In the Navajo Nation, our rich cultural heritage and resilience as a people are points of great pride, but we also grapple with serious health and environmental issues that stem from decades of exploitation of our lands.
High rates of cancer plague our communities: the causes are multifaceted and deeply rooted in our recent history. Nuclear testing conducted near our lands, widespread groundwater contamination, and the legacy of over 500 uranium mines scattered across our territory all contribute to this crisis. Throughout rural Arizona, the uranium mining boom has left a toxic legacy that continues to impact our people. Hundreds of these old mines were never properly decommissioned or contained.
Even today, we are still uncovering the full extent of how radioactive waste affects the health of our Native communities and our lands.
Next Monday, on Indigenous Peoples’ Day, I ask you to reflect on how our government’s actions have historically impacted our tribal communities here in Arizona and across the nation. Let’s use this day as a catalyst for change – to educate, to advocate, and to take action for the health and future of the Navajo Nation and all Indigenous peoples.
Thank you,
Jonathan Nez
