The Navajo Nation government recently came to an agreement with mining company Energy Fuels on the transport of uranium from a mine south of the Grand Canyon.
Navajo community advocates say that even though their communities are on the route, they were left out of the decision-making process.
Treina Jones co-founded Bidí Roots, a community organization that’s holding a walk later this month to protest the deal. She said they’re in the dark about how a potential radioactive spill would be handled.
“We are encouraging folks to check in with their local chapters,” said Jones. “Especially communities that are along this haul route starting from the Grand Canyon and all the way up through Mesa and Utah.”
And as part of their collaboration with Diné C.A.R.E, Jones says they’ve already heard a lot of worries from the community about the route, which passes through tribal lands and communities in northern Arizona.
“Like, ‘Why is the Navajo Nation doing this? Aren't they aware of so many people having cancer from all the abandoned uranium mines, that was the main issue?’” she recalled. “And, ‘How come they're not coming out and talking to us?’”
Especially among heavily-invested groups like elders and veterans, Jones said she hopes people will come to voice their concerns, frustrations and questions.
“There will be health consequences, because a lot of the reservation communities are impacted by uranium – and a lot of people do get cancer,” she said. “Our Diné people are still fighting these cancers that are caused from the uranium mines.”
It feels like history repeating itself, she said, with several generations of Diné people still dealing with the consequences of past or ongoing uranium mining before they take on any more.
Jones added that they’re inviting communities along the route and expecting a large turnout for the Saturday, Feb. 22, walk in Tuba City.
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