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A Legacy That Is Unmatched': Tributes Pour In For Longtime Arizona Congressman Raúl Grijalva

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Friday, March 14, 2025

House Natural Resources Committee Chairman Raul Grijalva, D-Ariz., speaks at Capitol in Washington, March 28, 2022. J. Scott Applewhite/Associated PressPHOENIX (AP) — U.S. Sen. Ruben Gallego, Navajo Nation President Buu Nygren and a slew of members of Congress were among those paying tribute to Arizona Democratic U.S. Rep. Raúl M. Grijalva on Thursday after the announcement of his death at age 77.“Congressman Grijalva was not just my colleague, but my friend. As another Latino working in public service, I can say from experience that he served as a role model to many young people across the Grand Canyon State. He spent his life as a voice for equality. In Congress, I was proud to see firsthand his leadership as chairman of the House Natural Resources Committee as he stood up for Arizona’s water rights, natural beauty, and Tribes.” — U.S. Sen. Ruben Gallego, a Democrat from Arizona, posted on X.“There are truly no words that can capture the deep gratitude I feel for his tireless efforts on behalf of the tribal communities across Arizona. He was a champion who answered the call of those who had often been overlooked and unheard. In a world where such calls can be easy to ignore, Rep. Grijalva was always there to lift those voices.” — Navajo Nation President Buu Nygren on X.“AZ lost a giant today. Congressman Raul Grijalva dedicated his life to fighting for the people of Arizona. From standing up for working families, Indigenous communities, and clean air and water — Raul leaves a legacy that is unmatched.” — Arizona Attorney General Kris Mayes, a Democrat, on X.“Representative Grijalva was a dedicated public servant who served his community and country for decades. He fought hard for fair immigration policies and to tackle the climate crisis our generation is facing. His passing leaves a huge void in Southern Arizona and beyond.” — Phoenix Mayor Kate Gallego, a Democrat, in a statement.“The Congressman was always very kind to me — he had a great sense of humor. As a fellow animal lover, we often found ourselves working together on animal protection issues. To his daughters Adelita, Raquel, and Marisa, and his wife, Ramona, I send my deepest condolences.” — U.S. Rep. David Schweikert, a Republican from Arizona, on X.“I am heartbroken by the news of Congressman Raul Grijalva’s passing. For climate justice, economic justice, health justice — Raul fought fearlessly for change. We served a decade together on the Natural Resources Committee, and I will forever be grateful for his leadership and partnership.” — U.S. Sen. Ed Markey, a Democrat from Massachusetts, on X.“I had the privilege of working alongside him on matters impacting Puerto Rico, and while we often approached issues from different perspectives, his passion for service and his respect for dialogue were undeniable.” — Jenniffer González, governor of Puerto Rico, on X.“Deeply saddened by the passing of my friend Raúl Grijalva. A true champion for Arizona, our environment, and working people. His leadership, kindness, and fight for justice will be deeply missed by many.” — U.S. Rep. Jim McGovern, a Democrat from Massachusetts, on X.“I’m devastated to hear of the passing of my colleague Raul Grijalva. He was a fighter for Arizonans and a champion for Indigenous communities and our planet. We will all miss him dearly. My thoughts are with his family, friends, loved ones, and constituents.” — U.S. Rep. Yassamin Ansari, a Democrat from Arizona, in a statement.“Whether he was speaking at a neighborhood event, marching for civil rights, speaking against the erosion of our democratic values or joking with us in the backyard, he led with his principles and courage.” — Tucson Mayor Regina Romero, a Democrat, in a statement. “I am devastated by the loss of Representative Raúl Grijalva and my heart is with his family and loved ones. To his last day, he remained a servant leader who put everyday people first while in office. I join every Arizonan in mourning his passing.” — Arizona Gov. Katie Hobbs, a Democrat, on X. “Congressman Grijalva was a kind man and a leader who listened. He received social justice advocates in his offices with open arms and treated us with the familiarity of a grandpa…commending us for our efforts, giving us advice and encouraging our advocacy. This is a sad day. We have lost an elder but gained an ancestor. May he rest in power.” — Chispa Arizona Executive Director Vianey Olivarría in a statement. “House members are saddened to hear of the passing of Congressman Raul Grijalva, who served his constituents faithfully in Congress for more than two decades. Our prayers are with Raul’s wife, Ramona, his three children, and the people of Arizona’s 7th district.” — U.S. House Speaker Mike Johnson, a Republican from Louisiana, on X. “His leadership was singular. He mentored generously and was an incredible friend. I will always be grateful for his lifelong courage and commitment.” — U.S. Rep. Alexandria Ocasio-Cortez, a Democrat from New York, on X.“One of Raúl’s favorite songs was ‘El Rey,’ and in particular the line that says ‘no hay que llegar primero, pero hay que saber llegar’ — “it’s not only about getting there first, but about how you get there.” I think this phrase perfectly describes his tenacity in everything he did.” — U.S. Rep. Jesús G. “Chuy” García, a Democrat from Illinois, on X.Go Ad-Free — And Protect The Free PressThe next four years will change America forever. But HuffPost won't back down when it comes to providing free and impartial journalism.For the first time, we're offering an ad-free experience to qualifying contributors who support our fearless newsroom. We hope you'll join us.You've supported HuffPost before, and we'll be honest — we could use your help again. We won't back down from our mission of providing free, fair news during this critical moment. But we can't do it without you.For the first time, we're offering an ad-free experience to qualifying contributors who support our fearless journalism. We hope you'll join us.You've supported HuffPost before, and we'll be honest — we could use your help again. We won't back down from our mission of providing free, fair news during this critical moment. But we can't do it without you.For the first time, we're offering an ad-free experience to qualifying contributors who support our fearless journalism. We hope you'll join us.Support HuffPostAlready contributed? Log in to hide these messages.“Grijalva’s legacy includes his critical work with the late Representative Donald McEachin to draft the groundbreaking Environmental Justice for All Act, an instrumental bill confronting the legacy of environmental racism that disproportionately impacts communities of color and low wealth. We are forever grateful for Representative Grijalva’s historic leadership.” — League of Conservation Voters President Gene Karpinski in a statement.

Colleagues and friends of Rep. Raúl M. Grijalva praised his commitment to working families, the environment and his Arizona district.

House Natural Resources Committee Chairman Raul Grijalva, D-Ariz., speaks at Capitol in Washington, March 28, 2022.

J. Scott Applewhite/Associated Press

PHOENIX (AP) — U.S. Sen. Ruben Gallego, Navajo Nation President Buu Nygren and a slew of members of Congress were among those paying tribute to Arizona Democratic U.S. Rep. Raúl M. Grijalva on Thursday after the announcement of his death at age 77.

“Congressman Grijalva was not just my colleague, but my friend. As another Latino working in public service, I can say from experience that he served as a role model to many young people across the Grand Canyon State. He spent his life as a voice for equality. In Congress, I was proud to see firsthand his leadership as chairman of the House Natural Resources Committee as he stood up for Arizona’s water rights, natural beauty, and Tribes.” — U.S. Sen. Ruben Gallego, a Democrat from Arizona, posted on X.

“There are truly no words that can capture the deep gratitude I feel for his tireless efforts on behalf of the tribal communities across Arizona. He was a champion who answered the call of those who had often been overlooked and unheard. In a world where such calls can be easy to ignore, Rep. Grijalva was always there to lift those voices.” — Navajo Nation President Buu Nygren on X.

“AZ lost a giant today. Congressman Raul Grijalva dedicated his life to fighting for the people of Arizona. From standing up for working families, Indigenous communities, and clean air and water — Raul leaves a legacy that is unmatched.” — Arizona Attorney General Kris Mayes, a Democrat, on X.

“Representative Grijalva was a dedicated public servant who served his community and country for decades. He fought hard for fair immigration policies and to tackle the climate crisis our generation is facing. His passing leaves a huge void in Southern Arizona and beyond.” — Phoenix Mayor Kate Gallego, a Democrat, in a statement.

“The Congressman was always very kind to me — he had a great sense of humor. As a fellow animal lover, we often found ourselves working together on animal protection issues. To his daughters Adelita, Raquel, and Marisa, and his wife, Ramona, I send my deepest condolences.” — U.S. Rep. David Schweikert, a Republican from Arizona, on X.

“I am heartbroken by the news of Congressman Raul Grijalva’s passing. For climate justice, economic justice, health justice — Raul fought fearlessly for change. We served a decade together on the Natural Resources Committee, and I will forever be grateful for his leadership and partnership.” — U.S. Sen. Ed Markey, a Democrat from Massachusetts, on X.

“I had the privilege of working alongside him on matters impacting Puerto Rico, and while we often approached issues from different perspectives, his passion for service and his respect for dialogue were undeniable.” — Jenniffer González, governor of Puerto Rico, on X.

“Deeply saddened by the passing of my friend Raúl Grijalva. A true champion for Arizona, our environment, and working people. His leadership, kindness, and fight for justice will be deeply missed by many.” — U.S. Rep. Jim McGovern, a Democrat from Massachusetts, on X.

“I’m devastated to hear of the passing of my colleague Raul Grijalva. He was a fighter for Arizonans and a champion for Indigenous communities and our planet. We will all miss him dearly. My thoughts are with his family, friends, loved ones, and constituents.” — U.S. Rep. Yassamin Ansari, a Democrat from Arizona, in a statement.

“Whether he was speaking at a neighborhood event, marching for civil rights, speaking against the erosion of our democratic values or joking with us in the backyard, he led with his principles and courage.” — Tucson Mayor Regina Romero, a Democrat, in a statement.

“I am devastated by the loss of Representative Raúl Grijalva and my heart is with his family and loved ones. To his last day, he remained a servant leader who put everyday people first while in office. I join every Arizonan in mourning his passing.” — Arizona Gov. Katie Hobbs, a Democrat, on X.

“Congressman Grijalva was a kind man and a leader who listened. He received social justice advocates in his offices with open arms and treated us with the familiarity of a grandpa…commending us for our efforts, giving us advice and encouraging our advocacy. This is a sad day. We have lost an elder but gained an ancestor. May he rest in power.” — Chispa Arizona Executive Director Vianey Olivarría in a statement.

“House members are saddened to hear of the passing of Congressman Raul Grijalva, who served his constituents faithfully in Congress for more than two decades. Our prayers are with Raul’s wife, Ramona, his three children, and the people of Arizona’s 7th district.” — U.S. House Speaker Mike Johnson, a Republican from Louisiana, on X.

“His leadership was singular. He mentored generously and was an incredible friend. I will always be grateful for his lifelong courage and commitment.” — U.S. Rep. Alexandria Ocasio-Cortez, a Democrat from New York, on X.

“One of Raúl’s favorite songs was ‘El Rey,’ and in particular the line that says ‘no hay que llegar primero, pero hay que saber llegar’ — “it’s not only about getting there first, but about how you get there.” I think this phrase perfectly describes his tenacity in everything he did.” — U.S. Rep. Jesús G. “Chuy” García, a Democrat from Illinois, on X.

Go Ad-Free — And Protect The Free Press

The next four years will change America forever. But HuffPost won't back down when it comes to providing free and impartial journalism.

For the first time, we're offering an ad-free experience to qualifying contributors who support our fearless newsroom. We hope you'll join us.

You've supported HuffPost before, and we'll be honest — we could use your help again. We won't back down from our mission of providing free, fair news during this critical moment. But we can't do it without you.

For the first time, we're offering an ad-free experience to qualifying contributors who support our fearless journalism. We hope you'll join us.

You've supported HuffPost before, and we'll be honest — we could use your help again. We won't back down from our mission of providing free, fair news during this critical moment. But we can't do it without you.

For the first time, we're offering an ad-free experience to qualifying contributors who support our fearless journalism. We hope you'll join us.

Support HuffPost

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“Grijalva’s legacy includes his critical work with the late Representative Donald McEachin to draft the groundbreaking Environmental Justice for All Act, an instrumental bill confronting the legacy of environmental racism that disproportionately impacts communities of color and low wealth. We are forever grateful for Representative Grijalva’s historic leadership.” — League of Conservation Voters President Gene Karpinski in a statement.

Read the full story here.
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Creating excitement about our amazing planet in young people has never been more important. A pack of new books make environmental science fun and fascinating, teaching children, teens, and even some adults just how diverse and rich our planet’s wildlife and their habitats are to behold. Reading them can encourage us all to become better guardians of the Earth. We’ve adapted the books’ official descriptions below and provided links to the publishers’ sites, but you should also be able to find these books in a variety of formats through your local bookstore or library. Insectopolis By Peter Kuper Award-winning cartoonist Peter Kuper transports readers through the 400-million-year history of insects and the remarkable entomologists who have studied them. This visually immersive work of graphic non-fiction dives into a world where ants, cicadas, bees, and butterflies visit a library exhibition that displays their stories and humanity’s connection to them throughout the ages. 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Told in a poetic style along with fun facts on each page for older readers wanting a deeper dive, this book is a beautiful exploration of life inside a beehive — as well as the dangers and predators bees face in the world, including humans. Bison: Community Builders and Grassland Caretakers By Frances Backhouse Bison are North America’s largest land animals. Some 170,000 wood bison once roamed northern regions, while at least 30 million plains bison trekked across the rest of the continent. Almost driven to extinction in the 1800s by decades of slaughter and hunting, this ecological and cultural species supports biodiversity and strengthens the ecosystems around it. This book celebrates the traditions and teachings of Indigenous peoples and looks at how bison lovers of all backgrounds came together to save these iconic animals. Learn about the places where bison are regaining a hoof-hold and meet some of the young people welcoming them back home. Many Things Under a Rock: The Mysteries of Octopuses by David Scheel and Laurel ‘Yoyo’ Scheel This compelling middle-grade adaptation dives deep into the mysteries of one of our planet’s most enigmatic animals. Among all the ocean’s creatures, few are more captivating — or more elusive — than the octopus. Marine biologist David Scheel investigates these strange beings to answer long-held questions: How can we learn more about animals whose perfect camouflage and secretive habitats make them invisible to detection? How does an almost-boneless package of muscle and protein defeat sharks, eels, and other predators while also preying on the most heavily armored animals in the sea? How do octopuses’ bodies work? This fascinating book shows young readers how to embrace the wisdom of the unknown — even if it has more arms than expected. 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Sea lions keep eating the salmon in the Columbia River. Some lawmakers want to kill more of them

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Pacific Northwest sea lions got the spotlight in a Congressional hearing last week.The U.S. House of Representatives’ Committee on Natural Resources spent nearly two and a half hours Wednesday debating the long-standing issue of the Columbia River sea lions, who are known to feast on the salmon that swim down and upriver. It wasn’t great news for the sea lions, as the debate centered primarily around how best to kill the pinnipeds. The hearing featured testimony from Aja DeCoteau, executive director of the Columbia River Inter-Tribal Fishing Commission, who urged the committee to expand efforts to remove the animals and research the problem, The Columbian reported. “Historically, our elders remember an occasional sea lion reaching Celilo Falls,” DeCoteau said at the hearing. “However, these occurrences were rare. Now, a combination of hydro-system infrastructure, changing environmental conditions and the success of the Marine Mammal Protection Act has resulted in unprecedented numbers of sea lions in the Columbia River.”For years, state wildlife managers have sought ways to keep sea lions from gobbling up salmon. Exclusion gates have been installed at the entrances to fish ladders. Sea lions have been hazed with underwater explosives and firecracker shells fired from shotguns. Agencies have tried using fake orcas and arm-flailing inflatables. Animals that have been trapped and relocated, driven hundreds of miles and released into the ocean, have returned upriver within days.In 2008, Oregon was given permission to kill some of the sea lions, though officials were required to capture and brand individual animals, and catch them in the act of consuming salmon, before they could euthanize. The frustrated efforts led to a 2020 federal law that permitted Oregon, Washington and Idaho, as well as some tribes, to bypass the 1972 Marine Mammal Protection Act, allowing them to trap and kill up to 540 California sea lions and 176 Steller sea lions from the Columbia River and its tributaries. In the five years since, only 230 total sea lions have been killed.While the 2020 federal permit to kill the sea lions was renewed without controversy this September, extending the law through 2030, lawmakers are now examining how effective the legislative efforts have actually been. Rep. Marie Gluesenkamp Perez, a Democrat who represents Washington’s 3rd Congressional District, which runs along the lower Columbia River, sat in on the Congressional committee Wednesday, asking why more sea lions haven’t been killed.“Ask yourself, why are these numbers so small?” she said. Gluesenkamp Perez argued the removal process is arduous and expensive, estimating the cost of removing one sea lion at $38,000, or roughly $203 per salmon saved.She recommended expanding the reach of the permits and suggested a process that would allow local fisherman and tribal members to bid on permits to assist with sea lion killings. “I have seen and heard firsthand how much work goes into managing sea lion populations and preserving local fisheries,” she added. “As the name implies, sea lions are a species that belong in the sea, not in our rivers.” Larry Phillips, policy director for the American Sportfishing Association, who also testified before the committee Wednesday, said he thought people would “line up” to participate in sea lion removals.“I also think that we need to be really careful, make sure we’re investing in good science to monitor the outcomes of any type of programs that we implement or decide to implement, and that’s that clearly is going to be the foundation of how we move forward,” Phillips said. “But you know, I would certainly support being creative and coming up with unique ideas.” Killing sea lions in the Pacific Northwest has long been a contentious issue. A 2023 video of a fishing boat repeatedly charging large groups of sea lions demonstrated the animosity many fishers feel toward sea lions, though it shocked even fellow anglers, who condemned the act of aggression toward the animals.

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A land fight pits a sacred Apache tradition against a copper mine

An Apache girl comes of age in a traditional ceremony, possibly the last at Oak Flat before copper mining threatens to transform the sacred site in Arizona.

The girl danced for hours in the knee-deep water as slanting rain pelted her slight frame weighed down by a sodden buckskin dress. Each step brought her closer to the end of a ritual that also signified a beginning.The Washington Post was allowed to record parts of the Sunrise Dance ceremony without audio, to preserve its spiritual power.Several days earlier, Lozen Brown-Lopez had arrived at the top of Oak Flat. She was 11 years old, from the San Carlos Apache Tribe and about to endure a grueling four-day ceremony that has been practiced by Apaches for centuries. Surrounded by a hundred family and fellow tribal members, dancers, singers and medicine men, she would perform the Sunrise Dance, reenacting part of the Apache creation story. At the end, after she had been daubed in clay to represent the mythological mother of all Apaches and ritually cleansed, Lozen would emerge as a young woman.What worried many of those who came to this mesa in mountainous southern Arizona in early October was the very real possibility that this Sunrise Dance might be the last one at Oak Flat.Oak Flat sits on one of North America’s largest undeveloped deposits of copper. The mineral is used in dozens of items, including smartphones, electric vehicles and solar panels. The company Resolution Copper believes there are 20 million tons of copper under Oak Flat that could supply up to one-quarter of the U.S. copper demand over 40 years. At today’s prices, experts say that much copper would be worth about $200 billion. The company asserts it will create more than a thousand jobs in an area with high unemployment.Map shows the location of major copper deposits in the Southwest.Mining Oak Flat, however, would eventually transform the landscape, creating what geologists say would be a vast crater. To prevent this, the tribe and other opponents of the mine have filed multiple lawsuits and tried unsuccessfully to get one of the cases heard before the U.S. Supreme Court. A federal appeals court will hold a hearing for several of the suits in early January.“If they take Oak Flat, they destroy our religion and who we are,” said Vanessa Nosie, an archaeology aide for the San Carlos Apache Tribe who also helps her father lead a nonprofit fighting the mine. Lozen, she added, is “dancing to carry the fight for all we’re trying to save.”As the singers drummed in the downpour, Lozen pounded her ceremonial cane into the muddy ground. Thunder rumbled in the distance, and she faltered for a moment.A woman in the crowd whooped. Another onlooker yelled, “Go, Lozen!” She pulled her shoulders back, lifted her head and looked straight ahead to the sprawling landscape of cacti and Emory oaks that give the region its name.She kept dancing.For many in the San Carlos Apache Tribe, Oak Flat — or Chi’chil Biłdagoteel — is where time began.Some believe the Creator, or Usen, made a corridor between heaven and earth on Oak Flat, and Ga’an, mountain spirits, live in the hills. Not all of the roughly 41,000 members in the eight federally recognized Apache tribes consider Oak Flat to be sacred ground. Those who do, however, revere it as one of the few places to reenact the story of White Painted Woman. Some believe earth was first covered with water, and when the floodwaters receded, White Painted Woman emerged from the earth as a sign of renewal of life. Apaches believe she was touched by the rays of the sun and gave birth to twins who were guided by Ga’an and fought off evil monsters on earth.“It’s no different than Mount Sinai and how the Holy Spirit came to be,” said Wendsler Nosie Sr., who runs Apache Stronghold, the nonprofit group fighting the mine, and who is a former chairman of the San Carlos Apache Tribe. “It’s a holy place that gives the teaching of God’s creation to all of us. It makes us who we are.”Gold, silver and copper were found in the area in the 1870s. As miners moved in, Native Americans were forced out by the U.S. military. In one spot, called Apache Leap, U.S. cavalry pushed warriors to the edge of the cliff. They chose to jump to their deaths rather than surrender.Since then, the history of the land has been a continuing fight among tribes, the federal government and mining companies. For more than 80 years, the Magma Copper Co. ran an operation near Oak Flat. When geologists discovered a huge untapped deposit with high-grade copper at Oak Flat in 1995, the pressure intensified to build a mine. But Oak Flat, which lies within the Tonto National Forest and is controlled by the U.S. Forest Service, has part of the deposit that has been protected from mining. Congress found a way around this problem in 2014 when it passed a law that lifted the ban, allowing a private company to swap land it owns for access to public land.Resolution Copper has offered to exchange 5,000 acres elsewhere in Arizona for 2,400 acres around Oak Flat, but a court injunction has temporarily stopped the transfer. Rep. Adelita Grijalva (D-Arizona) introduced legislation Wednesday to repeal the land exchange with Resolution Copper, a bill similar to one her father filed unsuccessfully in 2015.Mining the ore beneath Oak Flat would not be easy. Roughly a mile beneath the surface, material would be removed from below the deposit and transported underground to a processing facility about 2.5 miles away. As the ore gets removed, the rock above would gradually collapse.In a report this year, the U.S. Forest Service said such mining would ultimately create a crater 1,000 feet deep and two miles wide. By comparison that’s about two times the height of the Washington Monument and the length of the National Mall.Apache Stronghold, environmentalists and the San Carlos Apache Tribe argue in their lawsuits that the mine project violates the Religious Freedom Restoration Act and an 1852 treaty with the U.S. government to protect certain lands for Apaches.“Religious Indigenous claims are subject to a double standard and get lesser protection,” said Luke Goodrich, a lawyer for Apache Stronghold and senior counsel at the Becket Fund for Religious Liberty. “Because of the nation’s history of dispossessing Indigenous people of their land, their sites are on land that’s controlled by the federal government. Their practices are uniquely tied to land in a way that other religions aren’t, so they disproportionately have to rely on the government for practicing their religious practices.”The legal arguments have mostly failed so far. In May, the U.S. Supreme Court refused to hear one of the cases. Justice Neil M. Gorsuch, a strong defender of Native rights, issued a dissenting opinion, calling the decision a “grievous mistake.”“The government has long protected both the land and the Apaches’ access to it. No more,” Gorsuch wrote. “Just imagine if the government sought to demolish a historic cathedral on so questionable a chain of legal reasoning. I have no doubt that we would find that case worth our time.”Other lawsuits based on similar religious claims and the potentially negative environmental impacts from the mine are making their way through the courts. In early January, the Court of Appeals for the 9th Circuit will hear arguments in three lawsuits filed against the federal government and the company by several Apache women, the San Carlos Apache Tribe and the Arizona Mining Reform Coalition, which represents conservation and environmental groups.Adam Gustafson, principal deputy assistant attorney general for the Justice Department’s Environment and Natural Resources Division, said in a statement: “These baseless lawsuits are just the latest effort to block development of natural resources that benefit the American people.”Four days before the start of Lozen’s Sunrise Dance, the Supreme Court again declined a request to hear one of the cases.Lozen’s mother, Sinetta Lopez, told her daughter the news.“I told her: ‘You could be the last one to dance at Oak Flat or the first one to win the fight,’” she said.Just after sunrise on the first day of the ceremony, Lozen’s godmother — Tanya Rogers — adorned her with items symbolic of becoming a young woman.A floor-length buckskin dress. A T-shaped beaded necklace. An abalone shell tied with a thin leather strap on her forehead. In Lozen’s long dark hair, she pinned an eagle feather — a symbol of prayers for a long and healthy life. She passed her a cane made from trees at Oak Flat.“Every knot, every piece of leather from a deer, it’s done with prayer and a song that goes with it,” Vanessa Nosie said. “When it’s placed on her, it’s her protection, her shield. It’s her story of our people.”Dozens of Apache girls choose to go through the ritual every year, mainly in the spring and summer. Lozen’s was late in the season to accommodate the class schedule at the charter prep school in Scottsdale where she plays volleyball and basketball and runs cross-country. Not all Sunrise Dances happen at Oak Flat. Some perform the ceremony at their reservations.By tradition, a girl is ready for her Sunrise Dance within four days of her first menstruation. Most families spend months planning the ceremony. Lozen, who is named after a well-known Apache woman who fought alongside Geronimo, had gone as a young girl to the ceremonies of her older cousin and her sister.“She’d play with dolls as a kid and paint their faces with the yellow pollen that we believe is for blessings and prayers,” her mother said.Now it was Lozen’s turn.A week before the ceremony, Lozen’s family brought truckloads of tents, blankets, clothing, pots, pans, grills, folding tables, chairs, firewood and food. One morning, a group of men cut down willow trees for Lozen to build her wickiup — a traditional dome-shaped Apache home.“The home she learns to build is a symbol of how she will form her life,” her mother said. “It has to be strong and keep her family warm in the winter and cool in the summer and be able to withstand life.”Lozen and her cousin, who had already performed the ceremony, stayed in the structure for several nights. No smartphones and no metal were allowed inside.“I got to see more things at Oak Flat that you don’t get to see if you’re on your phone — like hummingbirds,” she said.On that Saturday morning, Lozen began to reenact the story of White Painted Woman. Facing the rising sun, she bounced on her knees with her hands beside her face for roughly 20 minutes.“She’s dancing to the sun, just like the White Painted Woman came out and saw the sun,” said Theresa Nosie, Wendsler’s wife.Two tall mine towers poked from the ridge about a mile away. Resolution Copper, a joint venture of two multinational mining companies (Rio Tinto and BHP), has redeveloped some of the old Magma operation as part of its plan for the new mine.The company says about 80 of the approximately 400 workers preparing the site come from the San Carlos Apache Tribe. When the mine is fully operational, Resolution Copper has said, it will employ about 1,400 workers. Some tribal members see the jobs as a boon to the estimated 10,000 tribal members who live on the reservation, where the unemployment rate hovers above 60 percent. But the tribe’s consultants have disputed the jobs estimate, saying much of the work at the mine will be automated.“People will ask me: ‘Are there any jobs?’ ‘Can you get my son or my uncle a job?’” said Brenda Astor, a member of the San Carlos Apache who lives on the reservation, about 60 miles from Oak Flat. For three years, she has worked as a principal adviser for Native affairs at Resolution Copper. “This is a chance for our own people to help ourselves by getting jobs and bringing that salary back home and providing for their families.”That evening, a few men built a huge bonfire. Dancers dressed as Ga’an — with tall wooden headdresses, bells tied on their ankles and sacred symbols painted white on their bodies — appeared around the blaze. Lozen and a few other girls who had already gone through their sunrise ceremonies danced with them.As the bonfire’s flames stretched into the night sky, a red light atop the mine towers blinked in the distance.Heavy rain and flash flooding arrived before the third day. Women chased pots and pans that floated away in the current. Men carried children in pajamas on their backs, ferrying them from tents filled with water and mud to their vehicles.But no one considered calling off the ceremony as it approached a crucial moment.Lozen’s godfather took white clay — made from water and ash — and painted her face, shoulders and hair with it. In the Apache creation story, the White Painted Woman is covered in ash when she emerges from the earth.Lozen closed her eyes as the dripping clay hardened on her face. After a few minutes, her godmother carefully wiped her eyes with a scarf, marking her official transition to womanhood. Lozen was now seeing with new eyes.“You watch your child go from baby to toddler and then to a young girl,” Sinetta Lopez said. “And then to watch her eyes as they’re wiped as she transitioned to a young woman in front of you. It’s like she’s reborn.”Naelyn Pike, one of Wendsler’s granddaughters, said watching Lozen was powerful. “She’s this young girl telling the world: ‘I’m here. I exist. We, my people, still exist,’” she said.Resolution Copper believes the mine will not impact the Apaches’ desire to preserve their sacred ground.“The copper at Oak Flat is one of the deposits that really counts,” said Lawrence Cathles, a geologist at Cornell University. But getting to the deep reserve, which in spots is more than a mile below the surface, is tricky and involves a method known as panel caving. Workers must bore deep shafts and tunnels to get to the ore. Gradually, the surface at Oak Flat will collapse like a sinkhole, mining experts said. Many conservationists and Native Americans worry about the environmental harm to plants, animals and water supplies.Resolution Copper’s general manager and president, Vicky Peacey, disagreed. She said 70 percent of Oak Flat will be untouched, including the campground where the sunrise ceremonies are held. “It’s possible it may never be impacted,” Peacey said.As part of the land transfer, Resolution Copper agreed to give public access to the campground as long as the company deems it is safe.Peacey said her company has worked with 11 Native American tribes in the region to protect parts of Oak Flat, including historic Apache Leap, and avoid some spots where there are significant streams and medicinal plants. Resolution Copper has said it plans to set aside $54 million in an endowment for the 11 tribes to use for education, helping youths and preserving cultural heritage.“We’ve worked with them,” Peacey said of the tribes, “on how we can change things so culture and nature can coexist with mining.”For Lozen, there was one final step in her passage to womanhood.Still covered in white clay, Lozen rode about two miles down an unpaved road with her mom, sister and a few other women. Then the women hiked, climbing over slippery boulders down into a canyon where rocks rose steeply on either side of a pool of water.Lozen lay on her back on the rocks, her long dark hair flowing in the pool. Her sister and other girls cut open yucca they had carried from camp. Her mother squeezed the yucca so it foamed, making shampoo, and gently washed the clay from Lozen’s hair.After the hair washing, Lozen laughed and swam with her cousin in the pool. Her mom later said: “The trees, the water here. This is all going to be wiped out with the mine, as they dig deep into the ground.”Storm clouds rolled above the canyon wall. Lozen scrambled out of the water in front of the older women and emerged as one of them.

Animals
Conservation
Culture

Scientific American’s Best Nonfiction of 2025

The 10 best nonfiction books of 2025, from the history of replaceable body parts to our AI future

Discovering nonfiction that reads like a story but keeps the scholarship front and center is the great white whale hunt for bookish adventurers. Countless authors attempt the feat, but it’s rare to find a book that showcases not only a fresh voice but also a new perspective.Scientific American staff read some truly exceptional nonfiction books in 2025 while on the prowl for intriguing stories, robust reporting and exceptional voices. Below is Scientific American’s best nonfiction of 2025, culminating a year of reading and adding new books to the top shelf.On supporting science journalismIf you're enjoying this article, consider supporting our award-winning journalism by subscribing. By purchasing a subscription you are helping to ensure the future of impactful stories about the discoveries and ideas shaping our world today.All books featured here have been independently selected by our editors. If you buy something through links on our site, Scientific American may earn an affiliate commission.Empire of AIby Karen HaoPenguin PressTags: AI, InvestigativeEasily one of the most gripping nonfiction books I’ve ever read, it keeps you hanging with cliff-hangers that envelop its dramatic characters, occasionally brave and often cowardly people hired and fired by artificial intelligence company OpenAI. One of the few journalists ever invited to interview OpenAI staff, Hao’s expertise flies off every page, and her dozens of pages of notes and citations back it up. She doesn’t hold back as she unveils the ivory towers and monied meetings driving AI, as well as the unrecognized workers around the globe sacrificing their mental health to build it safer. —Brianne Kane, Associate Editor/Books & Rights ManagerIs a River Alive?by Robert MacfarlaneW. W. NortonTags: Environment, HistoryDoes nature have inherent rights—to be respected and to be protected and restored from damage? To find answers, nature writer Robert Macfarlane traveled to three very different rivers in Ecuador, India and eastern Canada. His keen observational eye and provocative prose reveal the majesty of the many degraded rivers around the world. —Andrea Gawrylewski, Chief Newsletter EditorReplaceable Youby Mary RoachW. W. NortonTags: Medical Science, HumorRoach has knocked it out of the park again. We follow her around the globe as she sniffs out the most curious, novel and extraordinary science happening in the amorphous field of human augmentation. In just the tip of the iceberg of her many adventures in this slim book, she interviews people who have elected to have their limbs removed, meets scientists studying pig organs and spends some time in an iron lung just to see what it feels like. Roach’s writing is on full display on these pages. She’s brilliant but also approachable and funny—a dream dinner guest in your pocket. —Brianne Kane, Associate Editor/Books & Rights ManagerEverything Is Tuberculosisby John GreenCrash Course BooksTags: Medical Science, HistoryEverything Is Tuberculosis shatters the misconception of a disease too easily thought vanquished. In this urgent and compassionate work, John Green shows how this illness is still the world’s deadliest infectious disease, and he does it with sharp reporting and deeply emotional storytelling. His voice resonates with clarity and conviction. The book combines history and science to make the unsettling point that tuberculosis is nothing but a social issue tied to inequality. Eye-opening and unsettling, it’s a call to action against inequality to be remembered in nonfiction. —Isabella Bruni, Digital ProducerThe Feather Detectiveby Chris SweeneyAvid Reader PressTags: True Crime, Bird BooksIn 1960 a commercial flight taking off from Boston Logan International Airport ran into a flock of birds and nosedived into nearby Winthrop Bay, killing 62 of the 72 people on board. Investigators sent bird remains embedded in the wreckage to the Smithsonian Institution in what became the first forensics case for Roxie Laybourne, a then up-and-coming taxidermist at the institute and the wonderful protagonist of this compelling, novel-like account. Journalist Chris Sweeney traces Laybourne’s rise to become a legendary forensic ornithologist, one who in her career would identify the remains of more than 10,000 airplane-struck birds. —Andrea Gawrylewski, Chief Newsletter EditorThis Is for Everyoneby Tim Berners-LeeFarrar, Straus and GirouxTags: Technology, HistoryThis might be the first celebrity memoir I’ve ever read, inspired by my former co-worker Hector Coronado’s promise of “Rebecca Solnit–esque optimism” and an introduction to the technology behind the World Wide Web that non–tech nerds could understand. It’s a breezy ride through the life of Berners-Lee, inventor of the Web, who peppers the Web’s key technological developments and societal challenges with the occasional encounter with Bono or the Queen of England. Most powerful is Berners-Lee’s dedication to his vision of what the Web, specifically, and the Internet writ large can be—even as the rich and powerful have spent decades manipulating it to their own ends. —Meghan Bartels, Senior ReporterHuman Natureby Kate MarvelEccoTags: Climate Change, HistoryMarvel is a huge figure in the climate science world, and her book offers a compelling introduction to the science of how our planet is changing. But this engaging book does so much more. Each chapter explores one emotion that climate change can inspire in us. And sitting with these emotions isn’t a frivolous distraction from the work that needs to be done, Marvel argues. Instead, feeling deeply about our world and the threats it faces—the anger and fear and grief, of course, but also the wonder and surprise and hope—is a necessary step in healing our planet. —Meghan Bartels, Senior ReporterTake to the Treesby Marguerite HollowayW. W. NortonTags: Memoir, NatureHolloway, a professor of journalism at Columbia University, takes us to a new understanding about the trials and tribulations of ecology, contrasting the planet’s environmental crisis with her own personal stories of survival. She climbs great hemlocks with a women’s climbing group to overcome a fear of heights brought on by motherhood and the loss of her brother and mother. We learn along with her to appreciate the details, described so lovingly and painstakingly, of endangered trees. The spot illustrations of leaves, bark, roots and seeds by Ellen Wiener enliven our enjoyment even more. (Full disclosure: Holloway and I were colleagues at Scientific American for many years, and I was privileged to see her journalism career blossom.) —Maria-Christina Keller, Copy DirectorThey Poisoned the Worldby Mariah BlakeCrownTags: True Crime, HistoryAn epic of science writing, for which Blake conducted more than 600 interviews, They Poisoned the World brings readers to Hoosick Falls, N.Y., where townspeople keep falling ill and dying from a mysterious cause. Meanwhile the local factories producing Teflon pump pollutants into local water supplies. Over decades, the dangers of per- and polyfluoroalkyl substances, or PFAS, so called forever chemicals, come to light despite the manufacturers’ attempts to keep dodging responsibility. This book will likely leave you horrified and enraged. But reckoning with the truth—no matter how stomach-turning—is the first step toward justice. —Andrea Gawrylewski, Chief Newsletter EditorRaising Hareby Chloe DaltonPantheonTags: Memoir, NatureIf the sensation “cozy” were a book, it would be Chloe Dalton’s memoir Raising Hare. She recounts her tale as a workaholic city slicker who starts living in a cottage in the English countryside during the height of the pandemic. Out on a walk one day, she comes across an abandoned newborn hare. After deliberating, she brings it home with her. Determined to maintain a kind of wild existence for the animal, she rearranges her life to care for the sweet creature. Along the way, Dalton discovers a newfound interest in the natural world and draws attention to how commercial agricultural practices harm wild animals. This book may especially appeal to animal lovers, but it will warm all hearts. —Andrea Gawrylewski, Chief Newsletter Editor

Animals
Chemicals
Climate

Stop treating your pet like a fur baby – you're damaging its health

Pet owners' increasing tendency to see their animals as children rather than dogs or cats can have dire consequences. Owners, and veterinarians, should be wary, warns Eddie Clutton

Where once they lived in our backyards, many pets – for better and for worse – have now transitioned to a pampered life as “fur baby” family members. The American Veterinary Medical Association recently highlighted that pet owners were projected to spend nearly $1 billion on costumes for their pets this year. Many see this as harmless fun, but the increasing tendency to treat pets as surrogate children – or at least small humans – can have severe health and welfare consequences for the animals involved. The forerunners of the modern fur baby belonged to a widely distributed population of small, domesticated carnivores of the genera Canis and Felis. Despite being relatively short-lived, such pets usually brought considerable pleasure, companionship and some health benefits to their human owners, while teaching children a respect for, and the vital requirements of, these animals. Pets have also brought other educational gains, such as the opportunity to experience and grieve non-human death in preparation for the demise of human loved ones. Most pets would be rewarded for this with food, water, shelter, vaccines, flea powders and a name reflecting their service (Fido), colour (Sooty) or behavioural traits (Rover). Importantly, they were usually assured a relatively pleasant death before the inevitable effects of advanced age extinguished any remaining quality of life. The pet-to-fur-baby evolution can be attributed to many things, including undue emphasis on the human-animal bond, increasing affluence, ignorance of animals’ biological needs, irresistible consumerism – and, in propagating ill-advised (though well-intentioned) anthropomorphism, social media. The principal causes, drivers and outcomes of fur babyism have intensified and spread globally. Evidence for this is inescapable and goes beyond the availability of clothes for birthdays, Halloween or Christmas. Strollers, jewellery, fragrances, nappies, nail polish, coat dyes, birthday cakes and shoes are now available for the modern fur baby, as are “gold standard” veterinary treatments. The adverse physical and psychological health effects of fur babyism are well documented. Take strollers for dogs: while potentially useful for injured or arthritic animals, their excessive use in other dogs can lead to muscle wastage, joint damage and obesity. Restricting the fur baby’s movement limits its natural inclination to explore, mark territory and interact with environmental features, such as others of its species, leading to fear and anxiety. Given these potential health and welfare hazards, one would expect the veterinary profession to adopt a universally condemnatory position with respect to the fur baby phenomenon. Oddly, this isn’t the case, with attitudes ranging from censure to capitalisation. The latter position is troubling because in encouraging overtreatment, for example radiotherapy in geriatric animals, it may further compromise animal welfare without necessarily improving animal health. An owner’s profound love for their pet can always be accepted, provided the animal’s interests are prioritised, which includes ensuring them freedom from pain, suffering and distress. What is considerably less defensible is the vet who cashes in on an owner’s misguided love for their pet to conduct unnecessary, invasive, painful, unproven and expensive tests and procedures on an animal that cannot give its consent. All caregivers should reflect on the suffering that may arise when animals are treated inappropriately: that is, as children rather than dogs or cats. And vets pandering to the fur baby trend should know better. Eddie Clutton is co-author of Veterinary Controversies and Ethical Dilemmas (Routledge)

Animals
Health
Food

Suggested Viewing

The Invisible Mammal - The Bat Rescuer

Bats are struggling to survive, specifically in North America, where white nose syndrome is causing a sharp decline of certain species. Pertinent issues: climate change, habitat destruction, what can humans must do to prevent extinction.

Animals
Climate
Extinction

Return of the Buffalo

The Lakota people on the Rosebud Reservation of South Dakota welcome buffalo back to their land with hopes that this reunion will restore their cultural, physical, spiritual, and economic health.

Animals
Indigenous
Social Justice

Idjanga, the Gorilla Forest

For more than fifteen years, Max Hurdebourcq, a solitary and passionate observer of gorillas, has been committed to the defence of the tropical forests of Central Africa. In particular, he is trying to find solutions to ensure a sustainable coexistence between forestry operators and the extraordinary wildlife that populates the forest concessions, veritable islands of biodiversity. At the CEB Precious Woods concession in southeast Gabon, Max is preparing for his latest exploration mission. His goal: to set up a refuge area for gorillas and local fauna within this area of nearly 6,000 km2. This is a first in Gabon, which has been imposing sustainable forest certification on operators active on its territory since 2018. This project, if it becomes a reality, could serve as an example throughout the Congo Basin. For Max, this would be the recognition and the outcome of his struggle. Anything but silent forests!

Animals
Nature

A Whale's Worth

The Canary Islands are a whale Paradise. Their waters hold more than a third of the world’s species, making it the most important enclave in the European Union, and one of the most relevant globally.Today, this paradise is being threatened by different human pressures, such as boat collisions, plastic consumption and climate change. This struggle aggravates their mortality each year and makes us face ourselves as the ones responsible for their survival, forcing us to rethink how much we value these animals currently.How much is a whale worth? Can you put a price on the life of such a majestic animal? How can we estimate that value? How has the value that human beings give to whales changed throughout history? What are whales used and needed for?To answer all these questions, Natacha Aguilar, an eminent Canarian scientist and whale expert, backed up by a group of scientists and non-profit organizations, will guide us in a spectacular journey through time and space to discover the never-told stories of the lives of these animals.

Animals
Culture
Climate

Birdwatchers

Illustrating the wide array of birds that live in and around the city of Toronto, the film features passionate birdwatchers who have devoted most of their lives to discovering these birds. In the process, these dedicated people promote Toronto as an international location for birdwatching, which also leads to conservation efforts to protect animals and green land.

Animals
Conservation
Culture

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