A federal judge in Nevada has dealt three tribal nations a legal setback in their efforts to stop what could be the construction of the country s largest lithium mine. They claim it will destroy habitat for wildlife species and parts of Native American culture. Judge Miranda Du granted the tribes the ability to amend their complaint against the Bureau of Land Management, which they claim fast-tracked the project to meet growing demand for lithium. .
California tribes are headed to the White House Tribal Nations Summit tomorrow, where they will ask Congress and the Biden administration to create or expand several national monuments. The Torres Martinez Desert Cahuilla tribe in the Coachella Valley would like the president to establish a new Chuckwalla National Monument and expand Joshua Tree National Park. Thomas Tortez Jr., chairman of the Torres Martinez Desert Cahuilla Indians, said the area is an important wildlife corridor. .
Soon the Department of the Interior headquarters will again be overflowing with tribal leaders from across the nation, some traveling thousands of miles.