How the US poisoned Navajo Nation

The biggest radioactive spill in US history.
As World War Two was ending, the growing nuclear arms race put the US in need of uranium. It turned to Navajo Nation, where the uranium mining industry thrived for four decades -- but left disease, pollution and the biggest radioactive spill in US history.
That spill in Church Rock, New Mexico upended the lives of nearby residents, who had to grapple with toxic water, livestock and a lifetime of illnesses. Now, they are still waiting for it to be cleaned up.
Note: The headline for this piece has been updated.
Previous headline: The biggest radioactive spill in US history
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Explore the full Missing Chapter playlist, including episodes, a creator Q&A, and more! • Missing Chapter - Vox
Learn more about the Church Rock spill and the impacts of uranium mining at the Southwest Research and Information Center: www.sric.org/uranium/rirf.php
Read the book by Doug Brugge, Timothy Benally, and Esther Yazzie-Lewis, The Navajo People and Uranium Mining: unmpress.com/books/navajo-peo...
Read the book Yellow Dirt, by Judy Pasternak, on uranium mining in Navajo Nation: www.simonandschuster.com/book...
Check out the documentary “The Return of Navajo Boy,” which looks at the uranium industry in Navajo Nation: navajoboy.com/watch/
Learn about the Red Water Pond Road Community Association and other local groups through the Multicultural Alliance for a Safe Environment: swuraniumimpacts.org/red-wate...
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[@Vox]

Thanks for watching! For more of Missing Chapter's reporting on indigenous rights, check out our video on the legacy of forced assimilation and adoptions in the US: kzbin.info/www/bejne/i3jUiIWvd6h7ntk -Ranjani

[@migueldopz]

Hope one day you talked about Palomares incident. It would be a great idea to make it more noticeable.

[@axrebia]

I love this channel

[@nswanberg]

When truth hurts it means we are living in lies.

[@ArmenianDude88]

Can you guys do a video about Armenia. And give the history behind the war that is going on there right now

[@SpiceyBooks]

You should do a video on how native Americans gained the right to vote

[@cidmatrix9643]

"They don't see us as human beings. We're disposable." A story as old as time...

[@tsukirunsu9982]

:(

[@syahromzakaria9898]

You are right

[@Boolpooltool]

"as old as USA"

[@CreamCobblerFiend]

@@Boolpooltool As old as humanity. Take a look around the world Giesel, you'll see they dont do things much better elsewhere.

[@spacedude5208]

As old as the universe

[@HoennMaster]

Yet another event that was washed from history and most people haven’t heard about. It’s sad that a KZbin channel has taught me more than our schools. Thank you Vox for showcasing these events and stories.

[@TheSynthZone]

Devos will see to it that schools NEVER teach this stuff.

[@darlenemaples5034]

EXACTLY!

[@adwaitsharma6915]

Imagine if this happened in USSR, oh wait

[@soyuzvostok5927]

Schools dont want to teach us teens and children to judge our "superiors", they want us to be in ordenated lines, quiet and listening the total "truth" that they "teach" us, then remember it for two days and puke it on an exam. Later, they will rate our capabillity to remember with a number or letter and call it intelligence. They teach us to not think about anything and dont question our form of life. (Sorry for my english)

[@HarshRaj-xd6ix]

@@soyuzvostok5927 your english isn't bad

[@teaganna5970]

Oh my jeepers, I was unaware of this chapter in Navajo history. Like WHAT?! I'm learning this through a KZbin video.

[@Bluestar12]

I’ve lived in an area near the Navajo Nation and I’ve never heard about this before, as well. It’s just absolutely appalling how buried this information is. It should be just as ‘known’ as Chernobyl for (at least) those of us nearby.

[@arkwood5473]

That is sad. Are you even from the Rez? I doubt it.

[@teaganna5970]

@@arkwood5473 I was born, and raised on thee western side of the Navajo Nation.

[@lonewolfgamingplus379]

I'm Navajo as well, and I always knew this but not so... recently, I found out that my great-great-grandfather on my dad side was a miner for uranium.. he died from cancer.. due to the uranium..

[@arinb.9176]

I really feel bad for you because Navajo have suffered so many atrocities. I relate because I'm Indian (the country) and we also had the british colonials holed up in our country.

[@matthewmann8969]

They did the same to Apache, Commanche, Cherokee, Chicasaw, Creek, Seminole, Choctaw, And other nations too

[@reggieangus5325]

middle east, s america, pacific islands, Philippines, vietnam, korea, russia, cuba, iraq, Afghanistan, on and on

[@diegokiwi1854]

@@reggieangus5325 Mariana Islands

[@dreamer2260]

@@reggieangus5325 The genocide in N America has no comparison in terms of scale and effectiveness.

[@Saxxin1]

@@dreamer2260 South Africa has entered the chat.

[@ggoddkkiller1342]

The most ''humanist'' and ''liberal'' westerners are still killing Native Americans even today, what a ''surprise''....

[@latonyagreen-warner7402]

The US government owes the Native Americans more than apologies, more than money, and more than empty promises. How can the government right all the wrongs that have been done to the Native Americans? And why has nothing, or not enough, been done?

[@TheSynthZone]

Draw a line around Montana, North Dakota, South Dakota, New Mexico, Arizona and hand that back for now. Or just fess up to all the stuff that whites have pulled on the people, hard to say what fixes this satanic mess they made.

[@MrChillerNo1]

sadly it's about power. neither natives nor citizens really have any. it's big business and the ultra rich who call the shots, and they simply don't care.

[@latonyagreen-warner7402]

@ItchyPilauBoto808 There are so so many victims. We could be here all day just acknowledging all the victims of the government.

[@lightningblender]

I‘m not an American, but judging from all I knowledge I possess: The dept is immeasurable, it cannot be repaid. There’s no compensation equaling a lost life, not even another one.

[@rohan34]

A new independent nation for the native Americans

[@TitouanDebray]

Poisoning your land and asking you to relocate outside Native territory sounds an awful lot like forced assimilation to me...

[@headishome8452]

Or death...

[@TheLadyrose01]

It's most likely to "legally" steal the land

[@yicancu56]

I'm going to disagree with that one...I'm not denying that its a terrible tragedy. Any way you look at it, I can't believe that it happened...It never should have happened in the first place. This I won't deny.. I don't agree with the Native resident's decisions to stay and government (modern) vilification while the land is radioactive. They're older so I can understand their logic (if they're leaving because the land is radioactive then its redundant since they more than likely have already saturated said radiation in their system and they're feeling these consequences as a result.) The damage to the land is evident, its literally giving them cancer and their water is 1000x or something higher than the legal limit. Given the health consequences...staying in my opinion is stubborn. I understand and am empathetic towards the fact that the land is significant to them culturally and spiritually but when things like this happen and they government is temporarily moving you until 2027, it doesn't really make sense to me...It seems like borderline zealotry. I don't think its forced assimilation. Happy to debate about this and look at new perspectives on the matter.

[@BeeWhistler]

@@yicancu56 I'm not saying you're wrong about the land. It's well-known that radiation isn't something you can just sop up with a mop. But I do think there's some shifty business conniving going on here. Talk big, act like you're going to take responsibility, but the good people of the land must move to town for their safety while we clean up. By the time they've settled into their new lives it's clear that the company is somehow never going to finish that clean up project and they'll dismiss it because the people are no longer in danger.

[@vittortoise]

@@BeeWhistler thats exactly what i was thinking when i heard that.

[@rubinortiz2311]

It’s sad that our children aren’t taught this in school as a Native American myself living just across the state borders in Arizona I feel outraged not knowing what was happening on our land for decades

[@butterflyh9308]

I'm in high school and i never got tought about this. I hope Navajo 1 last year and i didn't get tought this.

[@winKoneR]

"So you had us work in the mines even though you knew we will get cancer?" - "Yes." "And then you poisoned the water we've been drinking for years?" - "Yes." "Ok, can you relocate us somewhere not radioactive?" - "That would cost too much money." "Oh. Ok." - "No problem, god bless America!"

[@burhannuddinelectricwala6860]

Chernobyl disaster : USA omg so sad communism bad. Navajo disaster: USA ........(silence)

[@Nic-gp7oe]

Chernobyl and Navajo incidents are not comparable

[@vky4434]

“Not great, not terrible” - Dyatlov

[@user-ge9tm5rr5f]

Nic0487 for this ppl yes

[@aetvrna]

Bruh who said when chernoybl happened it was linked with communism (-_-)

[@burhannuddinelectricwala6860]

@@aetvrna google it bruh...😎

[@liligaede1398]

I wish I was surprised. I'm heartbroken, but not surprised.

[@TheSynthZone]

Word.

[@tsukirunsu9982]

same

[@tuclance]

The onlything that would surprise would be if everyone lay down the weapons and became one united planet.

[@alexs1640]

It's sad that I don't feel sad. I expect worse all the time now

[@vigilantcosmicpenguin8721]

We've always been living in this world. At this point it's no different from what we've heard too many times without seeing change.

[@saraiortiz5236]

As a former high school teacher in Gallup, NM, I remember teaching my predominantly Navajo students about the history of uranium mining in Navajo Nation and its consequences. At the end of the unit, one of my white students left me an angry "anonymous" note about how I tried to make everything about race rather than focusing on the economic benefits of mining and that according to his father it was "liberals" like me who are ruining America. Whether I shifted the focus to thanksgiving, forced assimilation, the overrepresentation of indigenous people in the military, there was always backlash from my school administration (who happened to be Navajo) and/or non-indigenous students/families.

[@dreamer2260]

Thank you very, very much for not giving up and continuing to tell the truth. I imagine it must be hard not to despair in such circumstances.

[@Jackson-mi3dr]

That’s sad, some people just choose to be blind to these issues

[@richforever6231]

Those white people🤦🏽‍♂️👎🏽

[@jimkarban6489]

Thanks for having the strength and integrity to stand up to those who lack common decency. America needs an army of people like you!

[@kaylaford3082]

This is so hard to watch, especially when you're a Navajo. My grandpa (Cheii) died when I was 5 years old and it was from Lung Cancer from working in a Uranium mine. I always wish I had him in my life longer but this is the reason why I didn't.

[@maxwelljames3573]

I honestly hate how unaccountable the US government is :(

[@pear009]

secs ago

[@TheSynthZone]

No oversight when the guilty control the police.....sad but true.

[@PeidosFTW]

@e n o u g h ?

[@DjDobleU809]

Blame the citizens that put those filthy politicians there.

[@botdance9]

@ e n o u g h ?

[@pkingglazersout6665]

I feel so sad for the native people residing there, they were simply used as tools by the government and were not even taken care off, hope they get the justice they derseved

[@gregoriusaristo2600]

@David kenneth are you promoting crypto trading? Or am i missing something here.

[@pinned5992]

Crypto currency is the future.

[@KeeperOfTheSevenKeys.]

By corporations* The government neglected it's responsibility to protect them and properly regulate the mining companies.

[@headishome8452]

@@KeeperOfTheSevenKeys. The GOP continues to deregulate laws that help prevent these type of disasters and they work to poison the air, land, and water.

[@KeeperOfTheSevenKeys.]

@@headishome8452 Correct, and the democrats do little to nothing to either stop them or strengthen these regulations when they have the chance. Wonderful country we live in.

[@nativeturtleman4595]

It pains me to hear these stories. I don't want to believe it, but it's true. Members of my family have passed away because of the mines. These are the kind of stories that need to be shown on the news. Thanks Vox for trying to get the word out there.

[@aminmian7291]

As a canadain, I see this kind of story similar to what we did to Natives in Canada and still happens as of this day.

[@satyanveshi76]

Such a sad state...these natives don't even have their traditional names anymore. Everyone carrys christian European names. They should all revert to their ethnic names immediately.

[@benniecrawford6876]

A’ho Indigenous people are treated no better in First Nations or as you say Canada.

[@cdxii-zanemmv46]

@@satyanveshi76 They probably don't even know it and at this point in time some of them have already settled with their current names and surnames

[@craig6363]

@@satyanveshi76 well that's a lie.

[@meh9280]

@@craig6363 it’s really not friend

[@TheTrainmobile]

It's sad that nothing shocks me anymore. I just get angry. These people didn't deserve this and our government punished them with silence. Our politicians and leaders don't care about us, or the presentation of our government to everyone else. Every election feels like a cruel game where America has to choose the lesser of two evils. It's time to change that arrangement. It's morally unsustainable.

[@RealOsquo]

this

[@TheSynthZone]

Ethics and morals are a bit different. Plenty of politicians care, leaders lead. You make a couple good points for sure.

[@williamcomtois8929]

This is 100% true

[@stevechance150]

"Profit, Profit, Profit!!!" This message brought to you by unrestrained Capitalism. Don't forget our motto, "Capitalism, making rich people richer!!!"

[@stevechance150]

@loveless ai I would argue that The Adorable Care Act has actually helped hundreds of thousands of families. When my wife and I were just starting out, we lived without health insurance for a few years and it was NOT good. When you don't have insurance, you ignore symptoms and hope they go away. The subsidies that the ACA provides, allows families to have health insurance and Healthcare who would not be able to afford it otherwise. Of course Republicans are diligently working to end the ACA.

[@S019978]

I wrote a paper about this back when I was in college years ago. Never turned in a final draft because I got so caught up in all the data and research, because there’s tons. It just amazed me that I grew up on the Navajo Nation and I hadn’t even heard of the spill before. It became too real when I asked some of my uncles and they said they had worked for uranium companies when they were younger. Nice to see this topic get some widespread attention on KZbin. It’s easy for kids out my ways to run around all day in the desert and find all sorts of things. There’s reports of kids who did just that back then and would come home covered in yellow uranium dust because they were playing in what they thought was “yellow sand”.

[@jjumbo33ify]

Exactly, me too.

[@vigilantcosmicpenguin8721]

The least the government could do is to tell people about it, and they didn't even do that.

[@fasic]

@@vigilantcosmicpenguin8721 compensation!

[@HN-kr1nf]

is it ok if you link to your paper and/or research? i'd love to do some further reading

[@brittanymoore5006]

I thought I was the only one who wasn't told this. I'm from Sawmill AZ and there are so many mine that have old signs you can barely read at times, and the up keep on the fencing around these areas are none existence. Even when I took Dinè studies in Window Rock they didn't teach us this.

[@ibrahimadiop7074]

The people of the Marshall Islands in the pacific also got radiation poisoning from America’s nuclear tests

[@Chad-Giga.]

They blew up an entire island

[@jusletursoulglobaby]

hearing " poisoned water, soil and air.... then abandoned the clean up efforts" reminds me of the fight over the keystone. interesting how we do the same thing over and over again.

[@sugarbearjohnware8462]

Ecclesiastes 1:9 9. What has been is what will be, And what has been done will be done again; There is nothing new under the sun.

[@flashstar1234]

This doesn’t sadden me, it enrages me.

[@ivanaguilar5306]

@@nickarjoma5350 not only did no one mention race what you mentioned was literally covered in the video. Did you watch the video? Are you actively seeking to be a victim? Stop being such a ❄

[@ibrahimadiop7074]

@@nickarjoma5350 I swear conservatives are demons

[@dreamer2260]

@what It's not just the government, its corporations, and the culture of capitalist exploitation.

[@ggoddkkiller1342]

The most ''humanist'' and ''liberal'' westerners are still killing Native Americans even today, what a ''surprise''....

[@qarutruvc2191]

@@ggoddkkiller1342 I'm native and that's false

[@KrazyKai9]

As a Young Navajo I struggle to learn about my culture only through my family I can gain some insight even then their knowledge is limited ... If they're getting away with this how much other stuff are we not being told? Thank you for sharing this

[@actualitychicken4738]

My heart breaks for you that so much of you history and culture was erased. Native people deserved so much better. It’s a tragic world we live in.

[@EzekielMitchell98]

@@actualitychicken4738 must of us don’t even know anything my grandma was one of first ten people who graduated college in the navajo reservation she was the second in her town

[@jlizard8500]

I wish i could know more about how my ancestors lived. Especially about my great grandmother Gloria Manygoats. But unfortunately I can't find much about her. Only stories and and very few pictures.

[@Trancymind]

Putting certain ethnic people in reservations= 100% failed socialism experiment.

[@brittanymoore5006]

It's hard to watch this video without crying. I myself have experienced this problem. My mom never told us to stay away from the mines and to not drink the water from the stream. As a Navajo myself I never knew it was that bad.

[@younglee6469]

Do you know any location near your residence which may contain large amounts of uranium ore?

[@idontknowmuch3441]

@@younglee6469 you keep asking this?? Why?

[@ROBLOXGamingDavid]

@@idontknowmuch3441 maybe its because the same thing might happen to you in the near future... Similar tragedy. Or its possible it might happen again elsewhere.

[@jirachi-wishmaker9242]

Do native American doesn't have indigenous names? Just asking

[@lucky282010]

I've been a residents of Gallup all my life and its so sad that this is all new to me!!! I did know they mined uranium in the area but never was I told about the uranium spill and the Perky being contaminated! Our town, Our Community, Our people have seen the worst but we are still here, from the RR, to Mining, to exteme alcoholism and now with COVID-19, we have seen the worst but we are strong... its hard to live in this town but this will always be home to me, my heart will always belong here

[@wyattgamesg1232]

The

[@MrChillerNo1]

Share. Every one needs to see this. Disgusting. US industry needs to be pay reparations.

[@TheSynthZone]

............BIA (BIA!) owes Indians trillions they never manage to pay.

[@AnonymousAkira]

General Electric now owns the company that first was responsible for this disaster. Guess how much they pay in taxes...

[@someonenothere8818]

Reparations, do they do anything? To them, it can be seen as just a cost of business. Just like the pharmaceutical industry. There needs to be actual repercussions. The best acknowledgement is to make sure it NEVER happens again. NEVER.

[@AmBush2048]

USA owes a lot of reparations to a lot of groups. Of course, they won't, because it's the US.

[@savannahcook7548]

My grandma sued the government because these mines killed my grandpa, and she won. I don’t want reparations. Current tax paying Americans have done nothing to me, therefore reparations make no sense. You want to help the Navajo Nation? Support capitalism and free markets. You wanna know what socialism looks like? It looks a lot like the Navajo Nation, with little to no running water, and little jobs or economy. My grandma taught me to not rely on the government to solve all of our problems, small government is better, those ideas are conservative ideas. Sadly, most natives vote Democrat socialism into their offices and are left with the same results year after year.

[@yourbossdonpely]

Definition of strategically planned racism and discrimination

[@TheSynthZone]

Grinding pressure against the original inhabitants that foolishly shared. That teaches us.

[@ruthydrawsalot1979]

@@TheSynthZone don't blame indegenous ppl for just not being evil. Wth.

[@justiceevans1720]

@@nickarjoma5350 well the whole country technically and historically is theirs and they said the NN leased the land to get jobs for their people.

[@killero00]

@@nickarjoma5350 Really says something when your argument is hinged on technicality and semantics.

[@jusletursoulglobaby]

@@nickarjoma5350 its interesting that you cap partially then lay full blame on the Navajo nation. why do you think you did that?

[@DarkOceanShark]

More I know about American history more I get enraged about their treatement of the Indigenous people.

[@sicwitit8261]

I live right in Gallup and have met people who lost relatives to this uranium spill. I never knew about it. People still live in that area. I'm glad yall trying to educate the public.

[@pushing2throttles]

This is heartbreaking. Just another tragedy our government has created. What this government has done to the native tribes is unforgivable. It's time wrongs of yesterday be made right today.

[@obsoleteoptics]

So the sins of the fathers shall be atoned by the sons?

[@urmom69999]

@@obsoleteoptics why did you bring religion into it?

[@xRockLobster75x]

@@obsoleteoptics To heal the deep wounds of those damaged by those sins, yes.

[@darkrarehunter]

@@obsoleteoptics Considering that "The sons" are the US government, and that they're still infringing against indigenous sovereignty regularly, yes.

[@pushing2throttles]

@@obsoleteoptics you know what.... YES. It's my problem. It's your problem too. Every American who enjoys their freedom and liberty ought to earn it by taking ownership of the problem. It's the sins of the government and since an aspect of the government is the people, then we are in a sense the government. Who cares who committed the crime; it's society's responsibility to make it right, for humanity's sake. By the way, dishonored treaties didn't just happen 4 or 5 generations ago. Our government is still violating and reneging modern day treaties so really, it's our sins too. Don't quote biblical phrases because that's irrelevant.

[@mochithepooh5368]

I haven't watch the whole video yet but let me guess. A bunch of private companies came, take all of the profit, and make the public paid the consequences. Edit: Oh I was right. Classic American capitalism.

[@Mumsiken]

It's like I'm watching real life version of Avatar.

[@yoshimeier3060]

Nah you were wrong. The public didnt pay. They just ignored it

[@TheBoyer19]

Same problem in Canada

[@CreamCobblerFiend]

Classic human behavior in general you maen?

[@oltihajdaraj8682]

Maybe the government should not have wanted the Atomic Bomb, no reason to mine if there is no demand.

[@ashlynmarie8523]

I'm Navajo and live in NM and I had a teacher bring in speakers to my high school to talk about this.

[@patrickshaw411]

This doesn’t surprise me it’s a part of American history, nor does it surprise me it’s overlooked.

[@ninob564]

This is so sad, why is it that people of color are treated less than due to the color of our skin. Especially the people Native to this land.

[@ExclamationPeriodQuestionMark]

Nino B not true.

[@ninob564]

tghy onetwothreefourfourfive 🙄🙄 whatever.

[@safiye6373]

@@ExclamationPeriodQuestionMark >:((( um......it is true im guessing ur a karen

[@ExclamationPeriodQuestionMark]

safiye cifci First off, your so funny, you used the Karen meme, second, they are not treated bad because of their race. It is rather their economic position that they are in. They are in liberal run cities, which are in very poor condition. Due to this, they have less privilege than if they were in economically prosperous cities.

[@ExclamationPeriodQuestionMark]

Guy Panzerboss I am blaming the liberals for their problems. This is why I left liberalism.

[@cassif19]

The more I learn about America's past, the more it looks like Russia to me

[@acasccseea4434]

Well, in a month's time, it's gonna become 10 steps closer to Russia, when the US democracy is already rigged against certain factions, with an "officially elected president" that is for changing the democracy to suit their needs. America is becoming an even more toxic Russia. With 10 times the jingoism

[@markmeadows7569]

acasc cseea the fact that you can even make that statement proves to me we are in fact not even close to Russia.

[@iainronald4217]

There was this satellite city I read about near Petrograd, in order to get hospital and school updates they needed a manufacturing plant; this town already was only given half the water it needed to survive every year and the water that was there was poisoned with nickel. They got this manufacturer. But, the Russian government reneged on their promise, and so this community had this manufacturer taking 60% of what little water they already had and the Russian Government just dusted their hands of the whole thing. That's what this story reminded me of.

[@cy9987]

I dont think US is intrinsically better than Russia or vice versa. It's just winner writes history, and America won the cold war..

[@ittipongchantasarakham2279]

@@cy9987 That's true man, it's hard to choose side between two evil.

[@QuailQuests]

I only first learned about this when I went to uni close to the Navajo reservation and specifically took a class on native american art history, where it was only briefly mentioned. My family has lived in that area for 3 generations and none of them had ever heard about this happening. It was just never spoken about because "it didn't effect that many people". When an entire town and generations of people are effected, and nothing is done to help or fix the land, it should be a HUGE deal.

[@jennifersmith3409]

This is devastating. I grew up near Yavapai Apache and Navajo reservations and I always felt disgusted with how humans treat others. This solidifies mu feelings.

[@avaneeshnagre4462]

honestly it’s so disappointing that we give school so much importance but they never ever teach us these kinds of things, instead they make it worse.

[@joermnyc]

We need to show way more respect to our Native American/First Nations people. Then again, so called “civilized” people barely respect each other these days, so maybe I’m asking too much. Radioactive waste is just the tip of the iceberg, asbestos, chemical spills, toxic dust, etc... that is the legacy of allowing industries to put profits above basic safety standards!

[@FrancescaPessarelli]

The American experiment was born of tragedy, violence, and oppression and has not relented since then. My god if we could only turn back time.

[@theaansel8738]

Very ironic seeing as the "Pilgrim Fathers" fled Europe due to persecution and oppression.

[@NSKINGS420]

I am Navajo and I learned about the uranium mines as a young child. It's really makes me Angry & Sad for my people , especially during the times of War when my people where sent away from their homes to fight a war for the same people that created this problem & we helped our country and this is how we are repaid, and still to this day we have our treaties broken and my people suffer while the country flourishes. One day the Creator will come back and than shall the people feel his wrath , I promise you that, mark my words.

[@younglee6469]

Hello, do you know any location within the Navajo nation where there may be large piles of abandoned uranium?

[@NSKINGS420]

@@younglee6469 yes, between two little towns called Red Lake & Tuba City, they have uranium fields buried in big piles of gravel on the side of the road.

[@younglee6469]

@@NSKINGS420 Thank you. Very soon, there will be justice for the Navajo.

[@hoosacmusicman9108]

People in West Virginia, thanks to Mountaintop removal mining, are also dealing with radioactive contamination in their water supply. Coal mining companies, in order to access coal seams, are blowing up rock layers that contain radioactive elements, such as selenium. After detonation, excavators simply dump the “chat” or tailings into stream beds where the radioactive debris flows into the water supply after a rainstorm.

[@the1grove]

This is so true. As a Native of West Virginia I couldn’t even begin to tell you about the multiple cases of abuse we’ve received from Companies who never got in trouble.

[@SilverSuress]

I lived in Albrite West Virginia near Kingwood and I've seen the water streams yellowish brown!! When you do laundry, It turns your whites yellowish brown!!

[@028prasath]

The audacity and sheer indifference towards people by corporations and government is chilling. And this is still happening in the "greatest country on earth". I am afraid people will move on saying this is just another story.

[@TheSynthZone]

Time to get right or get out.

[@Hime519]

This video made me shed tears. My heart aches. I really hope the governments and the companies responsible will take full responsibility and take necessary actions and give decent compensation immediately. I'm so heartbroken. I really hope these people in the communities will be able to live their lives healthily with happiness very soon...

[@johninokla2635]

YS, You have got to be kidding... wishing a community of people healthy lives after they have been poisoned their whole lives. Even if the mine tailings are removed the land will still be contaminated for 100's of years and the people poisoned for generations. It is time the government was put in their place and the citizens of America put back as the true leaders of this once great nation.

[@omaronnyoutube]

MALAY SUBTITLES : Part 1 of 3 00:01 Ia damai. 00:04 Itu rumah kami. 00:06 Dan kita biasa bertani di sini dan dengan cara itu. 00:10 Dan saya biasa bermain di aliran abadi itu. 00:14 Domba, lembu dan kuda yang mereka semua minum dari sana. 00:19 Tidak ada yang memberitahu kami untuk tidak melakukannya. 00:20 Suku Navajo, saya tertanya-tanya apakah mereka tahu apa yang akan berlaku di sini. 00:26 Selama lebih dari empat puluh tahun, komuniti Navajo ini di Church Rock, New Mexico 00:34 telah hidup dengan warisan beracun. 00:36 Industri perlombongan meracuni air, tanah, dan udara mereka ... 00:42 ratusan lombong uranium terbengkalai ... 00:45 dan beralih ke tumpahan radioaktif terbesar dalam sejarah AS. 00:58 Mari kembali ke sini. 01:02 Sudah tentu anda melihat timbunannya. 01:05 Di sana yang besar itu kelihatan seperti mesa atau bukit. 01:09 Ini bukan bukit semula jadi. 01:12 Ini timbunan sisa perlombongan uranium, 01:15 sisa industri yang bermula di sini semasa Perang Dunia II. 01:19 "Di Gurun New Mexico, para saintis sekutu melepaskan kekuatannya yang luar biasa." 01:23 Pada awal tahun 1940-an, AS mengembangkan rancangan rahsia untuk membina bom atom. 01:29 "Rahsia perang terbesar ..." 01:32 Dan untuk itu, mereka memerlukan sumber radioaktif domestik yang stabil yang disebut uranium. 01:40 Dari Perang Dunia II hingga Perang Dingin, AS memberi insentif kepada perlombongan uranium untuk membangun tenaga nuklear domestik. 01:47 Menjelang tahun 1950-an, terdapat ledakan uranium di Barat Daya. 01:53 Navajo Nation wilayah Asli Amerika terbesar di AS terletak betul-betul di tengah. 01:58 Dan dengan cepat disapu ke dalam industri perlombongan uranium. 02:02 "Banyak simpanan uranium telah ditemukan di perbukitan Navajo ..." 02:08 Kerajaan AS mengupah syarikat perlombongan swasta 02:11 yang sering menyewa tanah tanpa memberi pampasan kepada Navajo Nation. 02:16 Tetapi pemerintah suku membiarkan mereka masuk 02:18 kerana ia menawarkan prospek pertumbuhan ekonomi dan pekerjaan bagi penduduknya. 02:24 Menjelang tahun 1950-an, terdapat 750 periuk api di kawasan ini yang mempekerjakan ribuan orang dari Navajo Nation. 02:31 Kawasan ini, di sepanjang Red Water Pond Road, akhirnya menjadi salah satu kawasan panas tersebut 02:37 dengan dua operasi perlombongan besar mendirikan kedai di sini. 02:41 Satu-satunya pekerjaan yang benar-benar ada di kawasan kami adalah periuk api. 02:46 Dan saya mendapat pekerjaan di sana pada bulan Oktober 1975 sebagai buruh permukaan. 02:52 Sebagai ibu bapa tunggal saya terpaksa mencari pekerjaan. 02:55 Dan mereka memberi saya pekerjaan sebagai juruteknik penyelidikan. 03:01 Pekerjaan perlombongan untuk Orang Asli Amerika sering berada di barisan depan ... 03:05 membina lombong, meletupkan, menggali, dan mengangkut bijih uranium kuning. 03:10 Tetapi apa yang mereka tidak tahu pada masa itu adalah beberapa dekad sebelumnya 03:14 kajian telah menghubungkan perlombongan uranium dengan barah paru-paru. 03:19 "Banyak anak perempuan radon ditahan di paru-paru ..." 03:21 Dan kepentingan melindungi pekerja lombong dari radioaktif didokumentasikan dengan baik. 03:27 "Perlu ada peminat yang mampu memberikan banyak udara segar untuk semua ..." 03:31 Namun banyak pekerja Navajo mengatakan bahawa mereka tidak mempunyai alat pelindung, 03:35 tiada pengudaraan di lombong, 03:37 dan tidak ada amaran betapa berbahaya bagi uranium bagi kesihatan mereka. 03:42 Saya menghirup debu, debu tambang, semua debu uranium. 03:46 Bau dari bahan letupan - 03:49 anda boleh mencium bau itu dan memberi anda sakit kepala. 03:55 Menjelang tahun 1960-an, kes barah paru-paru mula muncul di Navajo Nation, 04:01 di mana penyakit ini hampir tidak ada. 04:03 Dan bukan hanya pekerja lombong. 04:06 Penduduk berhampiran Red Water Pond Road, terjepit di antara dua lombong itu, akhirnya mula jatuh sakit juga. 04:14 Kami betul-betul di sini. Oleh itu, anda dapat melihat kawasan Kerr-McGee dan tentu saja UNC. 04:22 Dan ini adalah penduduk tempatan yang mempunyai kediaman di kawasan itu. 04:27 Orang-orang, kanak-kanak terutamanya, jatuh sakit dengan masalah asma, 04:32 dan orang menghidap barah. 04:35 Kami tidak tahu mengenai sinarannya. 04:40 Itu berubah pada musim panas 1979. 04:45 UNC menyimpan sisa uranium beracunnya di kolam berdekatan. 04:49 Tapak ini disebut kolam tailing, 04:52 yang menyimpan beberapa ratus juta gelen lumpur radioaktif, atau tailing. 04:58 Awal 16 Julai empangan di kolam pecah, 05:03 mengalirkan lebih dari seribu tan tailing uranium dan berjuta-juta gelen air sisa ke Rio Puerco. 05:11 Ia adalah tempat tidur anak sungai yang dikenali sebagai Perky, 05:15 yang sering dijadikan sumber air minuman untuk penduduk tempatan dan ternakan. 05:21 Saya mula mendengar orang bercakap. Adakah anda melihatnya? Adakah anda melihat kilang itu? Adakah anda melihat empangan itu? 05:25 Saya melihat ke arah itu dan 05:29 cukup yakin, ada rehat besar. 05:31 Terdapat banyak orang di luar sana, tetapi tidak pernah tahu 05:37 anda tahu, bahawa 94 juta gelen sampah tercemar baru saja turun ke Perky. 05:48 Puerco radioaktif. 05:52 Satu laporan pemerintah menunjukkan tahap radioaktiviti di Puerco melebihi seribu kali lipat daripada yang dibenarkan dalam air minuman. 06:00 Tetapi pada masa tumpahan, surat khabar bercirikan

[@eoghannolan741]

Love native Americans, breaks my heart to know what is already suspected

[@Dear_Mr._Isaiah_Deringer]

Or as we in the profession call it; Whoopsie daisy.

[@TheSynthZone]

Lets store all nuclear waste at 1600 Pennsylvania Avenue NW, Washington, DC 20500

[@ItzChickenYall]

*Sending virtual hugs to everyone!* I hope to become a big youtuber!

[@PatelArpitt]

@@pawsindmeinlieblingsfach3518 is this from Ryan George?

[@redflags6583]

"Whoops!" "Whoopsie!" "So what are we gonna do about this?" "I'm gonna have to ask you to get way off my back on this one"

[@PatelArpitt]

@@pawsindmeinlieblingsfach3518 Thanks...that was helpful and COMPLETELY RELEVANT to my question !

[@legomaster8718]

If I was president I would executive pass a law to clean up this Native American nation

[@petrochildcompany8761]

How about Bikini Atoll, Marshall Islands? It was US nuclear test wasn't it? Have been turned the island to same condition with Chernobyl and forced native peoples to leave

[@mamadobie5]

What can we do to help? This is horrible but not shocking.

[@H0lyFr0ggy]

Ladies & gentlemen - the greatest country in the world. I have a deja vu from what horrible crimes the US did in the Marshall Islands to the native people and the american soldiers who had to clean up.

[@TheSynthZone]

In the early seventies we actually looked for mines with a steel probe on our HANDS AND KNEES< Not kidding.

[@ONRIPRESENCE]

Bro, I grew up a few kilometers from one of those uranium ore hotspots in Arizona. My grandpa Henry Jay Benally was a uranium miner and World War 2 veteran. He died in 1994 from lung cancer due to long-term radiation exposure, 2 years before I was born. He was a well-respected man in the community (we are from the mountains north of in Red Valley, AZ, a few miles/ kilometers south of the 4 Corners Monument). I have stories and I remember all the stories my grandma shared with me when we lived together. Although my grandma isn't around anymore, I still share all the stories wherever I go.

[@ONRIPRESENCE]

Also, at the high school I attended (Red Valley/Cove High School), we dedicated the mascot to our uranium miners (Miners). We have a whole list of names and plaques dedicated to all the known Navaho uranium miners, hundreds of names are there, many of which my grandma helped contribute as well.

[@arkwood5473]

My grandmother died from those mines, the water especially. A sad day my dad cannot stop talking about.

[@WilsonRidge]

That's a tough lady. Sharp as a knife, too. I hope one day she wins.

[@sriikarkrishna]

Vox has always inspired me to have a spirit of enquiry and research. That trait not only helps with my studies but also makes me a better person. Thank you Vox.

[@princetchalla2441]

I remember reading about this on Wikipedia and not being shocked, more surprised I hadn’t ever been told this by anyone, but accidentally stumbled upon it while looking up info about the Fukushima 50.

[@gummyruler7854]

I lived in the eastern navajo nation for 6 years and in gallup for 3 years and I gotta tell you. As an immigrant I never ever knew it was this bad. I went to those places hiked along the trails and seen the Puerco myself during the monsoon seasons, and actually love taking that road towards gallup since it's scenic, but have 0 idea it was that radioactive. I've had multiple people have kids and they get birth defects in our small community. We knew there was a spill back then, but never knew that it was never cleaned up. That's beyond irresponsible.

[@younglee6469]

Hello, do you know any location within the Navajo nation where there may be large piles of abandoned uranium?

[@nativefamily8949]

Thank you for showing this I’m Navajo and my people need help!

[@srinidhibhat3955]

As interesting, I found this story at the end it left me heartbroken. Great job Vox in covering this story. I really wish the clean up happens quickly and action is taken by the government to clean up the place.

[@jaybruce593]

I always feel strange about "liking" videos with a sad story, but this was well written and produced, and tastefully sheds light on the topic of the mistreatment of the Navajo people, so it's a solid piece of journalism. For a happy ending, we need GE to pony up for the proposed village on the mesa the natives suggest.

[@hakanpizrenli1670]

That recklessness is really heartbreaking

[@mflugo9082]

Thank you so much. I’ve been trying to get this story out there for awhile.

[@mflugo9082]

I grew up in churchrock.

[@spectacularspaghetti1849]

Vox is one of the best at digging up important unheard stories, keep doing what you do!

[@navajodoll6320]

THANK YOU for covering this

[@tirusew]

I am so impressed with your coverages of all sorts of important issues, I subscribed as a member today. Thank you for all your hard work.

[@tjkarna2998]

The money-minded industries and even the government exploited them. I hope they get justice.

[@jiaqu6001]

This story is so sad and heartbroken. The consequences of this environmental crisis are not only some native residents lost their home and health, but also the people lost their history and culture. They were froced to left and give up their territory. Moving into different communities caused their culture disappear.

[@isabelfernandez7668]

I'm from New Mexico and had never heard about this. Thank you for covering this story

[@lissagrey112]

Thank you for bringing this story to light. Much love 💜

[@Iamrightyouarewrong]

It is so hard to find info on this event, I heard about it about 10 years ago. First thing I've seen on it since.

[@TheSynthZone]

News blackouts are common when it serves those that strive to silence the truth.

[@aljaqamar9268]

*An apple fell off and human discovered gravity* *Millions of life fell and humans haven't yet discovered humanity*

[@MuhammadMoiz91]

One of the most painful piece I've seen recently. Thank you again Vox for your brilliant, brilliant, work!

[@trina2021]

Omg!! I was looking and waiting for someone to talk about these things about this.

[@LA-bq6hf]

11:18 wow this made me sad seeing these people's dreams of just having their own safe home

[@DirectionerSays]

Río puerco. Wow that would translate as "filthy river" in spanish

[@Seriouslioness]

Thank you for this video!!!

[@katiesuiter3156]

Thank you for bringing this story to light. I had no idea.

[@safiye6373]

:( im not even shocked anymore god help everybody who has been through this or going through this

[@yesid17]

happy indigenous people's day everyone :-)

[@postoak2755]

Thank you for this story!

[@artemislokhart1447]

Thank you for covering this. Too often is this ignored!

[@tttITA10]

I hope these people get a livable land back. Doesn't really matter how few are the people who chose to resist.

[@pip-pip5029]

is there anyway to support them directly?

[@TheSynthZone]

Great question. Maybe contact the tribal leadership directly.

[@barrypark1881]

Don't give the Tribe money directly. They are just as corrupt as the leaders im DC

[@anunentitledmotivatedmille7731]

I live on a tribe and I can assure you. If you send anything too the so called "tribal leaders" they will put it in there pocket. They are so currupt. It's because they are the first to be contacted by the other currupt politicians and they turn them. At that point I no longer see them as truly native. But there is hope people are waking up every day. It's pretty much a race too the clock for people too either wake up or allow this nwo.

[@BonjourGuysBasement]

Best thing you can do is spread awareness. I am Navajo and live at Black Mesa, do not waste your money on the tribal leaders.

[@justmyopinion9883]

Thank you for sharing this video. I had never heard this story before.

[@nathangale7702]

Excellent report, I was skeptical when I saw the title, but I've researched the Churchrock spill and you got everything spot on. Thanks for shining a light on this accident that really deserves a lot more attention than it's gotten. There doesn't seem to be a good explanation for that besides blatant racism and disregard for the value of traditional, rural communities which is pretty shameful. This is one reason the country needs more nuclear engineers and scientists, so we'll have people who can tackle these problems and help tend to old wounds.

[@vishalrander9805]

YOU MUST DO A VIDEO ON ARMENIA-AZERBAIJAN ITS A COMPULSION FROM VIEWERS.

[@maggiee639]

I feel like they have for some reason

[@vishalrander9805]

@@maggiee639 aye aye

[@joyinthezone]

it was so heart breaking to watch the whole video, and hearing one of the interviewees saying "they dont see us as human beings, we're disposable" and this repeats on and and on not only in the states ...

[@nickselk6250]

Bout time y’all brought this series back, my favorite

[@senorahorror18]

I'm definitely going to use this in my research paper for English. Can't wait to expose my country in front of my class. You have truly helped me! Not only have I learned more from you than my history class, but I finally have a research topic!

[@aletheiai]

""The Governor of New Mexico Bruce King refused the Navajo Nation's request that the site be declared a federal disaster area, limiting aid to affected residents. The nuclear contamination event received less media coverage than that of Three Mile Island, likely because it occurred in a lightly populated, rural area." ""The United Nuclear Corporation (UNC), was a diversified nuclear mining, development, and applications company based out of the United States. Formed in 1963 as a joint venture between the Olin Mathieson Chemical Corporation, the Mallinckrodt Corporation, and the Nuclear Development Corporation, the company is most well known today as the company behind the Church Rock uranium mill spill. Following the decline of the uranium industry near the end of the cold war, in 1984 the United Nuclear Corporation rebranded to "UNC" and transitioned over the next decade into a business aviation and jet engine service provider."" NO consequences, apparently.

[@BK-lv4dz]

I come from Churchrock, this is a tragedy

[@tali2637]

Thank you for good content

[@demon3286]

12:08 that melted my heart: We still live here, We still call this place home.

[@AhmadAli-pr9sy]

I can never understand why Americans claim that their country is the greatest ever! But when I look closely and see how messed up it really is I begin to understand why they would make such false claims.

[@a-10thunderboltii24]

It isn’t the best and has its problems, but people (especially Europeans) never look at where the US excels. It is more of their small perspective, and it goes both ways.

[@nova636]

I think the difference in response between the Three Mile Island and Church Rock incidents inaccurately characterized by this video. The newspaper cited at 7:21 states the $25 million for the Three Mile Island is to be divided between 20,000 claims ($5 million for health effects and $20 million for property damage) on average that is $1250 per claim; The other paper cited at 7:28 states there was a $525,000 settlement for Church Rock for 200 claimants (about $2000 per claim). You use the difference in headlines to justify the claim that the Navajo nations was "barely compensated", but it looks like they were compensated as much or more than Three Mile Island victims. The fact that 3 mile island has been cleaned up, but Church Rock remains radioactive is the real travesty.

[@selfdiscardedkingofruin7291]

Wow. Never heard of this story. Thank you, Vox.

[@johnedb9789]

Thank you Vox for your excellent investigative journalism 👍🏼

[@taniasmith619]

This breaks my heart. To do that to people and animals is inhumane and soulless. These people deserve a clean environment for their future generations and to do this is just wrong.

[@coolbluereview]

Correction for Vox: In 6:08 the newspaper said that the “health officials in both states believe it presents no immediate health hazard.”

[@ff11dream]

Thank You Vox