cruz project. We continue to work with the Quechan to watchdog these and other gold mine companies to protect the environment and culturally significant and sacred sites from destruction and desecration.
The Indian Pass Wilderness Area is located in Imperial County in the Sonoran Desert in the southeastern part of California, approximately seven miles from the Arizona border. It lies between the Picacho Peak and Buzzards Peak Wilderness Areas and is east of the Chocolate Mountains. It is approximately seven miles from both the Colorado River and the Picacho Peak Wilderness Area.
Indian Pass has great sacred and cultural significance to the Indigenous people of the area,
including the Quechan and Mohave, and is part of the traditional homeland of the Quechan
Tribe. The land is referred to by the Quechan as the “Trail of Dreams”, for it is here that they
“transcend the present world.” In speaking about the land, tribal archaeologist Lorey Cachora
said, “It has windows we can use to go into other worlds. There are dream trails we use to
learn whatever we need.”
When tribal members asked Greenaction for help, we joined them in organizing, advocacy, coalition building, as well as the Spirit Runs and community gatherings.
Read the victory press release here: ● Read Indian Pass Victory Statement, March 1, 2022
May 9, 2021, Arizona Republic article and video: Quechan Tribe members share stories, sing songs on BLM land at Indian Pass in California. Quechan tribal members explain the proposed gold claim owned by KORE mining that they believe will ruin the land they hold sacred.
● Read Indian Pass Victory Statement, March 1, 2022
● Read letter to US Dept. of Interior and Bureau of Land Management demanding rejection of permits for proposed gold mine at Indian Pass
● Take action today!
● Save Indian Pass campaign update, April 2021
● Indigenous, environmental justice, environmental, and social justice allies form Save Indian Pass Coalition
● See pictures from the March 20, 2021, Quechan Tribe’s Kwanamii Spirit Run
● See videos and media coverage from current and early campaigns to stop the proposed Indian Pass gold mine project
