Mennonite congregations and individuals from the Coalition to Dismantle the Doctrine of Discovery are supporting Apache Stronghold’s two-month prayer journey across the United States to deliver their appeal directly to the U.S. Supreme Court.

The San Carlos Apache and their allies argue that a land swap tucked into a defense spending bill that gave away their sacred location of Oak Flat to create a copper mine violates their religious freedom. The journey culminates Sept. 11 in Washington, D.C.

The Ninth Circuit Court of Appeals ruled against Apache Stronghold earlier this year in a 6-5 ruling. The group is represented by the Becket Fund for Religious Liberty, which will petition the high court to hear the case.

“Obliterating the birthplace of Western Apache religion would be a tragic betrayal of our nation’s promise of religious freedom for all,” said Luke Goodrich, Becket vice president and senior counsel. “We will ask the Supreme Court to take this case, protect Oak Flat and ensure that Indigenous peoples receive the same protection for religious freedom that all other faith groups enjoy.”

Mennonite congregations involved in supporting the journey through prayer and hospitality included First Mennonite Church of San Francisco, Pasadena Mennonite Church in California, Shalom Mennonite Fellowship in Tucson, Ariz., Albuquerque Mennonite Church in New Mexico, Joy Mennonite Church in Oklahoma City, Raleigh Mennonite Church in North Carolina and Hyattsville Mennonite in Maryland. Acts of solidarity with the Apache ranged from preparing food to offering space to sleep to arranging public gatherings of prayer.

“I asked myself: what does it mean to Dismantle the Doctrine of Discovery? I have learned that the Apache Stronghold is not just fighting for Oak Flat, but for Mother Earth, the greatest gift we have received. They are fighting for all of us,” said Frances Loberg, a member of Salem Mennonite Church in Oregon and the Coalition to Dismantle the Doctrine of Discovery. She has been on the prayer journey for its full course. “I am being healed as I have seen how Mother Earth is alive. We have seen the pain and struggles all across the country. This fight for mother earth is for all of us.”

Mennonites have supported the coalition’s work to pray for Apache Stronghold and organize amicus brief letters of support to the legal case. Congregations and conferences can still join an amicus brief to show their support via an online toolkit. Contact Melanie Beikman at melanie.beikman@azipl.org with questions.

More information about prayer gatherings is on Apache Stronghold’s Facebook page. Supporters can join the prayer journey Sept. 11 in Washington by registering online.

Prayer gatherings of support are also welcome Sept. 8-11 in other locations as well and can be registered online.

A footwashing service was held by Mennonite congregations Sept. 4 in Raleigh, N.C.

“You are already dismantling the Doctrine of Discovery by watching our feet getting washed. That’s true spiritual healing,” said Wendler Nosie Sr. of Apache Stronghold afterward. “You have to break it through the spirit. You are dissolving the Doctrine through the spirit, not through the system.”

Apache Stronghold is a group led by the San Carlos Apache and their allies. They are engaged in religious and legal efforts to defend their sacred site of Chi’chil Biłdagoteel (Oak Flat) from being destroyed by a multinational copper mining company.

The Coalition to Dismantle the Doctrine of Discovery emerged in 2014 from Mennonites’ concern for Indigenous justice. It is a group of people who mobilize Christian church communities to dismantle the Doctrine of Discovery and follow Indigenous leadership. It proclaims an Anabaptist spirit of discipleship rooted in the call to love of neighbor, seeking right relationship and reconciliation through active nonviolence.