Revett Minerals Inc. of Spokane wants to begin mining beneath the Cabinet Mountains Wilderness in Northwestern Montana, but the Confederated Salish and Kootenai Tribes are hoping to preserve the sacred area and prevent the company from disturbing the cultural site.

In doing that, the Tribes are working to have Chicago Peak named a traditional cultural property under the National Historic Preservation Act. Maria Nieves Zedeno, archaeologist from the University of Arizona's School of Anthropology, is currently in the process of setting up a project to interview tribal elders to determine whether the peak qualifies.

"There are guidelines to follow for determining eligibilities," Zedeno said.

While her work is still under way, Zedeno acknowledged that Chicago Peak holds importance to the Kootenai people.

"The significance of the mountain dates back to the creation of the Kootenai people and is tied to their origins," Zedeno said.

Revett Minerals Inc. President John Shanahan said the project, which has been in the works since the early '90s, would be done very carefully and with the heritage of the Kootenai Tribe not forgotten.

"We're very mindful of the sacred and cultural significance of the area," Shanahan said. "When we commence our operation, we'll be 1,000 feet below the surface. It's an underground, clean operation."

The mine's entrance would actually be located outside the Cabinet Mountains Wilderness area, but the operation, which aims to yield thousands of tons of copper and silver, would tunnel down beneath Chicago Peak.

Whether the site is designated or not wouldn't necessarily put an end to the project.

"We have to fully understand the implication of what we do," Shanahan said.