Indigenous cemetery in West Texas faces new threats from AI and energy projects

The reburial of the La Junta Five marks a hard-won moment of recognition, but geothermal energy and AI data centers are already testing what that victory means.

Published on Mar. 2, 2026

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In Presidio, Texas, the Cementerio del Barrio de los Lipanes, a centuries-old sacred burial site for the Indigenous Peoples of La Junta, recently saw the reburial of seven sets of ancestral remains. This hard-won moment of recognition is now being tested by the potential development of geothermal energy projects and an AI data center in the region, which could threaten the land and water resources that the community has long protected.

Why it matters

The reburial of the La Junta Five under the Native American Graves Protection and Repatriation Act (NAGPRA) affirms the Indigenous community's authority and rights over their ancestral lands. However, as the region faces growing pressure from large-scale development projects, the community must now decide how to use this recognition to protect the land, safeguard water resources, and ensure that future development does not damage fragile ecosystems or strain complex family relationships.

The details

The Cementerio del Barrio de los Lipanes is a historic sacred burial mound tied to the Native Peoples of La Junta, who have lived in the area for thousands of years. In November 2026, seven sets of ancestral remains were reburied at the site, including five previously known as the 'Millington Five' and now called the La Junta Five. The reburial was a long-awaited moment of recognition for the community, but the land now faces new threats from proposed geothermal energy projects and an AI data center that could have significant impacts on water resources and the environment.

  • The reburial ceremony took place on November 1, 2026.
  • In 2023, a protective barrier was built around the cemetery, nearly destroying one of the graves.
  • In 2024, a geothermal assessment by the University of Texas Bureau of Economic Geology found that Presidio County has substantial, undeveloped geothermal resources that could supply the county's electrical needs.

The players

Xoxi Nayapiltzin

An elder with the Council of La Junta and a sitting board member with the Big Bend Conservation Alliance (BBCA) who has worked for decades to bring Ancestors home.

Bill Gerald Addington

A longtime organizer and environmental advocate based in Sierra Blanca who has spent decades opposing hazardous development projects in West Texas.

Brad Kelley

A billionaire who controls the Texas Mountain Cattle Company, which owns the land where the proposed AI data center is planned.

Mike Pallanes Samaniego

A descendant of the Lipan Apache Tall Grass Band from El Barrio de los Lipanes, whose grandmother Jacinta Samaniego is buried in the cemetery.

Koyana Flotte

A community scholar who previously researched and helped write the signage for the burial mound, and who has documented the continuous return of families to this burial site.

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What they’re saying

“I do not recognize the federal government to legitimize my indigeneity. Our relatives [federally recognized tribes] will recognize us and treat us as us.”

— Xoxi Nayapiltzin, Elder, Council of La Junta (Palabra)

“This AI thing, I'm not updated on it. Those who oppose it say it will deplete aquifers. And the people, our people, say that it will bring jobs and stuff.”

— Xoxi Nayapiltzin, Elder, Council of La Junta (Palabra)

“Our land and our people are being targeted because we're economically distressed. You've got willing politicians signing nondisclosure agreements, taking consulting money, and sometimes voting on the very projects they're supposed to be scrutinizing.”

— Bill Gerald Addington, Longtime organizer and environmental advocate (Palabra)

What’s next

The judge in the case will decide on Tuesday whether or not to allow the proposed AI data center development to move forward, which could have significant impacts on the water resources and environment of the region.

The takeaway

The reburial of the La Junta Five marks a hard-won moment of recognition for the Indigenous community, but the land they have long protected now faces new threats from energy and technology projects that could strain water resources and disrupt fragile ecosystems. As the community gains legal authority over their ancestral lands, they must now decide how to use this recognition to safeguard their home and ensure that future development does not come at the cost of their identity, values, and responsibility to the land.