The second in our series on the environmental and humanitarian legacy of US uranium mines in The Navajo Nation and abroad. Before we talk about the mines, we need to discuss the historical context of settler-colonial oppression of the Navajo by the United States. In this episode, we cover the years 1849-1868, during which the United States military subjects the Navajo people to horrific, genocidal violence and displacement as a means to secure their land and resources as they expand westward.
*Content warning* for violence, upsetting content, and reference to SA.
Learn more, donate, help out:
The Multicultural Alliance for a Safe Environment
“MASE is rooted in the experiences of uranium-impacted communities of the southwestern U.S. We are communities working to restore and protect the natural and cultural environment through respectfully promoting intercultural engagement among communities and institutions for the benefit of all life and future generations.”
Southwest Research and Information Center (SRIC, @SRICorg on twitter)
“In the late 1970s, Navajo uranium miners and their families asked for help to show that their lung diseases had been caused by their work in underground uranium mines in the 1940s-1960s. SRIC staff responded with medical and scientific data, in-community education strategies, and legislative support. As a result, Congress adopted legislation in 1990 to compensate former miners and their survivors. Ten years later, with SRIC's on going technical support to advocacy groups, the law was amended to cover virtually all uranium miners who worked before 1971. Currently, the Uranium Impact Assessment Program provides information on mining and community health, the legacy of uranium development, regulatory and policy issues related to remediation of contaminated sites, and current and proposed uranium development.”
Noel Lyn Smith at Inside Climate News (@nsmithdt and @insideclimate on twitter)
Noel Smith has written a ton of really informative pieces on the modern state of uranium mine cleanup in The Navajo Nation- highly recommend giving them a read.
Red Nation Podcast. Uranium Stories: the largest nuclear disaster in US history, 43 years later. Episode link on patreon here.
“The Red Nation Podcast features discussions on Indigenous history, politics, and culture from a left perspective. Hosted by Nick Estes and Jen Marley with help from our friend and comrade Sina. The Red Nation Podcast is also the home of Red Power Hour, hosted by Melanie Yazzie and Elena Ortiz. Our show is entirely supported by our patrons on Patreon, support the show and get access to bonus content and other patron-exclusive benefits here: Patreon.com/redmediapr”
Really can’t stress enough how much you should listen and support this podcast- extremely informative and motivating.
Sources:
Long Walk: Tears of the Navajo by Utah PBS, 2007
Timestamps and names of Navajo speakers quoted in this episode:
Notation given as: speaker name; timestamp in podcast; timestamp in documentary
Luci Tapahonso; 20:00 ; 14:49
Harry Walters; 20:32 ; 15:24
Lucy Willie; 26:46 ; 16:46
Arlene Tsosie; 27:10 ; 17:09
Luci Tapahonso; 27:25; 17:25
Luci Tapahonso; 28:04 ; 18:04
Shirley Clark; 28:19 ; 18:19
Dr. Jennifer Nez Denetdale; 28:37 ;18:37
Shirley Clark; 29:30 ; 20:45
Blackhorse Mitchell; 29:42 ; 20:59
Harry Walters; 30:00 ; 21:16
Luci Tapahonso; 30:23 ; 21:38
Blackhorse Mitchell; 30:56 ; 22:30
Dr. Jennifer Nez Denetdale ; 31:08; 26:24
Dr. Jennifer Nez Denetdale ; 32:24 ; 29:45
Dr. Peter Iverson; 32:55 ; 30:17
Dr. Jennifer Nez Denetdale; 33:25 ; 30:48
Denetdale, Jennifer. The Long Walk: The Forced Navajo Exile. Infobase Publishing, 2009.
Denetdale, Jennifer Nez. Reclaiming Diné History: The Legacies of Navajo Chief Manuelito and Juanita. University of Arizona Press, 2015.
Sides, Hampton. Blood and Thunder. Anchor, 2007.
Pasternak, Judy. Yellow dirt: A poisoned land and the betrayal of the Navajos. New York: Free Press, 2011.
Voyles, Traci Brynne. Wastelanding: Legacies of uranium mining in Navajo country. U of Minnesota Press, 2015.
Art and Music
Country music by Alex Black (science_party on instagram)
Ambient music by CALIFORNIA DEATH WORM (@grouchyjerk on twitter)
Cover art by Emily, check out her Etsy page at cicadaxxseason!
If you want to support the show and help pay for books and coffee, you can toss us a couple bucks at patreon.com/sludgefest. If not, no worries- all the eps are free :)
We’ll see you next time. Remember that despair is useless and I love you!
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