An American indigenous tribe is fighting to halt a massive mining project in central Idaho, warning it threatens treaty rights and sensitive ecosystems.
Late last month, the Nez Perce Tribe filed suit in U.S. District Court against the U.S. Forest Service, citing violations of its 1863 treaty and federal law. The tribe argues that the proposed Stibnite Gold Project in Idaho would restrict access to ancestral lands and contaminate crucial headwaters.
The Nez Perce signed binding treaties with the U.S. government long before Idaho became a state. Their 1863 agreement predates modern mining law and guarantees the tribe’s exclusive rights to fish, hunt, gather, and graze in the region.
Tribal leaders contend the Forest Service ignored those rights when it approved the mine. Additionally, they say regulators sidestepped the National Environmental Policy Act and forest protection plans that apply to both the Payette and Boise National Forests.
Mining is expected to begin by 2029 if construction stays on schedule. The tribe, however, insists the law remains on its side.
“Our treaty-reserved rights are the supreme law of the land and fundamental to the culture, identity, economy, and sovereignty of the Nez Perce people,” said Shannon Wheeler, the tribal chair. He noted that the tribe had raised consistent concerns with the Forest Service for nearly a decade.
The lawsuit also names the U.S. Department of Agriculture and Secretary of Agriculture Brooke Rollins. In addition, the case comes as environmental groups pursue similar litigation over the same project. U.S. District Judge Amanda Brailsford is overseeing both lawsuits.
Perpetua Resources Corp (TSE: PPTA) (NASDAQ: PPTA), the Canadian company developing the Idaho mine, has intervened as a defendant.
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Department of Defense has already allocated grant money
Perpetua relocated its headquarters to Boise, Idaho and plans to extract billions of dollars in gold and antimony.
The firm’s controlling shareholder is billionaire hedge fund manager John Paulson, a major Republican donor with close ties to Trump. His investment underscores the scale of financial interest behind the venture.
The Stibnite Gold Project would create three open pits and use cyanide to process ore near the East Fork South Fork Salmon River. Over two decades, the mine would produce the largest known U.S. reserve of antimony, a critical mineral used in national defense and clean energy.
The Department of Defense has already directed nearly USD$82 million dollars in grants to secure high-grade antimony for missiles, munitions, and military equipment. Additionally, the mineral plays a role in solar panels, batteries, and flame retardants.
Past mining left the Yellow Pine area heavily scarred. Legacy waste was so severe that the site had once been considered for the Environmental Protection Agency’s superfund list. Perpetua argues its project offers a solution. The company says it will restore degraded land, reconnect endangered salmon habitat, and clean up decades-old contamination once mining ends. Furthermore, it says it incorporated tribal and public feedback during its eight-year federal review.
“The Stibnite Gold Project is critical to our national security and is poised to reconnect fish to their native spawning grounds, clean up legacy contamination, restore habitat, establish the only domestically mined source of antimony, and provide hundreds of family-wage jobs,” Marty Boughton, a Perpetua spokesman, said.
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Building infrastructure will take three years
Idaho’s four Republican members of Congress have endorsed the project. Their support reflects broader political momentum behind expanding domestic mineral supply chains.
The federal government, meanwhile, is weighing Perpetua’s application for 2 billion dollars in debt financing from the Export-Import Bank of the United States. That loan would help fund the mine’s estimated USD$1.3 to $2 billion dollar cost.
According to company plans, construction could begin before the end of 2025. Building the necessary infrastructure is expected to take three years. Despite the lawsuits, Perpetua does not intend to slow down. Boughton said the company expects final bank review of its loan application by spring 2026. She added that the pending litigation should not alter the timeline.
The Nez Perce remain unconvinced. Tribal leaders stress that their treaty rights are not negotiable and that their culture and survival are directly tied to the land and water. They view the mine as an existential threat rather than an economic opportunity. Furthermore, they see the case as a test of whether the federal government will uphold its promises.
Both lawsuits now move forward under Judge Brailsford, who faces the task of weighing environmental, economic, and cultural stakes. The outcome could reshape not only the future of the Stibnite Gold Project but also the federal government’s relationship with tribal nations in the West.
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China has placed heavy restrictions on critical minerals
Critical minerals, including antimony, have become a central concern for the United States. China dominates global production, creating a near-monopoly. Consequently, the U.S. faces supply chain vulnerabilities and rising prices. In recent years, China restricted exports of antimony, gallium, and germanium, essential for both technology and defense.
If the United States continues relying on foreign sources, it could struggle to produce advanced military equipment and clean-energy technology.
Antimony, for example, is critical for armour piercing ammunition, night vision optics, and precision electronics. Furthermore, shortages could delay solar panels, liquid-metal batteries, and other clean energy systems. These gaps highlight the strategic urgency of establishing domestic supply chains.
The public sector is responding with significant initiatives. The U.S. Department of Energy has announced nearly one billion dollars in funding to expand domestic processing of critical minerals. These programs aim to reduce dependence on foreign suppliers and strengthen national security. Additionally, public investment supports research, permitting, and environmental oversight to ensure sustainable development.
Private companies are also stepping up to address supply challenges.
NevGold Corp (CVE: NAU) (OTCMKTS: NAUFF) (FRA: 5E50) is exploring gold-antimony deposits in Nevada, aiming to provide a domestic source of antimony.
Meanwhile, Military Metals Corp (CNSX: MILI) (OTCMKTS: MILIF) (FRA: QN90) is advancing antimony exploration in Nova Scotia, targeting defense and industrial applications.
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