Atomic legacy on Route 66 (Navajo Translation)

This short film, now available in Navajo, explores the history and impact of uranium mining on the Red Water Pond Community, which is part of the Navajo Nation. Edith Hood, community organizer, Bertha Nez, and Jennifer Nez share their experiences and perspectives along with the work they are doing to raise awareness and find solutions. Many thanks to Edith, producer Jennifer Nez, the team at Navajo Nation TV & Film and the National Trust for Historic Preservation for making the translation possible!
The Red Water Pond Community Association has long advocated for the removal of a tailings pile (dirt and rocks from inside a mine) that has high levels of radium (a byproduct of mining uranium) from the land surrounding their homes. They are also working to draw attention to the impacts of the Church Rock Nuclear Disaster, one of the largest nuclear disasters in US History, yet it remains relatively unknown.
As the date for the tailings pile removal draws near, community members have been offered homes in different locations. It is predicted to take 70,000 truck loads to move the waste to a landfill in Thoreau, NM. It is not an easy job and will certainly dislodge dust. Meanwhile, Edith, Jennifer, and Bertha work to educate the younger generation on their heritage and the importance of their land while also to trying to ensure that what has happened in their community doesn’t happen again.