Members of the Gila River Indian Community of Arizona are voting today to decide whether they want a state highway through the reservation.

Tribal members are considering three options: to support the current route for the highway, to support a different route through the reservation, or no highway at all.

The current route is controversial because it would cut through South Mountain, a sacred site. The tribe has historically opposed this option.

If tribal members choose the second option, that would lead to more negotiations to acquire their land through rights-of-way Congress might also need to alter the reservation boundaries.

The "no" option could still force the tribe into the review process with the state or it could lead to lawsuits.

Get the Story:
Gila River Indian tribe votes on South Mountain Freeway today (The Arizona Republic 2/7)

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