Preserve the Traditional Cultural Place Chí’chil Biłdagoteel Historic District Act

Plain-English Summary

This bill is focused on protecting a specific location that holds deep cultural and historical significance, known as Chí'chil Biłdagoteel — a name from the Apache language that refers to a place commonly called Oak Flat, located in Arizona. The legislation aims to preserve this area as a historic district, which would give it formal recognition and legal protections. Oak Flat is considered sacred by the San Carlos Apache Tribe and other Indigenous communities, who have used the site for religious ceremonies and cultural practices for generations.

The bill would likely prevent or restrict activities — such as mining or other forms of land development — that could damage or destroy the site. Oak Flat has been at the center of a long-running dispute because a previous law allowed a land transfer that would have handed the area over to a copper mining company, which critics say would destroy the site. This legislation appears to be an effort to block or counteract that land transfer by establishing formal historic district protections.

The people most directly affected by this bill are members of the San Carlos Apache Tribe and other Native American communities who consider Oak Flat a sacred place, as well as the mining company and related industries that have economic interests in the area. Environmental groups and local residents in Arizona would also be affected. The bill has been referred to the House Committee on Natural Resources, where it will be reviewed before any further action is taken.