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

[HoennMaster]

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

[cidmatrix]

"They don't see us as human beings. We're disposable."

A story as old as time...

[liligaede]

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

[matthewmann]

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

[teaganna]

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

[pkingglazersout]

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

[S]

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 YouTube.

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”.

[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.

[rubinortiz]

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

[kaylaford]

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.

[maxwelljames]

I honestly hate how unaccountable the US government is :(

[flashstar]

This doesn’t sadden me, it enrages me.

[latonyagreen-warner]

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?

[nativeturtleman]

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.

[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.

[KrazyKai]

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

[TitouanDebray]

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

[MrChillerNo]

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

[aminmian]

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.

[brittanymoore]

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.