Indigenous Group Blocks Kentucky Prison with Land Purchase

An indigenous-led organization, the Appalachian Rekindling Project, has successfully purchased land on the site of a proposed federal prison in Letcher County, Kentucky, sparking a major obstacle for the project. The land, located in Roxana, was once slated for the construction of the facility, but with this new acquisition, the prison’s future is now uncertain. While the group opposes the prison, their motivation extends beyond just preventing its construction—they have plans for a long-term land rehabilitation project rooted in traditional indigenous knowledge.
Tiffany, the co-executive director of the Appalachian Rekindling Project and a native of Letcher County, explained the organization’s vision for the land. "I fully knew that we could not say no to a prison and leave the land empty,” she said. “We have a multi-phase plan to restore the land in a variety of ways related to traditional indigenous knowledge systems.”

The group's approach to restoring the land is drawing support from local residents, including Mitch Whitaker, a landowner who lives adjacent to the proposed prison site. "Not only would it help to thwart the efforts of the prison, but it would also be an alternative choice for this property,” Whitaker said. He believes the indigenous-led rehabilitation project offers a more sustainable and respectful solution to the land’s future.
The battle over the proposed prison has divided the community for more than 16 years. While many in the area support the project, Congressman Hal Rogers has been one of its most vocal advocates. Rogers did not respond to inquiries from WEKU regarding the new development, but in a previous statement, he acknowledged that some residents had been opposed to the prison "from day one."
The purchase of the land by the Appalachian Rekindling Project has reignited the debate over the prison’s construction and has the potential to shift the direction of the region’s future development. As the project unfolds, the group’s work to restore the land with indigenous principles may set an example for land management that bridges both environmental and cultural preservatio
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