Here at International Indian Film FEstival at Navajo Museum, Window Rock, Ariz. Festival live streamed:
www.ustream.tv/channel/iuff-4you
There was a break in the films and a short Q&A was held which was followed by more films! It’s great but also very heart wrenching.
CHRIS SHUEY
All these films are the legacy of uranium mining/milling. There is a woman who sorted ore as it came down shoots when she was teen ager and now seeing multigenerational impacts. Takes army of workers, expensive, time consuming to do health study and this is only one being done, which is Dineh Project. The Birth Cohort Study is to provide answers to women and families and to tribal government for policies but also information and work for next generation. Sad to say there will be jobs for generations to study abandoned uranium mining, water contamination, land, health, etc. So recommend having young people get into this field. But we are also involved in Navajo way of medicine.
INFORMATION ON DINEH PROJECT
CORA MAXX PHILLIPS, BIRTH COHORTMA STUDY
Who has money to continuously monitor water wells for human/livestock consumption so yes, strong policy would help.
INFORMATION ON NAVAJO BIRTH COHORT STUDY
http://hsc.unm.edu/pharmacy/healthyvoices/NBCS/NBCS_Abstract.html
MALCOLM BENALLY
It’s remarkable that these films are in the Navajo language. And there are probably some common sense things to keep safe at home if living in contaminated area.
CHRIS SHUEY
We are testing radon levels in homes of women’s. Open windows a bit. Keep water steaming in home which reduces radon levels. Be conscious of where you go and track into house. If burn wood, burn dry wood. Don’t burn coal. Keep home as clean as possible. Young children eat things off floor. We have lot of information. If you live near mine sites, keep away from them. Elders know mine sites but they are not signed.
CHRIS
Half dozen wells in eastern Navajo are impacted by former uranium activities. We have a lot of data regarding water contamination and if you have a specific question about a water source, we can provide information.
