10
JULY 15, 2021
Smoke Signals
Fee assistance available
NATIVE
Enrolled Tribal members can request assistance with test fees (i.e. GRE,
SAT, LSAT, ACT) and admissions application fees.
Contact Higher Education for more information at 1-800-422-0232, ext.
2275.
AMERICAN
WATCHLIST
Cultural Landscapes Project
Cultural Resources Department
Watchlist: ‘How the U.S.
poisoned the Navajo Nation’
By Kamiah Koch
Social media/digital journalist
During World War II and the subsequent Cold War with the Soviet
Union, the United States was building up its domestic nuclear arsenal.
To do so required the radioactive substance uranium. The American
Southwest experienced a boom in uranium mining starting in the 1940s
and at the center of that boom sat the Navajo Nation.
Vox published a 12-minute video in 2020 examining the toxic history
of uranium mining in Church Rock, N.M., and the health effects Native
people of the area experience today.
The Tribal people welcomed mining at the time because they saw job
opportunities and potential for economic growth to their region.
However, the U.S. was not fairly compensating the Navajo Nation for
the land it leased for mining, did not warn Native mine workers of the
well-known health hazards that come with working in uranium mines
and the private company that was hired did nothing when cracking
appeared on a dam holding millions of gallons of radioactive sludge
produced from the mines.
In 1979, the dam broke and spilled its contents into the Rio Puerco
creek bed, a water source for the people and livestock of the area.
This was the largest radioactive spill in the country’s history.
Little warning was given to Navajo Nation residents to avoid the water
and no cleanup plan was devised. Vox interviewed the few remaining res-
idents of the area and they listed off the decline in their peoples’ health.
“They just came in, tore up the place and left the contamination be-
hind, and they really don’t want to do anything about it,” Edith Hood,
a former mine worker, said in the video.
She takes the Vox camera crew just a few steps from where they
interviewed her to show them the giant pile of uranium mining waste
stacked up behind her house.
In more recent years, Hood and community members took action
to get cleanup in motion. The Environmental Protection Agency and
the mining company agreed to a proposed cleanup plan for the mines,
while no plan was proposed for cleaning the contaminated waterway.
Instead, the EPA wants the people of the area to move from the Navajo
Reservation to Gallup, N.M., and adjust to a new way of life.
To watch “How the U.S. poisoned the Navajo Nation,” go to www.
youtube.com/watch?v=ETPogv1zq08&t=5s or visit the Smoke Signals
YouTube channel to find the video listed under our “Watchlist” playlist.
Mineral Spring Poultry
joins U-Haul network
WILLAMINA – Mineral Spring Poultry, 25500 Yamhill River Road just
east of Fort Hill, has joined the U-Haul network and is offering trucks,
trailers, towing equipment, moving supplies and in-store pickup for boxes.
Business hours are 8 a.m. to 5 p.m. Monday through Thursday and 7
a.m. to 4 p.m. Friday and Saturday. Mineral Spring can be reached at
971-309-5079 or by visiting www.uhaul.com and searching for rental loca-
tions near Willamina. Owned by Nels Youngberg, Mineral Spring Poultry
joined U-Haul’s national network of more than 20,000 dealers in North
America. When a customer rents from a U-Haul dealer, they are creating
supplemental income and are supporting an independent small business
in the community.
Your home is your castle and you want it to look that way.
Relax and let us take care of the work.
Call today and make an appointment to have one of our property service representatives
come and listen to your needs and provide you with an estimate
503.383.4064
CCB #208867 LCB #9720
Licensed, bonded and insured.
Paid ad
The Cultural Resources Department is seeking Grand Ronde members who
hunt, fish, gather traditional foods and use the Willamette River
dams/reserviors and their surrounding areas for these and other purposes.
We are interested in conducting interviews with interested members. We will
be able to provide an honorarium for your assistance.
If you are interested, please contact Greg Archuleta or Chris Rempel at
503-879-1887 or by email at greg.archuleta@grandronde.org or
chris.rempel@grandronde.org.
Dams and Surrounding Interest Areas:
Big Cliff - Detroit - Foster - Green Peter - Dexter - Lookout Point - Fall
Creek - Hills Creek - Dorena - Cottage Grove - Fern Ridge
YOUR VOICE
MATTERS
VOTE
Tribal Council members represent YOU, the
member! I encourage all eligible members to
participate in the annual election process.
Whether elected or not, one of my goals is to
see an increase in tribal member participation and
engagement, and that starts with your vote.
In order to receive a ballot in the mail, you must
have a Signature Verification Form (SVF) on file
with the Election Board. Please submit one if you
have not done so and participate in this year’s Tribal
Council elections. Ballots mail out on July 28th!
Visit my website below or find me on Facebook to
learn more about issues that are important to me.
~Michael Cherry
Learn more about me and find a
link to download the SVF
on my website,
michaelcherry.co
Michael Cherry
for Tribal Council
Paid political ad