ML22180A233
| ML22180A233 | |
| Person / Time | |
|---|---|
| Issue date: | 04/22/2022 |
| From: | NRC/SECY |
| To: | |
| Shared Package | |
| ML22105A099 | List: |
| References | |
| M220422A | |
| Download: ML22180A233 (149) | |
Text
1 UNITED STATES NUCLEAR REGULATORY COMMISSION
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MEETING WITH NAVAJO MEMBERS OF THE RED WATER POND ROAD COMMUNITY RED WATER POND ROAD GI K$$HAT&N&G&& YI[ A[AH SIL((
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FRIDAY, NDAIIN&&SH APRIL 22, 2022 T##CHIL NAADIIN NAAKI, NAADIIN NAADIIN NAAKI YIHAH D##
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The Commission met at the Shade House, located on Red Water Pond Road, Gallup, New Mexico, at 2:00 p.m. MDT.
COMMISSION CHAOH YII G0NE A[AH SIL((
REDWATER POND ROAD DI, NAN7ZHOOZH7, YOOT)J& NDTSAA HAHOODZOH GI, NAAKI DI OOLKI[ GO HAHOOLZHIIZH COMMISSION MEMBERS:
COMMISSION DANIL&N7&& $&:
CHRISTOPHER T. HANSON, ChairmanAl32j8 Sid1h7g77 JEFF BARAN, CommissionerAtah Sid1 DAVID A. WRIGHT, CommissionerAtah Sid1
2 ALSO PRESENT:
D)) DIN$ B7NANITA7 AL#@J* SI D!H&G&&:
JONATHAN NEZ, President of the Navajo NationDin4 Binanita7 EDITH HOOD, Red Water Pond Road Community AssociationRed Water Pond Road j77 Da1h0t27g77 VALINDA SHIRLEY, Executive Director, Navajo Nation EPADin4 Biw11shindoonj7 K4yah Biki1d44st99j7 Al32j8 sid1h7g77
3 PROCEEDINGS
!{AH ALEEH YILWO{:
2:01 p.m. MDT Naakidi )olki[ go MR. LYNCH: Good afternoon, ladies and gentlemen. My name is Merv Lynch, and I'm going to ask everyone to give me your ears for a few minutes, as we do some opening of the meeting right now.
MR. LYNCH: Y11t44h a[n7n73, S1anii d00 Hast077 kwii honoh [0n7g77. Sh7 Merv Lynch yinishy4. &7s7n0[ts33 nih77n7sh keed doo , kw44 1[ah aleeh 221ln44h gi kad.
The front row seats are specifically designated for Committee members.
Bik11dahasd1h7 al32j8 sinil7g77 488 Commissioner n7l7n7g77 b1 sinil.
Red Water Pond Community members, please take your seats at the front.
Red Water Pond Road d00h no[7n7g77 kodi t11 1l32j8 bik111sd1h77 bik11di nih1 haz3.
(Translation of Native language spoken: Come, Come up.)
(Din4 bizaad kehj7 ata hane. H1go, h1go kodi)
Again, we do have some public health orders in place on Navajo Nation. All of you are required to wear a mask while inside of this facility and remain a good six feet apart, if possible. It is okay if families of the same household are allowed to group together in certain spots, wherever you are at.
Din4 bik4yah bik11gi tah dii ats77s 1h1n7go biki 1d44s
4 t99. T11 1n0[tsoh nih7 ch99h d00 z44 g0maa bik44sti d00 hast33 ad44s eez 1n7zah a[ h22h noa[ deeh. T11 bi[ dah n7highan 7g77 sh99 477 taa bi[ dah nah7 s00 t3h ndi t111ko.
So, the weather is delightful here today, and we are welcoming all of you here. Thank you for coming and participating today.
Tl0odi t111yis77 h0zh0n7 d77j8. &nda kwii nihisoh kai h7g77, d00 1ad66 nihaa noh y1h7g77 d0 ah4hee atah 1d7d77 nilti.
And again, if the Red Water Pond Road Community members could come to the front of the room and occupy these front row seats?
Red Water Pond Road gi k44hot7n7g77 kodi nih1 haz3, 11d00 dinooh b88h.
We had asked that guests, non-community members, kind of take up positions on the outer perimeter.
&nda h11d66 dah ni haa noh y1h7g77 47 nigh47j7 go binaag00 dinoh b88h.
So, we're welcoming the Nuclear Regulatory Commissioners here today. And, you know, keeping with Navajo customs, we're going to open up with a prayer. And the prayer will be offered by one of our local dignitaries, Mr. Jonathan Perry.
Kw44 Nuclear Regulatory Commission nih47 y7kai d77j8 t11 nih7 1iil7n7gi 1t10 sodizin bee 221diiln77[, Jonathan Perry nihi naat1anii kw44 sodizin 77 dool77[.
MR. PERRY: Good afternoon, everyone.
(Translation of Native language spoken: Greetings.)
And if everyone can please bring your attention to the
5 program up front, please? We're going to get started here.
MR. PERRY: Y11t44h a[n7n73 t11 1no[ tsoh. (Din4 bizaad kehj7 ata hane. Y11t44h) T11 1n0[tsoh kodi da77s7no[ ts33 ch44 txiin di baa dahwii d7 noh t7[iii, hahal zhiish kad.
Visitors, please, everyone, pay attention in this location.
We are on a scheduled timeframe. We have the community members that wish to have time to speak later on. So, we would like to give them that time.
Please be courteous, as visitors to Red Water Pond Community.
Nooh y1h7g77 t11sh0od7 kodi baa hwiid7 n0h t88[ii oolki[
binaj8 sinil go 1t4, kod00 ha ho dood zihii h0l0, Din4 kod00 nihi[ nil9 kwii d0 oolki[ gi 7nda hoo tah noh y1 kwe4.
(Translation of Native language spoken: Greetings my relative and my people for inviting me here and Im Jonathan Perry, from Crownpoint, (NM) Im of the Bittewater born for the Toaheedl7inii.)
(Din4 bizaad kehj7 ata hane. Y11t44h, shik47 d00 shidine4 shi da so[nii kwii, sh7 488 Janathan Perry yinishy4, Tsis tsoz7 d66 nash1; T0 d7h7inii nish[7 d00 t0 aheedl98nii b1sh7shch88n)
We'll go ahead and begin our program with a prayer.
D77 1lah aleeh kwe4. sodizin bee 221diiln7[
Everyone, if you can please remove your hats and your caps, please, for the prayer?
T111n0[ tsoh nihi chah nahj8 ko[44h t1ash00d7.
(Traditional Navajo Prayer opening: Not translated out of respect)
(Din4 bizaad kehj7 ata hane; Din4 ho[7l98 go doo bi sodizin bikih nij7 n77[ da)
6 We do have visitors here. Lord, we ask you to be with our members here, as we discuss important issues regarding our homeland here.
We ask for the blessing, for you to be with us, as we have our important discussions here. We ask you to be with our visitors who have made time to be with us here today as well.
Kwii nihaa daisdee k==h, Diyin d77 k00h nihi Din44 bi[ h0n7 l-0 doo, taadoo le4 bee1n1hwiit44hii nihi k4yah bik11 g00 baa y1deil ti go k00h Nihi kih j7 dl77 go, nihi[ h0n7l00 go nihi di [11h7g77 na bik7 y1 deilti go, &nda nihaa n7y1anii d0 bi[ hon7l0o doo kwii atah t11doole4 nikih y1[ ti go d77j8.
We ask you to allow us the strength and knowledge that we need to have these discussions. We ask you to be with each and every one of our community members and everyone here and those on the way.
Nihi dziil go d00 baa y47tiii nih1 biki di doo t99[ d00 ni di doo y44[. Kwe4 nihi Din44 dah h0l00n77 d00 ni haa n7y1a nii d00 nihi ch8 yi g11[ii bi[ ho n7 h0l0 do.
We ask you to give us the understanding we need to have and fulfill a good day before us. We ask you to calm these winds, Lord. We ask you to grant us this opportunity to make this space because this is our Mother Earth, Lord.
Bikizh doot9[7gi 1t10 nihi[ dah hodoo nih gi n7di diil l4[. D00 d77 Niyol7g77 d0 ni k0n7 l44h. Ni asdzaan nihim1 1t4ego biniinaa k00h b1 beean1 hwii t44hii nabikih y47l ti, nih1 hooa7g77 b22h.
We ask you to go forth and be with this discussion we're planning on today.
K0d00 nihi l32j8 h0n7l00go kwe4 baa y47l tiii neenij8 hoo di[
go bihwiit11[ doo.
7 We ask for these blessings from the East, from the South, from the West, and from the North, from our sacred mountains.
D77 n7n77 keed haaah d66, sh1di11h d66 eeaah d66 d00 n1hook= d66 nihi dziil diyin go n7nil d66 (Translation of Native language spoken: Mount Blanca, Mount Taylor, San Francisco Peaks, Mount Hesperus.)
(Din4 bizaad kehj7 ata hane; Sis naajin7, tsoh Dzi[, Doo ko sos [77d, d00 Dib4 Ndtsaa)
We ask for beauty around us. We ask for beauty before us.
Nihi n11 d66 t11 a[tsoh h0zh0o doo, nihi tsihj8 h0zh00 dooh Lord, we ask for all these things, and we pray for those who (audio interference).
D77 n7n7keed d00 d77 b1 sodiilzin(saad doo b44 hozin da kwe4)
(Translation of Native language spoken: In Harmony it is finished; repeated 3 more times.) (Din4 bizaad kehj7 ata hane. H0zh0 n1h1sdl99, d00 t1adi bee haoodz77 n11n1)
With that, visitors, I guess you can take your seats here.
K1d sh99h kwii nooh y1h7g77 daats7 dah n7dino b88h.
And we understand, with the weather, it's hard to get everyone to hear what we're saying, but, please keep your attention to this location for our program and our visitors and our speakers here today.
Baa1ko niidzin t[0odi y4ego niyol7g77 b22h doo hazh00 hodiitsa dah ndi ts7d1 t11 koj8 t477 baahwii n7t98nii 77s7n0[ts33 doo y1daati go.
8 Thank you. ---Ah4hee.
MR. LYNCH: (Translation of Native language spoken:
Thank you, Mr. Perry.)
MR. LYNCH: (Din4 bizaad bee ata n1hoolne kwe4. Ah4hee, Mr. Perry)
Moving along, we are seating everyone at the front of the room. These are the Commissioners of the United States Nuclear Regulatory Commission: Chairman Christopher T. Hanson, Commissioner Jeff Baran, and Commissioner David A. Wright.
Naas hoolzhish, United State Nuclear Regulatory Commissioner dah di nib88h kwe4; Al32j8 dah sid1, Christopher T. Hansen, Atah Sid1, Jeff Baran, Atah Sid1, David A. Wright Continuing on with some other housekeeping matters, Navajo Speakers, please see Ms. Joanne Many-Goats here on the stage in the back. We have 30 transmitters to assist Navajo speakers with translation today. So, please make use of the service which has been furnished by the Nuclear Regulatory Commission.
N11s n11n1, Din4 bizaad t47 agh1 bee y1[ti go, koj8 Joanna Manygoats baa doh1[; ata hane n1yii l1h7g77 t1diin Nuclear Regulatory Commissions nih1 yisnil d77j8, [a chii do[ ii[.
We are very fortunate today to have some toilets onsite.
The closest toilet, if we didn't have one, would be at the Fire Rock Casino, some 20 minutes away. And the toilets were furnished by the vendor C&E Toilets. The delivery man's name was Jesus. So, we've got to say, "Thank you, Jesus." today.
T11 1yis77 bii y1h an7daji kah7 t[oo di sinil, 1din go 477
9 nighei Fire Rock di naadiin dah alzhin di 1n7zah di t477 yah an7da jikah7 da h0l0 doo 1aj7. C&E d00 da7n77sh d00 yee77j44, Hasus jooly4ego kwe4 nih1 jin7y88h, ah4hee Hasus dah hodiin7i doo.
(Laughterbaa da joodloh.)
And the weather's not going to improve. I did read the weather announcement today, and it said that it may blow up until 3:15, God willing.
T[0odi 1hoot4h7g77 sh99h doo ni 1doon77[ da, baa77[ta go t1adi oolki[ go daats7 7nda ni k0 doo n7[ han7, diyin 77n7zin goo sh99h.
And there's water and refreshments in the back of the room.
Please help yourself.
N7 l477 h0n7idi t0 d00 yist477 y1zh7 [a nih1 sinil.
Don't mind Blue Eyes, the dog. He's one of the community members, too.
$7 [44ch337 477 t11 kod00 atah k44hat9, bini naagh1.
DIRECTOR SHIRLEY: (Translation of Native language spoken: Greetings. Good morning, yes, its past the noon hours.
Greetings to all my relatives. Im Valinda Shirley, [Identifies her traditional Navajo clans] Im from Rock Point, AZ. My relatives, greetings, and thank you for coming out to this meeting. Im the Executive Director for Navajo EPA. Im very thankful for all of you coming out to this meeting; our agenda today is here, theres much to cover on the agenda.)
(Din4 bizaad kehj7 ata hane. Y11t44h, y11t44h ab7n7, aoo, a[n7n732 d00 n7woshj8 oolki[, shi k477. Sh7 47 Valinda Shirley yisnishy4,
[D00ne4 yaa hoolne kwe4] Ts4 ndtsaa deez1h7 d66 nash1. Din4 biw11shindoon Kyah biki adeest99 j8 )onish7g77 Bil32 j8 s4dah. T11 1y7s77 baaah4 sisin
10 kwe4 noo y1h7g77 d77j8 l37da baa n1h0 doot88[7g77 a[k44 sinil)
The Commissioners, the Nuclear Regulatory Commissioners, go ahead and introduce themselves at this time.
Aaj7 Nuclear Regulatory Commissioners sh99h kod00 nihi ch8 77shj11n 1dadil n44h d00 CHAIRMAN HANSON: Thank you, Director Shirley.
My name is Chris Hanson. Im the Chair of the U.S.
Nuclear Regulatory Commission.
CHAIRMAN HANSON: Ah4hee. Naat1anii Shirley.
Sh7 477 Chris Hanson yinishy4. Shi al32j8 dah s4da U.S.
Nuclear regulatory Commission b1.
Id like to thank Director Shirley and President Nez, Ms.
Hood, and all the other members of the Red Water Pond Community for having us here today.
Ah4hee Naat1anii Shirley d00 Naat1anii Nez d00 Sa1nii Hood, 7nda Red Water Pond Road j7 k44h dahot7n7g77 kwe4 d77j9 nih1 da ho[a 7g77 We recognize the importance to the community and to the Navajo Nation of this interagency federal issue thats in front of us with regard to the Northeast Church Rock Mine and Mill Site. I think, as a Commission, we recognize the importance, the vitalness of the government-to-government relationship that we have with the Navajo Nation.
Baa 1k0 niidz99t11 1yis77 kwe4 [eetsoh haag44d n7t44 Northeast Churchrock Mine d00 [eetsoh yik1h n7t4 gi naa 1[ah yiidleeh, W11shindoon d00 Din4 kwe4 k44hat7n7g77 &nda Din4 Biw11shindoon 7nda yaa 1[ah yileeh gi, 77noh sin y66h gi 1t10 hooa d77j8; a[chish d66 bee 1daa 1h0 niidz99 1 o[88[igi., baa hastigo nihi d1h gi si81n7g77
11 As we discuss today, we want to recognize the long history that the Navajo Nation has here in this country and in this space, on this land, and the significance, environmental and human tragedy of uranium milling and mining thats occurred here over the decades.
Baa1ko niidz99 h1d33 sh99h kwe4 Din4 bik4yah bik11gi nihighan, kwe4 haz3 n7gi, k4yah chii no[9, k00h nihin1ag00 neezn1 dikw77 dish sh99h a[kih ni n1 h1 h11h go [eetsoh haag44d d00 yik11h go bits33 d00 ti hoon77h bi[ sil1a go bii naah kai go hoolzhish.
We wanted to come out and hear directly from people in the community about the issues facing us at the Nuclear Regulatory Commission.
And I want to thank, again, everyone for welcoming us to your home. We look forward to hearing your stories and your concerns.
Nuclear Regulatory Commission niidl7n7g77 t11 kodi diikah d00 nih33h d00 nihizaad da di dii ts7[ da dii niid h11t99l1 ah da dooh n7il1 niidzin go. Ah4hee kwe4 nihighan gi nih1 hoo[a d00 nihidii[ 1h7g77 d00 nihi[
1hoot4h7g77 bee a[hi[ ni da hodiil nih And thank you very much.
Ah4hee ndtsaa go.
COMMISSIONER BARAN: Hi. My name is Jeff Baran.
Im one of the Commissioners at the Nuclear Regulatory Commission.
COMMISSIONER BARAN: Y11t44h Sh7 488 Jeff Baran yinishy4, Atah S4d1 Nuclear Regulatory Commission bi[.
Thank you for hosting us today at the Shade House. Its an honor to be here with President Nez and Valinda Shirley, and to spend time with the Red Water Pond Road Community.
Ah4hee kwii chahaoh biiyi gi nih1 hoo[ a d77j9. Baa ah4
12 niidzin kwe4 Naat1anii Shirley d00 Din4 binaat1anii bi[ honidl=, d00 kwe4 k44 hot7n7g77 Red Water Pond Road gi.
The uranium contamination in and around the Navajo Nation is a tragedy. It should never have happened.
{eetsoh bideez la beean1 hwiit4h7g77 kwii Din4 bik4yah bik11gi kanah kai h7g777 baa at7 n7 d7 nish dleeh, ts7d1 doo 1doo n7[ da n7t44 I started working on these issues in 2007, as a staffer for Congressman Henry Waxman, who at the time chaired a House oversight committee. After he held a hearing on the contamination, the federal government finally started to take some coordinated action. Of course, there is still a huge amount of work to do.
Naaki di dim77l d00 biaan tsos tsid yihah d33 bi d4sh nish d77 1[22 1t4ego bee 1n1 hwii t4h7g77, N11t1anii Henry Waxman woly4ego b1 nash nish d33 77d33Ay477 Hoghan j7 Oversight Committee[T11 dool44 nida doolkah gi / bii da d7doo t99[i gi da bi onish] 1l2j8 y1 dah sid1a go. B11 1[ah ni da azl99 go 7nda Kin1h1lgai d66 daa hiil tsood go yida desh nish; ndi d77j89 di ts7d1 [37 naanish tah doo 1n44h da..
I had the chance to meet Edith Hood at that time. Larry King also testified, along with Phil Harrison from Red Valley, and Ray Many-Goats from Tuba City. Stephen Etsitty represented the Navajo Nation EPA.
&7d33 Edith Hood b44 hos4s88d, d00 Larry King, 11di hoolne, Phil Harrison Kaabizhii d66 d00 Ray Manygoats T0nahnees d7z7 d00h; Stephen Etsitty 47 Din4 Biw11shindoon K4yah Biki ades t99 j7 y1 n7y1.
The testimony, the stories were so powerful. Ive seen dozens and dozens of congressional hearings over the years, and Ive never seen anything like the reaction I saw that day. Members of Congress were
13 angry, sad, and ashamed of the federal governments failures, and I felt the same way.
Dah hane7g77 ts7d1 ay00h bi dziil go nai[n1. Ts7d1 l37 a[kih di t32go baa a[ah nida azl99 77d33 d00 t00aha y077 Kin1h1lgai di Naat1anii yah 1n7daakah7g77 nidah bi[ n1ago bee baa1ko niiz99 ne; Kin1h1gai di N11t1anii yah an1d11h7g77 doo yaa bi[ dah0zh0o da, yikeeh b1daha chx8 d00 bi W11shindoon yaa y1 da niiz99 ne sh7 d0 t11 1k0shii laa ne.
Today, were here to listen to you. We want to hear your concerns, your stories, your views, your ideas. Thank you for taking the time to meet with us. We appreciate it.
D77j7, 47 nih7 77diil ts9[ nihi ts32 d00. Nihi dii[ 1h7g77, bikeh kah nao h1 h7g77 baa hane, 1daa t4egi baa 1k0 noh sin7g77, d00 k0 j0l44h noh sin gi da baa ho do[ nih. Ah4hee a[ah yiidleeh 7gi baa 1h4 nidzin.
COMMISSIONER WRIGHT: Good afternoon.
COMMISSIONER WRIGHT: Y11t44h a[n7n73.
My name is David Wright, and Im one of the Commissioners.
Sh4 477 Davide Wright yinishy4, Atah S4d1.
And I want to thank you personally for your hospitality and welcoming us here to your home.
Shi d0 kwe4 nihi ghan gi nih1 dahoo[a7g77 baa ah4 niiz99.
We are here, as youve heard, to listen to you. Id like to hear all of your stories. Ill be here as long as I need to be here with you.
Were not in a rush.
Dah nih77 diilts9[ biniy4 niikai kwe4. Niha hane n7di desh [44h nisin; haa sh99h nizah j8 k00h nih77 s7niil ts33 go nih7s4l d1a do. Doo ts7[ niidl98
14 da.
So, hopefully, well get some good outcomes from this. I really want to learn about what has been going on out here for all these years.
Im new to the system, new to the process. So, for me, this is very educational, and I really appreciate it.
Haa sh99h neel33 sh99h nidiil y1a doo nisin. Ts7d1 l1 ha1t77h baa naal deh l1 nisin dikw77 sh99h n11 h1h11h d33. Sh7 477 d77 k0t4h7g77 doo ts7d1 shi naanish 7sh [aah da, biniinaa b7hwii desh 11[ gi baa ah4nisin..
MS. HOOD: Good afternoon, everyone.
Were here with the NRC. You can go ahead and ask them questions in a few minutes.
MS. HOOD: Y11t44h A[n7n73, t111n0[tsoh.
NRC bi[ 1[ah niidl9. Kod00 na7d7kid bich8 nidoh ni[
hod77nago.
But we, as Red Water Pond, finally organized back in 2007 because of all the contamination and stuff that the mining people left behind, and its affected Mother Earth. Its affected human health. And I always think that people died probably never knowing what it was that did that to them.
- ndi nih7 Red Water Pond Road gi k44hwiit7n7g77 naadiin Naadiin d00 biaan tsostsid d33 daa hiil tsood kwii k4yah h00chx= d00 k4yah nihim1 Niasdz11n, bii d00 haoo geed gi t0 bikih daz neez ch33 go biniina.;
Nihi ts77s y47n7s t88d. T0 baa nits4s kes go Din4 1daadin7g77 da sh2 yid ts32d00 1din sil97g77 daats7 doo bi[ b44 hozin da nisin [eh.
But Im glad that you all are all here to listen to us again.
And were just asking for, you know, the basic human right to have a clean home, clean environment, clean water, clean air. Thats what were asking
15 for.
Akondi shi[ y11t44h kwe4 nihiso kai n11 danih77 d0[ ts7[.
Ts7d1 B7laasdlaii Bee B1adahaztiii t47 baa y47 ti basic rights yi[n7. haghan binaag00 leezh y11t44h, haghan bee had4t47 y11t44h go, t0 yidl32nii y11t44h goo choo7go, n7[ch8 y11t44hii bi[ adziidziih go. J0 488 t47 agh 1 11h diin7.
But, somehow, the dollars get in there, and theyll tell you, We cant do that. Its too much money. So, so far, were still fighting against with the Navajo agencies, the federal government. Thats what were doing.
H11sh99h yidt4ego j0 b4eso dah 1k0ne 1d7n7 d7dzi[, d00 47d7 47 doo 1l98da naa nihi di nih. B4eso t00ahay077 b33h 7l9 han00h.
Tahdii Din4 Biw11shiindoon d66, Kin n1h1lgai d66 bi[ daah77 n77l b11h. K0t10 baa neikai.
So, thank you very much.
Ah4hee l33h.
DIRECTOR SHIRLEY: And I wanted to also introduce to you Ms. Seraphina Nez. Here on the Navajo Nation, we have a Uranium Remediation Advisory Commission, and then, shes a member of that Commission.
DIRECTOR SHIRLEY:: !1d00 Seraphina Nez d0 nihi ch8 77shj11n 1sh[44h, Kwii Din4 bik4yah bik11gi Uranium Remediation Advisory Commission woly4ego atah dasid1.
Do you want to introduce yourself?
&7ssh j11n 1d7ln44h.
MS. B. NEZ: (Translation of Native language spoken:
Greetings, Im Seraphina Nez [Identifies her traditional Navajo clans], Im from
16 Black Mesa, AZ. We serve on the Commission; weve yet to be re-appointed; however, were still advocating on behalf of our people. Im very compassionate about my work. Im empathic about your issues and concerns as a member of the Uranium Commission from the central agency.)
(Din4 bizaad kehj7 ata hane. Y11t44h, sh7 477 Seraphine Nez yishnishy4, [ad00ne baa hojoolne] Dzi Yijiin Commission atah dahs4d1, ndi tahdoo nihi k44h ho diin77h dah ndi tah Din4 b1 y1deelti. Shi naanish t11 1yis77 bee k4d7 nisin bee nijil nishgo, ako nihaa k4d7 nisin nihi[ 1hoot4h7g77 d00 bikeh kah naoh kaih7g77 da shi naanish Ch7n7l88 d66 b1 naash1).
And my mother is a grassroot organizer, and she's still pushing the effort to have some cleanup done because it's taken eight of her children, as well as her husband and her father. So, that tells me that I've been in the shoes of what the community are going through as well. So, I still speak for my people. I speak on behalf of my people because I have been exposed to it myself as well.
Shim1 477 t11 nigh47di k44hat7n7g77 yi[ daahiil tsood 11j7 binaanish a[d0 tah y4ego k4yah d11chx= g00 yaay1[ti ha1[ch7n7 tseeb77 haa neidiini[ go 7nda ha hastx88n d00 hazh44 d0 1din sil99; go biniinaa. D77 binaj8 shi[ b44 h0zin k00h baa n7 dao t7 n7g77, tah dii nih1 y1shti. T11 sh7 a[d0 b44 s4y1 h7g77 d0 biniinaa k00h binaash1.
And thank you.
D00 ah4h44.
DIRECTOR SHIRLEY: And then, Edith, is there anybody else?
DIRECTOR SIRLEY: Edith, [a7sh han11n1 dziih?
MS. HOOD: Maybe our lawyer, Eric Jantz.
17 MS HOOD: Nihe aghadiitaahii, Eric Jantz.
DIRECTOR SHIRLEY: Eric, would you like to say a few words, too?
DIRECTOR SHIRLEY: Eric, hani dziih 7sh?
MR. JANTZ: (Translation of Native language spoken:
Greetings.)
MR. JANTZ: (Din4 bizaad kehj7 ata hane; Y11t44h,)
Good afternoon, everyone. My name is Eric Jantz. I am the Senior Staff Attorney at the New Mexico Environmental Law Center.
Y11t44h a[n7n73 t11 1n0[tsoh. Sh7 47 Eric Jantz yinishy4/
Y00t0oj7 Environmental Law Center n7zaad g00 bi[ nishish nish aghadiitaahii nish[9.
I have worked with the Red Water Pond Road Community since 2011, and I've worked with other communities here in Church Rock and throughout the Eastern Navajo Agency for over 20 years. And I'd like to share some of my observations with you over these last 20 years.
Naadiin d00 biaan [ats1adah yihah d33 Red Water Pond Road gi k44hat7n7g77 bi[ nashnish d00 dikw77sh99h d0 bi[ nidashnish kwe4 Churchrock d00 haeaah j8 go nah0sa g00 naadiin shi n11hah bi[ nashnish go.
So, clean air, clean water, clean land, and cultural expression, as Edith said, are human rights. And these are rights that are embodied in international treaties that the United States has duly signed and ratified. The principles also manifest themselves in the domestic law, civil rights law, and in treaties with individual sovereign Indian nations, tribal nations.
1ko n7[ch7 y11t44h7g77, t0 y11t44h7g77 k4yah bileezh
18 y11t4h7g77, d00 B7laasdlaii be0ool88[ii yee 1daat488 dah yool44h d00 choo99go yee1t4. Edith 1n7n7 gi 1t10 B7laasdlaii b1 Bee1h00ti. D77 Asdladiin k4yah a[hii sinil7g77 (USA) d77 B7laasdlaii Bee B1 Adahaztiii k4yah t11 s832 n7t44 yee a[gha da dest3 Bee Haz32nii 1t4ego 7l9. T11 d77 Bee Haz32nii d0 BeeHaz32nii biy1zh7, Bee Haz32nii )och99d d00 doo A[he[t4ego Bee B7laasdla bee bini doonish gi bich33h sil11go bi[ n7ti. B7k1g7 Y7sht[azhii bee bi[ a[gha da d4es t1an7g77 naaltsos biii dan7tigo Bee Nahaz3.
The NRC, though, over the course of its history, has routinely violated these rights and continues to do so. In the context of historic waste, we see the results of NRC's human rights abuses right here in the Red Water Pond Road Community. The UNC Mill Site just down the road is the locus of the worst nuclear disaster in the U.S. history, and it still hasn't been cleaned up.
NRC ni, ts7d1 agh1ago nah d66 hool zhish go taaah33h kot10
)och99d j7 bich11h Bee Nahaz32nii t0 kihit99h kwe4 B7laasdlaii bi[
haz3n7g77 bee 1n7t9 d77j98 di 1k0n7[9. D77 [eetsoh [eezh bi[ hadasgeed y66h bee 1n7[9, Deilts3h, kwe4 Red Water Pond Road haz3n7gi. .UNC [eetsoh yik1h11 gi nigh477 g00 bee1j7t9 hoolzhish d66 bi kee kaool dah tah doo ndi nahj8 k0j7 l44h dah d77j99 di.
Shuffling uranium waste around within the community is no remedy for the human rights violations that have happened over the years.
NRC's permissive treatment of licensees is the foundation of the NRC's human rights abuses in this context.
T0 [a a[ y007j8 [eezh [eetsoh bi[ haageed y66 t11 kwe4 naas n7dazh di jiih go hool zhish Bee Haz321nii k7h dah jii t99h go b44h0zin go B7laasdlaii ti dah00 n77h. NRC t0 Naaltsos bikehgo nidoo nish7g77 [a
19 a[y007 b1 bee [3h nidajii [eeh go hool zhish, ts7d1 kwe4 NRC Ooch99d bee nijil nish b7laasdlaii bikihj8 1t7 dooln77[ bee 1j7t98go Bil1asdlaii kah naakai.
So, for example, freely granting ACLs, Alternative Concentration Levels, to licensees -- and I'm unaware of any time in which the NRC has refused ACLs, has denied ACLs -- is an example of how the Nuclear Regulatory Commission consigns communities like Red Water Pond Road across Indian Country to groundwater sacrifices.
T0 naaltsos bee l3 adoolee[ii bee l3 nijii[eeh go hool zhish, kwe4 naaltsos saad bik17g77 [ah go 1n7 dool n7[ han7n7 g77 da n11s joo ni[,
Baa1ko nisin go ts7d1 tah doo [a naaltsos dooda doo l3 dah bi ji n7n7 da, t0 bee l31 jo [ee[. Nuclear Regulatory Commission t0 kwe4 Red Water Pond Road gi d00 n7l1 g00 Bik1g7 Yisht[izhii bi[ hon732 g00 d77 B7laasdlaii t0 nida hachxooh go h7g77 da da bit0 go bi[ nahaz3, t11 1k0 n44h go t0 h0ni jin7 zooh.
Secondly, allowing licensees to put up a fence, and then, walk away -- again, consigning communities like this to a lifetime of contamination.
Naaki g0ne4, Naanish ha y7[ wod y66h a[tsoh b1 nidaanish go t0 nida azh nish gi bin7 da al tiih go nah g00 hidi k11h, ha das geed y66h t111k00 naazjaa go d77 bits33 d00 bil1 asdlaiii kahi di k11h {eetsoh bidezla bits33 d00.
Requiring meaningful and front-line community-driven cleanup is critical to remedying the human rights associated with historic uranium mining and processing.
Hazh00 1dooln7[ go 47 d77 kwe4 k44hat7g77 t11b7 k4yah n7doolzoo[ n7n7g77 yee naaz9n7g77 bikeh g00 1ho doo77[go d00 )och88d bikeh kah naaldeeh7g77 ni k0doo n7[ kwii [eetsoh hadas geed7g77 d00 naaltsos t0 bee l3oolee[7g77 d0 dinii t[00.
20 So, listen to and believe the community when they talk to you. Their expertise is unlike the expertise of anybody else. Living for generations in communities that are impacted by uranium development grants a particular privilege of expertise to the folks who live there.
Biniinaa, da77s7n0[ ts33 kwe4 k44ha t7n7g77 nihi ch8 ha da ha dziih go, y4ego y11 1k0n7zin7g77, 7nda y7da hoo[ 337g77 d00 y4n1s kai h7g77 1daat9 go doo bin1[ t4eda yeeh ha doodzih7g77. Bii haghan go, bii niji gh1a go a[k44oo ch77[ go, [eetsoh bi deezla b44 j7 gh1ago 1t4e gi d00 1o[88[gi bee nihi[ da hoo doonih d77 binaj8 da77 do[ ts99[.
Secondly, ACLs should be the exception, as intended, rather the rule. And more locally, we ask that you put the UNC license amendment process on hold and consult with tribal, state, and federal governments, and front-line communities to evaluate the viability of a regional uranium waste repository.
1kone, Naaltsos bee l3 adoo lee[ ]7g77 t1adoo t0 bee l3 o[ee[7, j0 11j7 doo Bee Haz1anii bi[ n7tI dah. D77 biniinaa naaltsos [ahgo saad nidookas han7n7g77 1[ts4 nahj7 ni dool tsos 1ko Bik1g7 Yisht[izhii bi[ hon73n7g00, Ndtsaa ha da hasdzoh7g77, d00 W11shndoon t11 [ahj8 a[ah doo lee[ go nay7k7h y1da doo tih, !di k00h k44hda ha t7n7g77 kwe4 [eetsoh leezh bi[ ha das geed7g77 k0 t10 nah g00 k0 dool n7[ d77niih j7 b1 d7 n00l88[ h117da t11 [1h1j8 noo 1dadool n77[.
In the context of new uranium mining, BIPOC -- Black, Indigenous, and People of Color -- communities being overburdened with historic uranium waste, the NRC continues to license new projects, especially ISL projects, in those communities -- continuing the record of human rights violation.
Nah d66 hoolzhish go {eetsoh haag44d g00 Zhinii d00 Bik1g7
21 Yisht[izhii d00 A[22 Din4 bi[ hon732 goo t11 b7t47y1 [eetsoh hadaa g44d7g77 11j7 bideezla y4ego bee 1 t4l 9h [eh. NRC t11 naaltsos bikehgo adoo nish7g77 w0keed gi yee l3 niii[eeh, nit[11di [eetsoh n1hi dilee[ go (ISL) beeoonish7g77,
[eetsoh hahal ee[go k0t10 Din4 Zhinii d00 Bik1g7 Yisht[izhii d00 koj8 a[tah Din4 bi[ hon732 g00 bitah j8 t11 ah33h )och99d bi ch33h gi Bi bee haz32nii kih da jii t77h t0 n11s yidtiih kodi.
The NRC knows -- and we know you know because everybody else knows -- that no ISL operation in the history of the United States has ever restored groundwater to pre-mining conditions. As a result, again, NRC is actively inviting widespread groundwater sacrifice zones.
NRC ni[ b44h0zind00 nih7 d0 nihi[ b44 h0zin ni[ b44 h0zin7gi j0 t11 a[tsoh n7 d0 bi[ b44 h0zin k0t10-D77 ISL beeoonish gi[eetsoh haalee[j7 yeeh nidaalnish7g77 tahdoo h117da t0 n1y77shood ha;ni da, d00 b22h chin g00 t0 1n1lyaa da doo han7id da d77 k00h asdladiin k4yah dasinil7j7 bik11 gi.. NRC t0 ni hi z44 na hwii 1 b7ni k00h nahaz1 n7g77 B7l1asdlaii t11 baa hojoob17 k44h da hat99 g00 kot10 t0 chi yo[ 87 nii doo chxoo[ n7igo yid ts32 j8 go deez99 gi bee ni hi[ b44 h0 zin.
To remedy these violations of human rights, the NRC should implement a policy of free, prior, and informed consent consistent with international law and norms for any new uranium operations in BIPOC communities.
A[ hee[ t4ego b44 k44h ho di doon77[ gi d77 Ooch99d bee oo nish7g77 47 NRC, Bee Haz1anii bi[ n7ti go naaltsos -policy [a hazh doo a[ 477 d77 )ochx88d bich33h Bi Bee Haz1anii K4yah t11 n1hwiis 1an7t44 bee a[gha da diis t1n7g77 i[ bii n7ti go saad bikaagi shijaa ha yidool ts4[. Zhinii d00 Bik1g7 Yisht[izhnii bi k4yah bik11 g00 [eetsoh ha daa geed 7g77 Bee Nahaz1a nii b7 d44ti
22 go hadaag44d d66 bi[ b44 h0zin go, d77 1niid7 haag44d bin11 ho des t32 go chii doo88[ a[gha ditaah go. Zhinii d00 Bik1g7 Yisht[izhnii bik4yah bik11 g00
[eetsoh ha daa g4d7g77 1yis77 b7d44tI go 1lyaa go.
Secondly, the NRC should tie its environmental justice reviews to the Atomic Energy Act's health and safety provisions, rather than NEPA.
N111k0ne, NRC d00 Atomic Energy ActBee Haz32nii naaki go environmental justice review 7g77 d00 health and safety Bee Haz1anii y1zh7 t11 1[ah t11h0 naz n4l 9h go 1ji[44h da, bi sil10 j7l98 go. NEPA 47 dooda, j0 11j7 47. T0 hazh00 W11shindoon danil98nii a[hi[ na[ nish yi[n7 d00 k4yah bik11 g00 hin1anii k4yah chiyo[98 gi doo b7d7 dl11sh da neenij8 n7.
And finally, the NRC should discontinue issuing licenses for new operations, and particularly ISL operations, in overburdened and impacted communities. So, in other words, no startup 'til cleanup.
Ak44di, NRC sh2 kad7 naaltsos bikeh go adoonish w0keed gi t11doo bee l3 naiih [44h4 go sh99h b0h0n44dz3 ISL[44tsoh haalee[ go ha a g4 d7g77 t11 1yis77 k4yah bii di do y11t44h da [eetsoh bideezla niii[ chooh B7laasdlaii ha joob17 bi[ nahaz1a g00. A[ts4 k4yah bikaagi nida ho dil zhooh d00 7nda [a dadoonishgi bee [3 ni iileeh go sh99h. .
Thank you very much for this opportunity.
Ts7d1 ah4hee sh1 hooa7g77.
DIRECTOR SHIRLEY: And then, just a housekeeping item. When you're going to speak, so if we're going to talk, we're going to use -- if we could hold it here, that would be good.
DIRECTOR SHIRLEY: Shooh, haadzih go, d77 choo7n7g77 kwe4 y7n0h t2 go y11t44h doo.
23 (Translation of Native language spoken: They cannot hear you way in the back of the room.)
(Din4 bizaad kehgo ata hane; nil477 d66 h0n77di doo hodii tsa da daan7)
So, if we could hold it here, and then hold the microphone here.
Kwe4 y7n0ht2 go bii y1ti7 kwe4 yi n0h t2 doo.
I do want to ask Mr. Yazzie with the Navajo EPA to introduce himself, and then, introduce some of our staff here today, because they were certainly integral in getting all of this together.
Mr. Yazzie, K4yah Biki ad44st99 j7 Ni daal nish7g77,11d66 n1ni daal nish7g77 77shj11n 1d77l7[ nihi ch8 h11l1 kwii y4ego nih7 k177 j44 MR. YAZZIE: (Translation of Native language spoken:
Greetings to all of you and thank you my granddaughter for coming here and advocating on our behalf [identifies his traditional Navajo clans]. To establish a relationship and kinship among the people here, I am from Monument Valley. That's where I was raised. I am from the Red Mesa area. That's where my mother is from.)
(Din4 bizaadkehj7 ata n1h1ne kwii, Y11t44h t11 1n0[tsoh d00 1h4hee shitsoii kwe4 nihaa y7n7y1 d00 tah dii nihi kih y1n7[tii [!d00ne4 baa hojilne] kwii] !d00ne 47 hak47 bee 77shj11n nil9 k00h h0l0 n7g77 bi[, Ts4 Biinidzis gai d66 nash1, !adi shiyaa hooa; Ts4[ich77 dah Azk1n7 d66 47 shim1 naagh1)
Thank you. Welcome. Thank you for the opportunity to bring the community together and thank you for coming to Navajo and hearing what we feel is just way overdue.
24 Ah4hee. Kwe4 k44 ha t7n7g77 a[h2 00[aah7g77 d00 Din4 bik4yah j8 noh kaih7g77, t111yis77 bil1 da hwish zhiizh ndi danih77 do[ts7[.
The overall story here is 80 years of impacts on Navajo, not just here, but across Navajo lands. And these stories resonate to the very core of who we are -- to identifying our cultural values and knowing that we've compromised them because of what oftentimes will get called "Navajo waste."
It's not Navajo waste. We didn't ask for it. We didn't approve it. We definitely didn't benefit from it. So, it's something that needs to be addressed and as we move forward each day Ts7d1 tseeb7 diin n11 hah7g77 bee nihi[ hodo nih7g77 1t4 d77; Ts7d1 Din4 nii dl7n7g77 biij8 bee nihioonish go [eetsoh bideezla b4neikah, doo kwe4 t477 1t4e dah k1sd33 t11 hwiiz 32 g00 kot4. T0 nihi kih dii t1n7g77 biniinaa ni he4ool88[ doo b7d7 niil n11h da sil99. T0 nihi kih dii t3. Doo y7n7keed da. Doo bee l3 asii dl99 da. Doo bee nihi kih ji dl7ida a[d00. D77 nah b7k7h y1dootih7g77 sh99 1t4, 1dooln77[ gi neenij8.
We're out here today and I'm glad we don't have air samples going because that might scare some people. But the reality is this: we talked about this event being a history-making event. The history has been being made here for all of these years with the families being exposed. This is what they live in.
Kodi a[ah sii dleeh, Ni[ch8h neilkah go daats;7 nihi yah ho des hiz n7t44 (n7yol go). T11 aan77h d77 j7 ts7d1 kad 7nda a[h77kai, doo k0h n44h da n7t44. Dikw77 sh99h nin1 h1 h11h go nihi[ hool zhish 477 sh99h n11k44 n1h1ne nil9 a[d00 {eetsoh bideezla b4 nei kah go. D77 gi 1t10 da nihi n7 ghan nahaz32 g00.
Prior to any running water, any facilities/resources being
25 made available to them, they were hauling their water, and they would be in open containers. And guess what? You're sitting there with a little bit of dust on you; everything had dust on it. Where does that dust come from?
Right behind us.
Tah doo t0 nihi[ yahada ha ts44d d33 t0 nida hiigeeh, t0sh jeeh bi d11 d7 t1h7g77 1daa din go, [eezh daa b22h go, t11 a[tsoh [eezh b22h n87daa dleeh k00h; 1k00h [eezh da ni h22h, h11d66 l1 [eezh nosin7g77, k00h nihi ne d66.
I can't say enough to the importance of what this event is -- to hear Navajo people out; to hear their concerns out; to understand, as Mr. Jantz had shared, there's more that can be done.
T11 1y7s77 nihi[ nil9 kwe4 1[ah nii dl7n7g77, da nih77 d0[
ts7s, nihi dadi[ 1h7g77, biki dadi do[ t99[, Mr. Jantz 1n7n7 gi 1t10, neenij8 bee 1ho doon77[ii sh99h hol0.
Oftentimes, as the bureaucratic decisionmakers will look at things, it's always from one perspective: from the perspective of what's written in text. How about the other side? How about the human side?
We've talked about and heard about human rights.
W11shindoonii t11 1ko t11 [1h1 d66 go t47 yi n5[ 99h [eh doo t11 a[chish d66 niil 98 dah. Bikeesh ch99h d66 go n4l99h [1h d66 go sh2?
B7laasdlaii sid1h7 d66 go sh2? B7laasdlaii Ooch99d bee bioonish bi Bee Haz32 nii baa y11ti kwe4 disii ts33.
I thank you for coming. I really want to know and understand that, when I walk away today, that we were able to do something historical, and that historical event was NRC Commissioners coming to Navajo to hear the true history of what exists here and why it exists. And hopefully, go back, and then, come back with an answer that says, "You know
26 what? We have an answer, a truly historical answer that will help you, Navajo." That's what we expect.
Ah4hee nihaa noh kai. Kod00 dah dii y1ago, kwe4 1[ah siidl77g77 [adeil yaa doo, NRC kwe4 ni hei y7kai d00 bi[ 1[ah siidl99 go nihidii[
1h7g77 nei diil1 kwe4 bi keeh kah nei kaih7g77 d00 k0 dooln77[ di doo ni[. &nda k0d00 1n11 kai go d00 11d66 nihaa n7n11 doo kah, k0 dool n77[ han00h, d77 bee 1dii jaah da di doo ni[. D77 b7k1 da d7 n77 t99 doo.
To my leadership that's here, thank you. Thank you to the other members of leadership that's here.
Ah4hee shinanit17 k00h ho noh [0n7g77, d00 11d66 na1t1anii nihaa noh y1 h7g77, d0.
My family from Red Water Pond Road, thank you for hosting us (Translation of Native language spoken: Thank you.) for opening your home and your hearts to us, to allow us to talk, to allow us to understand what we've not captured in previous years to ensure that people understand what these impacts are.
Shik47 Red Water Pond Road d00 1h4hee nih1 hoo[ a. (Din4 bizaad kehj7 ata hane, Ah4hee) Nihi ghan d00 nihi j477 nihi ch8 220[aah, an1hwiit4h7g77 naa b7k7h yeilti gi bee ho[a, doo hazh00 nih1 bi ki dii t1n7g77 baa n11 ho do[nih 11d66 bi[ yi n7[ k1n7g77 kodi n7 diil y1a doo.
It goes beyond just knowing that there's dirt back here.
What does it mean? What has it done?
D77 k0j7 [eetsoh [eezh bi[ ha geed y66 koj7 shi jaa7g77 bil11h di sh99 1dii n7; h1it10 11h dii n7? Haa1t77sh baa naasdee?
I've got staff here from Navajo Nation EPA Superfund who've been actively participating in putting this event together with the Red
27 Water Pond Road Community. If I could, if they would come up and just join me real quick, I'd like to introduce them.
Bi[ nidash nish7g77 k00h nihi tah h0l0, Din4 Biw11sahindoon EPA Superfund y1 ni daal nish7g77 kwe4 1[ah aleeh y4ego yini dash nish kwii Red Water Pond Road haz1n7gi. Nihi[ 77shj11n 1sh[44h 11d66.
I've got my RPN, LeeAnna Martinez-Silversmith. I'm got Vivian Craig. We also have Merv Lynch, who has been an active participant who's really spearheaded helping us make this event happen. I'm not sure where he's at, but he was the one that introduced himself first.
LeeAnna MatinezSilversmith, 47 b1 ni daazh nish7g77 Nei[
kah, d00 Vivian Craig, Merv Lynch kwe4 1[ah aleeh 221yiilaa y66h ts7d1 y4ego kwe4 eelwod, h11j7sh99h 77y1.
We also have Darlene Jenkins. Where are you at, though?
She's way back there. Jump up and down, Darlene.
Darlene Jenkins, h11di s7n7d1? N7l477di h0nii di, N7dii d11h, Darlene.
We also have Shelby Daisy, who's an RPN with Navajo EPA. More than anything, thank you all, family, for being here.
Shelby Daisy d0 B1 ni daazh nish7g77 nei[ kah koj7 Din4 Biw11shindoon EPA y1 naalnish (Translation of Native language spoken: Dont be shy, tell your story. Don't be shy. Come on and tell your stories and tell your concerns. Don't be hesitant. Tell the story to these coming. You can cry.
You can show your emotions about it.
(Din4 bizaad kehj7 ata hane. T1adoo 1daa n7daah t7n7 hane baa da ho[ne. T1adoo 1daa n1 n7 t7n7. !1d66 da ho[ne, nihidii[ 1h7g77 baa da
28 ho[ne. T11 doo baa soh ti7. Aad66 yi gh1[ 7g77 bee bi[ ho[ne. Dah chah ndi, Bee nai[ n1n7g77 bi[ da n7ti sh99h).
This uranium mining and abandoned uranium mine has affected our health. It's serious. That's how serious it is.
[eetsoh [eezh bi[ hadas geed bideezla nihi ts77s Y4ego bikeeh kah nei kai. Aoo y4ego bikeh kah naal deeh.
I include my comments to not be shy and not be afraid to share their stories because the impacts are very real; they're very deep; they're very emotional.
K0n7[ tsoh go hasdziih; t1adoo baa y1 n0h sin7, da holne. J0 y4ego nihei n7 t7h d00 bikeh kah nei kai, n7 z11d g00, d00 bik4 diniih go naii[
n1.
I come from an area where the same issues that exist here are what impacts my family. And we're impacted by the efforts in Cane Valley. My paternal grandfather, Luke Yazzie, Sr., was credited with finding the ore that brought the mining industry to our community. I grew up with mine tailings a quarter of a mile from my home. I played in it. It was like beach sand. Monsoon seasons, I was up there covering myself, thinking that I was at the beach. Did I know there was a hazard associated with it? No.
In the summertime, we would herd our sheep up towards the mines.
Sh7 naash1 d66 d0 t11 k0t4ego bikeh kah neikai, shi k477 da y4ego bizhdlash; Cane Valley hooly4e di bii nei kai, Shin1l7 hastxiin Like Yazzie, Sr., woly4 48 d77 [eetsoh yik77 nini t11 go baa hane n7l477 da nihi ghan di.
{eetsoh [eezh nbi[ haageed y66h, {a [itso 1n7zahg00 bi[ haz32 go bii n4y3. Bii ni dein44h go. {eezh nizh0n7 go sei 1t4. Y4ego dah hodi[ t99h go 1adi s47 nbii s4t99h
[eh ne. Bi deezla ndi doo baa nits4s kees g00, ndah. S99h go a[eetsoh [eezh bi[ hadas
29 geed7 j8 go dib4 nida d7n77[ ka go nahaszhizh.
I don't know if you've ever had cool water from a mine site.
It's delicious. But did I know that I was exposing myself internally to radionuclides? No, I didn't.
{a;daats7 haag44d d66 t0 woohdl33, ayoo [ikan. Shi 1k0s dzaa, 7[na7g77 shiyidi sil99 doo shi[ b44h0zin g00 [eetsoh bi deezla [a radionuclides 7[na go sh99 1t4el1.
So, at the age of 23, I came home from the military. I absolutely loved being a soldier, an airborne medic. And I had to come home because I had a skull tumor, and that was my first bout with cancer. I'm fighting it right now.
Naadiin t11 shin11hai go hoghan di sil10[its07 d66 n1n7shdz1, azee22h 1l99 j7 shi naanish 77sh [aa sil10[itsoi nish [98 di. Shi tsiits7n b22h [00d doo n1dzihii b22h han77ts33 go biniinaa hoghan g00 sh447lnii d77 1[ts4 bee sh22h da hooa d77 j88di tah dii shei n7t9, Listen, please. That's all I ask. Help with a solution. We can't afford excuses. We can't afford copouts and put it on somebody else.
It is very personal to all of us.
Da77ts7n0[ts33 t11shood7. $77 d47 nih77n7sh keed. H11 deit4ego [a d00 nih7k1a dooh jaah. Tahdoo t0 nib7d10h hil7 T0 bits33j7 kon11 dooh n7[7g77 47 dooda, t0 h17da bi ch8 an11 do[ni[ d0 doodaKod00 477 t111yis77 bi do[nish niidzin.
Thank you.
Ah4hee.
DIRECTOR SHIRLEY: Thank you, Mr. Yazzie.
DIRECTOR SHIRLEY: Ah4hee Mr. Yazzie.
30 (Translation of Native language spoken. Thank you, my relatives, and my leadership.)
(Din4 bizaad kehj7 ata; hane. Ah4hee shi k47 d00 shi naat1anii)
The president is running a little behind schedule so.
(Translation of Native language spoken: Well start our program. Our first speaker is Mr. Bell.) Mr. Bell. I have Peterson Bell. Sorry.
Naat1anii al32j7 sid1h7g77 t00y0 ak44d66 dines dl88 ak0 (Din4 bizaad keh j7 ata hane; kad sh99h hahalzh77sh doo. Al32j8 haadziih7g77 477 Peterson Bell) Mr. Bell. Peterson Bell bik11.
MR. P. BELL: (Translation of Native language spoken:
Greetings, Im Peterson Bell.)
(Din4 bizaadkehj7 ata hane; Y11t44h, Sh7 47 Peterson Bell yinishy4)
My name is Peterson Bell. I'm from Red Water Pond Road. I live here.
Peterson Bell yinishy4; Red Water Pond Road d00 naash1. Kwe4 shighan I say this uranium waste is here for about 80 years now, since 1970 -- well, 1974; 1980 is when they abandoned the mine.
D77 [eetsoh [eezh bi[ hadasgeed y66h ts7d1 tseeb7diin naahah kad k00h naazjaa go, N1h1t477 ts1adah d00 biaan tsostsidiin yihah d33 sh99h; N1h1t47 diin d00 biaan tsostsidiin d00 biaan d99 yihah d33 d00 n1h1t;47 ts1adah d00 biaan tseeb7diin bitagi bikih h00n77 ch33 d77 [eetsoh haag4d7g77.
From there, we tried to let these people clean it right there.
They haven't done it yet.
31
$77 1ad00 kwe4 hasht44h dahoh dl44h t11 kad dadiin77go, t1adoo 1dzaa dad77j99 g00 hoolzhish In 2006 and 2007, when we organized the Red Water Pond Organization, I thought EPA was going to come and help us out here, but they haven't done it yet. It's still here.
Naadiin d00 biaan naaki d00 naadiin d00 biaan tsostsid yihah d33 Red Water Pond Road gi k44hwiih t7n7g77 daa[ hiil stood. Sh33h hanii EPA nih7kaadoo jaah nisin, tah doo 1daa n44h da. Tah dii t11 k00h naazjaa.
So, how long are we going to do this? It's a hard freaking story for us, for all of us.
!ko sh2 haash n7z11dg00 bi[ 1hodoolzhish d77? Y1adish sh99 1t4ego ts7d1 ch44h baa da hwiilne kwe4 d00 t111niiltsoh k00h.
For me, I worked in the mine. I worked for these guys.
So, that's where I'm at now. My health is in decline. Everything about me, it just accumulates.
Sh7 47 [eetsoh haag44dj7 nish shinish; H1 ni dash shishnish 11j7.
Kad shi[ k0hoot4, shit ah di 1hoot4edi t0 yaa kw44h nii[ d77j98 di. Shitahdi d00 shi[ 1hoot4edi t0 b7hiniih d44h go yilki[.
And how long are we going to do this? How long are we going to say, "Please help us." But you've got to do it now before all of us are gone. You know, for me, I'm over 60, and most of us are in our sixties now. All of us here need help. I know you look at us like we're healthy people, but we're not. Our life is in bad shape with cancer, diabetes, and everything else.
Hash n7z11d g00 k0t10 baa nei kai doo? Hashn7z11dg00 nih7kaoh jeeh diin7i doo? Tsx77[ go 1dah t98 go t47y1 tah doo a[tsoh nii
32 n4ed33.Sho, sh7 477 hast3h diin d00 n7woshj8 shin11 hah d00 k00h Din4 h0l0n7g77 t11a[tsoh hast3h diin b44 d11 hah kad. Nihi ch8 1n7da hwiit44h t111n77l tsoh. Nihi n0[ 98 go sh99h nih22h daat44h nahoniidlin, doo 1k0 niit4edah. Nihe iina doo y11t44h da, cancer d00 1sh88h [ikanii da bee nih22h dah nahaz3 d00 koj7 sh99h dikw77 n11n1.
So, when you say you're going to clean up, the EPA and the NRC, you guys have got to help us get that done. If you don't want to take it off the reservation, just put it over there and cap it. Cap it so tight that it doesn't leak. The bottom site should be looked at, too. Triple it. This wind, like now, this is the way it is every day when it's in March. So, even during the winters are like that. Even summer, the rain, it floods out.
Hasht4eda ho doh[ dl7[ go, Kin1h1lgai d66 K4yah Yikih D44z97g77 d00 NRC [1 d00 bee nih7k1adooh jaah go [a doon77[. Doo Din4 bik4yah bits33j8 n7l1 g00 ahi doo g44[ g00 47 t11ak00h y4ego bo h0n44 dz1ago bik44sti go noo 1 dooh [7[ 1ko doo bigh1 ni[ ts8 dah doo. Biyaadi h7g77 d0 n7d7 n00l 88[. T1adi da b7k7 des diz go 1lyaa go. D77 kad n7yol7g77, T33chil bii hoolzhish go t11 k0t4e[eh t11 dikw77j7. Hai ndi k0 t4e[ [eh, Sh99h go d0 nidaha[txin go t0 ni daal22h go 7h yi[ee[.
So, Commissioners, do your part in cleaning up. You have seen what we are today and yesterday. I know you were here yesterday.
!ko Commissioner noh[7n7g77, [ah d00 o[yeed go nihik4yah hashteh n1hdl44h. Ad33d33 k00h d00 d77j7 k00h hadaso sid, k00h nidao kai ad33d33.shi[ b44h0zin.
So, sometimes it hurts so much that I don't want to talk. So many times people have come around and said, "Let me interview you. We'll let your story out." But it don't; we never came out. What did they know?
33 They just get paid; we don't.
{ah da t0 b11h1 dzooh t111t4 t0 neezgai go doondi y1sh ti dah [eh. T00ahay001 Din4 shaa n7y1 Shi[ h0lne daan7igo. Baa hw77nilne7g77 n7l1adi naaltsos bik11 bee nida d7 n00h dah daan7igo. Ndi doo 1t98 da, doo naaltsos bee ni da ni deeh da [eh. Hatiish ho[ b33 da h0zin. T0sh99h ha ch8 ni daiis ya, nih4 477 doo nihi ch8 naazl1ada.
So, please do your part and clean up. That's all I wanted to say to you, Commissioners. That's all I wanted to say right now.
T11sh00d7 [ah d00h oh jeeh d00 k4yah d00 a[tsoh hasht44h dah dl44h. T111k0t4h4go bee nihi[ hodesh nih, Commissioners. T11 1k0d7 kad.
So, thank you.
!ko ah4hee MS. BENALLY: (Translation of Native language spoken:
Greetings, Im Annie Benally. I'm from here. I was raised here. And from here, I grew up.
MS BENALLY: (Din4 bizaad kehj7 ata hane.Y11t44h Sh7 47 Annie Benally yishy4. T11 kod00 naash1. T11 k00h shiyaa hooa.d00 n4y3h)
Also, maybe I was 12 years old, maybe. They started drilling. They didn't even tell us that they were going to do so. They told us not to bother. They said, "Don't bother." They just tell us, "Don't bother."
They didn't say it was dangerous. Didn't even tell us that it was going to affect our health.
Naaki ts1adah daats7 shi n11hah go, 1kwii shashin; K00h adadiltas go baa n7 diil dee. T1adoo ndi nihi[ da hane7. T0 t1adoo baa n7dah t7n7 nih doo niid. T0 niw4h ni chx= nihi doo niid. T0 niw4h ni chx= n1 nihi di niih, Doo 477 b11h1dzid nihi di n7id da. Doo nihitah di nihits7s y22h dah
34 hwii do[ a[ han7ida 1din.
Today, we've been exposed to it. And we made the house, our homes of it. And so now, they're telling us it's dangerous. That is not right.)
D77j98 di 47 b44 s4y1 ((eetsoh bideezla].Nihighan bee1deil yaa. Kodi 7nda b11h1dzid nihidin7. D77 doo 1h0t4ed da)
Okay. Thank you for coming. There are things I have to say to you.
H1g00sh99h. ah4hee nihaa noh y1. T1adool44 baa ho desh nih7g77 h0l=.
My name is Annie Benally, and what I just said was I was 12 years old when the mine drilling rigs came in. We were never told to stay away from the mud holes. We were never told not to play in them. We were never told it was going to be danger to your system, your bodies, all these years.
Annie Benally yinishy4, k0d00 bee hasdz777g77 47 naakits1adah shin11hai dishn7, Hadaag44d g00 bee edadil tsas7 bee dadeeznish.
Doo hasht[ish bi[ nahaz3a n7g00 ta1doo baa n7daoh t7n7 doo nihi doo niid da.
T1adoo ak00h ni dao n4h4 doo nihi doo niid da. Ts7d1 11doo nihi tah di y22h dah hwii do[ a[ t1adoo nihi doo niid da.nihi ts77s tah g00, ad66 bi[ hool zhish d33.
Because, us, as Native American, this is our sacred -- we treasure our bodies. And we pray this way every day. I live back here. So, this pile of uranium here, I pray to that every morning while the sacred mountain is over there. And I go back this way. There's another one right there.
35 Bik1g7 yisht[;izhii nihi di n7n7g77 d77 - nihi ts77s n1d97di nihi 7l9 t111k0t10 nihi sodizin bii da n7 ti go bee sodiilzin d77sh j98 di. Nigh47 g00 shighan, K00h [eetsoh [eezh bi[ hadas geed y66h k00h [a shijaa t11 ab7n7 oolee[ bich8 so dis zin n7l477 j7 go 47 dzi[ dadi yinii s83= go/ N11n1 koj8 go [a n11nshjaa So, this is not right. It brings anger because I am 64 years old now. When they first came, I was only 12.
Biniinaa, d77 doo 1k0t4edah. Biniinaa ch1h ch8 shii h0l=, kad h1t1diin d00 biaan d99 shi n11hai, 77d33 477 naaki ts1adah shin11hai go kwe4 dadeeznish.
And how long are we going to stand here and plead and cry and make you understand? You're lucky you're only here one day; that you get to go home. Now make sure you save the dust, so you can always remember where it came from.
Kod00 h11n7z11d g00 sh2 nisiiz99h d00, n7daiinii k22h go dei chah go, nih1 bikI di dooh t99[ nii dzin go? Dool1 d0 nihi k11 hazl99 da, nih7 477 t11 [aaj9 go k00h honoh [=.11d00 nihi hoghan g00 n7 dooh dlee[. $77
[eezh7g77 477 hashte ni doh jiih, d00 b4 na[niih n7 doh jaa7 d6.
You want no washing here? Keep it up. Put it somewhere sacred. Oh, yeah, this is where the sacred people are from.
This is the sacred dirt. I'm not trying to be sarcastic, but that's way it is with us here every day.
1d22h t1 nao gis l1 go, bini ak0 t4 t0 h11ida hodiyi gi ni doh
[44h. Shooh, k00h diyin Din4 h0l=, d77 bileezh diyin, doo t0 1nihi dish n7id dah, d77 k00 1h0t4 koj7 nihi[ haz1n7j7 t11 dikw77 j9.
And everybody, I appreciate you all coming and being here
36 in this crazy weather with us. But this is us -- wind, rain, shine, everything, that's us. We make it work, even if the weather is this bad.
T111n0[tsoh kwe4 honoh [0n7g77 nihaa1h4 nisin nihi[ honoh
[00h azh3 sh99h n7yol ndi. J0 d77 gi 1t10 da nihighan, n7yol, naha[txin, 1d7n7 d77n da ndi b7niil3. azh3 sh99h t[0odi 1k0t4e ndi bii neil deeh.
And thank you, Darrell, everybody.
Ahehee Darrell, d00 t111n0[tsoh.
(Translation of Native language spoken: Thank you, everybody. Thank you, my mother, for blowing in. (teasing her)).
(Dih4 Bizaad kehj7 ata hane. Aheh44 t111n0[tsoh, Aheh44 shim1 ni[ n7yol 7g77 [dloh ji dil ch7h])
And you came with the wind.
D00 ni[ n7yol.
COMMISSIONER BARAN: Can you talk to us a little bit about the uranium tailings pile here? And I know at some point EPA did some work. What's the status now? Do you feel like there's been progress at all or has nothing changed?
COMMISSIONER BARAN: {eetsoh [eezh bi[ haageed7g77 k00h shijaa7g77 t11a[ts7s go bee nihi[ h0lne? d00 Kinah1lgai d66 EPA d0 k00h nidash nish go baa1k0 niidzin. $7sh 11j7 h117 hoolzhish? T11 daats7 naanish n11s k0dzaa, nda daats7?
MS. BENALLY: Okay. The cleanup was just a bandage.
They just wanted to make us feel that we were safe again. But, as you see, the wind's carrying it back over our heads again. This is like this every day.
They say it's clean; it's okay. But we have more piles back there, and it is blowing this way. You see the wind's going this way.
37 MS BENALLY: h1 g00sh99h, 47 t0 h0n7gh1hn7j8 nidaazhnish. T0 baa da didiil yi[ t477 biniy4, t0 doo nihi dii[ 1h7 g00 nahalooh sh99h, 1kondi n7d7yo[ go t11 1k0n11n1 t44[ [eh, j0 d77 1k0t4 k00h naajaa7g77 nihi kih j8 bi[ nin11 daa yol [eh. J0 k00h nihi kih j8 go n7yol.
So, it's back to normal. We're back to what uranium does again -- breathing it in, everything in. So, you're in luck and you can take off every mask, so you can breathe the uranium.
Nahd66 1t4h44 gi 1t4h n11h1nih. !!d00 [eetsoh bideezla nin11 daajo[ n11n1 [eh, bi[ adahiidziih go, koj8 a[tsoh bii ni n11n47 kai [eh. Nihi 3zh nee 47 nih7 ch99h d00 nihi az44 g0naa dan7baal7g77 nahj8 adahi dooh ni[ go
[eetsoh bi deezla bi[ adaho dzih Anything else? Did I answer your question? Okay.
{a 1sh n11n1, Da na7d77n7[ kid7g77 n1t22 baa n1hweshne?
H1goosh99h.
Okay. Thank you.
G00sh99h. Ah4hee MS. HOOD: Larry?
MS HOOD: Larry?
MR. KING: Good afternoon.
MR. KING: Y11t44h a[ n7n73 I'll be talking mostly about Section 17; 17 is where I live.
And it's back about three miles down the road. You went through Section 17 when you crossed a big Puerco wash bridge and a big metal building. And on the opposite side of the highway, where that big metal building, in that flat area, that's where I reside with my sisters.
Sh7 47 Section tsostsid ts1adah k4yah s81n7g77 1yis77 baa
38 y1shti doo, tsostsid ts1adah gi shi ghan, Ts7d1 daats7 t11 tsin sit3 nigheii atxiin g0 ya. Section tsostsid ts1adah bitsis nihi[ chih da iizhjee nigh47 nani1 ndtsaago bitsis atxiin gi d00 nigh477 j7 go b44sh bee kin s83 n44h gi 1t4. !1d00 atxiin bil11h j7 go b44sh kin s81n7 j7 go 1kwe4 nah0sa g00 shilah bi[ k44hashti.
Hello. My name is Larry King, and I still live on Section 17, along with my sisters and their families, in the midst of a waste dump.
Y11t44h, sh7 47 Larry King yinishy4, tahdii section tsostsid ts1adah s81n7 gi shi ghan, d00 shilah 7nda b11[ch7n7 bi[ k44hwiit9h akwe4
[eetsoh [eezh bi[ hadasgeed y66h bin77 gi danihighan.
Growing up, we hauled water for domestic use from a windmill that was located behind the old Church Rock Mine, lots owned by Phillips Petroleum Company, then UNC.
Nests44[ d33 Churchrock gi haag44d d00 binej7 go t0 b1 b44sh 771h7 d00 nihi t0 chii niil9n7g77 ni dahiigeeh n7t44, 1k00h k4yah 1[ts7s go n11znil7g77 Philips Petroleum Company daa b7 go sinil d00 UNC d0 [a daab7 47 akwii k4yah sinlig77.
Access to the windmill required driving through the mine area, past the head frames, stockpiles of mine waste, new and discarded mining materials, and equipment, to get to our water source.
B44sh t0 b1 771h7 bich8 atxiin7g77 47 [eetsoh hadag44d g0ne4 ho[ oolwo[, B44sh Bee haiidl44h4 771 bi ghah g0ne4, [eetsoh [eezh bi[
haadas geed go naazjaa bitah g00 bee ni daanish7 d00 tsiil z47 dah ndtsaa h7g77 d00 bee ni daanish7 naaz99 bitah gone 11di 7nda t0 baa ji gh11h.
As a youngster in the early '60s, I herded sheep around the mine site, within the mine site, and played in the mine waste piles. No security measures were in place around the mine site to ensure the safety of
39 the people coming in through the mine area to haul water for themselves.
Currently, the area is still an abandoned mine site with no cleanup plans on the horizon.
![ch7n7 da niidl98 go H1t3 diin yihah bii [eetsoh hadaag44d bitah g00 dinanish kaad [eh ne d00 [eetsoh [eezh bi[ hadasgeed7g77 bik11 g00 nash n44h [eh ne, Bee ah3h hasin 1daat47 d00 bee dah naazt32 da haag44d 7gi, doo kwii naal deh da doo da bik17gi da. 1ko k00h Din4 t0 bich8 be atxiin go 1t4.
77d33.D77shj98 di t111k0 hoot4, tah doo ndi k4yah bik11 g00 hasht44h1ln44h da.
About half a mile south of my residence is the Puerco wash, also crossing through Section 17, the tributary that carried the largest uranium tailings spill in U.S. history on July 16th, 1979, 14 weeks after the nuclear accident at Three Mile Island. The dam burst sent over 1100 tons of radioactive mill waste and over 94 million gallons of contaminated liquid flowing towards Arizona.
Ts7d1 daats7. A[n77 tsin sit3 1n7zah shighan7 d00 47 ndtsaa go bikooh -Puerco Wash yi[n7, a[d0 section k4yah haadzoh tsostsid ts1ah biyig0ne4 ch7h b7k00h, Yaiishj11sh tsoh h1t13 ts1adah yo[k11[ N1h1t47ts1ada d00 tsostsidiin d00 biaan n1h1t47 yihah d33 [eetsoh haag44dj7 nan71 d44gizh y66 [eetsoh bideezla t0 bi[ ch7h n7go d99 ts1adah dam00 azl99 go Three Mile Island d0 y7chx= go [eetsoh bideezla [a bits1nigo ne. Nan71 desh chxsh go [a m77l d00 biaan t11[1h1di neezn1 diin di dim77l y1zh7 ndtsaa go dahid4dlo go
[eetsoh [eezh bi[ haageed y66h t0 biij8 N1h1t47 di dim77l tsoh d00 biaan d99 gal00n hagiz go dah yi di[ 44l n7l477 Arizona g0 yaa Except for the bomb test, Church Rock was probably the biggest single release of radioactive poisons on American soil. Ironically, it
40 occurred 34 years to the day after the first atomic test explosion at the Trinity site near Tularosa, New Mexico.
Churchrock j7 nani1 desh chxosh7g77 sh99h ts7d1 al1adi 1n7[tsoh go [eetsoh bideezla Ni1sdz11n bileezhbik11j8 deschxosh d00 bee h00chxo, Beeeldooh tsoh desdooh7g77 bi[ a[h22h di nahalin. Ako, d77 nan71 deegizh7g77 ts7d1 t1diin d00 biaan d99 n1h11hj8 n1hoolzhish go deschxosh t11 beeeldooh tsoh n7l477 Tularosa, Yoot0 hahoodzoh di nib7nest3ne nahalooh.
The old Church Rock Mine is now occupied by HRI. In 1998, the NRC approved license SUA-1580, which allows HRI to build and operate a uranium ISL mine there.
Churckrock s1n7 47 kad HRI yiyo[ wo[. N1h1st4 diin d00 biaan N1h1st47 d00 biaan tseeb7 yihah d33 NRC SUA-1580 yeeh l3as[99 47 HRI dahin44[7g77 b7ni [eetsoh haalee[7g77ISL beeadoo nish n7igo l3 d77niid.
In 2003, with the help of outside organizations and agencies, Church Rock Chapter started the Church Rock Uranium Monitoring Project, which revealed how contaminated my community was, beginning from where I currently reside, along State Road 566 through the end of the pavement, just right where you got off the pavement up here. And it included Red Water Pond Community.
Naadiin d00 biaan t11 yihah d33 D7kw77sh bidi[1h7g77 daa[hiiltsood d00 Churchrock Chapter [eetsoh bbideezla a[tah 1t4h7g77 ,
beeadeezhnish go t111yis77 [eetsoh bideezla nihi diich11l l1 go baaako niidz99.
1h1n7go n1n4l88h7g77 beeoonish7g77 chii doo8[ da d77n77d, ts7d1 n7l477 shighan n7 d00 hoshd66 n7l477 State highway 566 ni7dl4zhizh j8. D00 Red Water Pond Road k44hat98 j8 1kot44l1. atxiin yishdl4zhii bi naa g0yaa
41 In 2005, NRC decided that the company didn't have to clean up the mess at this site because the radioactive waste left behind by UNC are now part of background.
Naadiin d00 biaan asdla yihah d33 !kwii ni dashnish7g77 11h yi[n7 d77 NRC 1j7n7 t1adoo k4yah bik11gi hasht4h n1lyaa ndi t111ko, [eetsoh
[eezh bi[ hadasgeed7g77 b7ni j0 k00h UNC d0 t0 yi naashnish y66 t11 1k00h naazjaa n7i go.
ISL mining is not new technology. It has been used for over 50 years. It threatens long-term contamination of our precious and good quality groundwater. The ISL industry has an extensive record of excursions, which have proven difficult to contain and clean up. Restoration of groundwater to pre-mining water quality conditions has never been achieved.
{eetsoh haalee[7g77ISL y7ln7, doo 1n77d7 d33 beeadeezhnish da, ts7d1 asdladiin n11hah beeoonish. Doo ts771t4eg00 t0 nit[1adi h7g77 y11t44h d00 nizh0n7g77 niyi[ chx00h, [eetsoh bideezla biih I dichx11[. D77 ISL[eetsoh haalee[7g77 t00ahay077 g00 t0 ni yish chx- go b44h0zin d77j98 di. T0 b22h neigis go y4ego nanit[ah j0 tah doo dadin77sh d33 t0 1daat4h55gi 1t10 1n1ln44h go sh99h doo 1t98h da. T0 doo 1adi b22h neigis da.
HRI's Crownpoint ISL Project is unprecedented, per NRC's own statement in 2007 because:
Ts7s ts0z7 j7 HRI d77 ISL[eetsoh haalee[ yeil nish, tah doo k0t10 bee da di n77sh da n7t44 n7 NRC t11b7 1n00h yee haadz99 Naadiin d00 biaan tsosts7d yihah d33 di 1j7n7. D77sh99h biniinaa; No. 1, it is planned in an aquifer that is currently used as a high-quality drinking water source.
{1aii gone.. t11 ay7s77 binahast3 kwe4 ts7d1 t0 y11t44h
42 go yidl1n7g77 dahid4y99h.
No. 2, the site will be located within a half a mile of two municipal water supply wells and within a mile and a half of three other wells.
The central plan for processing the uranium into yellow cake is located in the town of Crownpoint within one mile of four schools and hundreds of residents.
Naaki g0ne. D77 t0 y11t44h dahi d4y7n7 d00 a[n77 1n7zah gi naaki go t0 [a chi n11 yo[7n7g77, 7nda [atsin sit3 d00 naa[n77 gi t11 go t0 b1a n11 ool go d00 choo9. Ts7d1 a[n77 di binahast1n7g77 47 [eetsoh haadlo go d00 yik33 go 47 Tsists0z7 haz1n7gi bin77 gi k0t10 oonish doo, )lta d99 bi[
haz1 d00 t00ahay077 t11 neezn1 diin d00 n7woshj8 1kwe4 dahoghan.
ISL mining deliberately contaminates the groundwater to extract and recover uranium from its host rock. HRI's Church Rock section, at Section 8 and 17, mines will be located literally across the road from my homes of my sisters and
{eetsoh haalee[ beeoonish7g77ISL t11 1ko daan44hgo t0 day7[chx= ts4 nikaadii yii d66 [eetsoh hadei[ee[ go. HRI Churchrock j7 go k4yah s8;1n7g77 tsosts8d d00 tsostsid ts1adah gi 47 danihighan d00 ts4 naaj7 go haad44d doo 1k00h shhil1h k47 d00 ba1[ch7n7 da bighan.
Mine plans are to drill hundreds of injection and production wells in Section 17. A portion of Section 17 is my grazing area. I have a valid BIA grazing lease, and my family has homesite leases from the Navajo Nation. But HRI says its rights to mine supersede my rights to use my land. We will literally get kicked off and be removed from my land when they start to mine.
K5yah tsostsid ts1adah s81n7gi 47 t11 [ah1di neez n1 diin
43 d00 niwoshj8 1daalgo d00 t0 hahaltood do biniy4 binashast32 go h11g44d doo g00. K4yah tsostsid ts1adah s81n7gi [ah d00 477 bik11 gi shi[99 chi da yo[9, BIA 1kwe4 bee bi[ a[gha dinisht3 7nda Din4 biw11shindoon d0 danihi ghan 7g77 k4yah chii doo8[ gi bee a[gha da deet3. HRI 47 sh7 j7 go 1[ts4 k4yah bii nideesh go[ go bee sh7 deeti shi[n7. Haag44d bidadeezhnish go t0 k4yah chiiniil9 n44h bik11 d00 nahj8 nihi di doo nii[ l1 ako..
On July 19, 2012, after HRI was cited by the Navajo Nation DOJ for trespass on Navajo land, HRI entered into an agreement stating they will clean up Section 17 before any mining actions by HRI begin. NRC has not taken any steps to require HRI to do any cleanup before starting any new mining.
Yaiishj11shtsoh n1h1st47 ts1adah yo[ k1[ Naadiin d00 biaan naaki ts1adah yihah d44 Din4 biw11shindoon, Aghadiit1ahii bi[ haz1n7 d00 naaltsos bv1 haadl11do d77 Din4 bk4yah bik11 gi 1n7t9 bi dooniid, n7t44 t11 nih7 d77 k4yah tsostsid ts1adah s81n7gi bik11g00 hasht44h dah hwidiiln7[ go 7nda han11iig44d doo d77niid.
The Navajo Nation will not receive royalties from any mining proposed by HRI in our community. ISL mining is unsafe and is very risky.
The people are saying no to any new mining, and a grave injustice will occur if HRI is allowed to operate.
Din4 biw11shindoon, doo t11[a7 [ch7 b44so haag44d bits33 d00 b7l1 keel ts77d dah, d77 kwe4 k44hwiit7n7g77, HRI kwe4 hadash go[
d77niid go. {eetsoh haalee[ go beeoonish7g77 doo nihi ts7s b1 y11t44h dah d00 d00 doo y11sh00 da nanit[ah go 1t4 t0 bee da nihi joo[ ch99d go baa naaldeeh.
B7la asdlaii nil98 nii dooda daan7 doo haag44d [a b1221n11 dooln7[ da han7, Ts7d1 t0 nihitis di HRX b1 bee l3 n111s dl99 go, doo y11sh0o dah.
44 Thank you.
Ah4hee DIRECTOR SHIRLEY: Teri?
DIRECTOR SHIRLEY: Terr?
MS. KEYANNA: Good afternoon.
MS KEYANNA: Y11t44h a[n7n73.
My name is Teracita Keyanna, and I would like somebody from Navajo EPA to help me out, please.
Sh7 47 Terricita Keyanna yishy4, [a Din4 biw11shindoon EPA d66 sh7k1o[yeed t11dhood7.
Pass that out.
D77 nahg00 naniniih.
Thank you, guys, NRC, for coming out and listening to us.
They already have some. So, just let me finish this first.
They already have it.
Ah4hee, NRC nihaa noh kai d00 danih77 do[ts9[. {a bee dah h0l=. ![ts4 kwe4 a[tso 1sh[44h. Bee dah h0l=.
So, if you open those white binders (NOTE: the white binders can be found in the NRCs Agencywide Documents Access and Management System under ML22118A743), in the very, very back, this is my presentation. Since we're not doing a mine tour, this is the closest thing I can get to you guys. So, if you want to follow along with me, that would be great.
!ko, 47 [igaigo naaltsos nit[izh7 nihi d11h s81n7g77 220[44h.
(NOTE: Shoh, dii naaltsos nit[izh7g77 naaltsos bit1tah sinil7g77 NRC Oonish7j7 Naaltsos 1[h2 daalyaah7g77 b44sh nits4kes 1lyaah7gi baa hon7ti, NRCs Agenywide Documents Access d00 Management System bik17gi biyaa gi ML22
45 118A743 bik17gi d7n77[88[), Ts7d1 anedi d77 beehashne doo. Doo n7l1adi 1 nihi di deesh yish da 1ko naaltsos bik1a d00 nihi[ hodeshnih. Naal tsos da n0[98 go t11 shi k44 g00 doo.
So, this is pictures of this area here that you can see, and as well as on this side of the road here. It's just right across. That's the second time-critical removal that had happened. And that young man in that picture in the red is now 17 years old.
D77 b444lyaah7g77 477 kwe4 k4yah nah0sa7g77 eelkid.d00 d77 k00 atxiin7g77 k0j7 go 1t4. Nahg00 tsenaagoo 1t4. Naakidi [eetsoh [eezh bi[ haageed7g77 nahg00 k0lyaa kad. Ei 1shkii y1zh7 eelkid7g77 bi44 [ich77g77 kad tsosts7d ts1adah bin11hai.
So, this is just showing you that perspective of just how much this has been impacting the community and, also, not just the elders, not just my generation, but my kids' generation. And you know it's going to continue, unless we get together, all of us, and find a solution.
D77 binaj8 baa nits0h kes haaneel33 n11hai k0t4ego [eetsoh bideezla b4n47kah kwe4 k44hwiit7n7g77 d00 doo n11s daazl97g77 t47 da, doo sh7 gi nidaatih7g77 t47 y1 da niha1[ch7n7 gi nidanitse7g77 d0 bi ho diiti. D00 t0 n11s bi[ hoolzhish doo doo haada y7dt10 da 1lyaa g00, biniinaa t111niiltsoh 1dooln7[7gi [a bee daahii diil tso[ go hashteh doon77[.
So, please just really, really listen, and don't just listen and hear, but listen and understand that this is our lives. We have human rights, and we need to be looked at as human beings and not be overlooked.
!ko w0[7 bee y4ego danih7s7n0[ ts33, t1adoo t0 dohts17, j0 d77 nihe77na 1t4ego baa nits0h kees d00 n7di doh [44[. Nih7 d0 bil1asdla niidl98 go nih1adahazti7g77 h0l=. B7laasdlaii niidl99 go nihi n0[9 t1adoo t0
46 nihil1adi n0h ha[7.
The environmental racism has gone on for far too long.
And so, I would like for you to really understand and listen. And that's the reason why I'm talking loud -- because you need to hear this.
K4yah bijk11gi 1hoon7[7g77 bee nihi dool ch99 go ts7d1 n7za1di nahalzhish kad d77 biniinaa ts7d1 77s7n0[ts33 d00 nih1 n7 do[4 dishn7.
47 d0 biniinaa y4ego hodiitsa go y1shti; d77 baahashne7g77 di doh ts7[ biniy4.
So, if you go on to the second page, it has a poster that I had done with my aunt here, my Aunt Edith, my Uncle Peterson, my Aunt Jackie, all my other aunts here, Jean. We have it actually posted in the back.
It's much bigger. And you also have it inside your binder. It's in the very, very front.
1ko naaki g0ne4 1n11n1h 11d go, D77 477 naaltsos ndtsaago 77yaa shim1 yazh7/shib7zh7 Edith bi[; shid17 / shiy11zh Peterson bi[, Shim1 y1zh7
/ shib7zh7 Jackie bi[ d00 koj8 shim1 y1zh7 /shib7zh7 kooh nah11zt1n7g77.jean da. N7l477 h0niidi d0 dah sit3 t11 ndtsaa go, 7nda 47 naaltsos nit[izh7g77 d0 bii si[tsooz.Ts7d1 al32j8 si[tsooz.
So, it just gives you a brief history of the community and how, when my aunts and uncles were children back in the '30s, they already started. They started all the exploratory drilling -- I know, Edith -- and it became a problem. And they didn't know.
D77 binaj8 ts7d1 kwe4 k44hwiit7n7gi 1h00t4h7g77 yiki di[
dl11d d00 shim1 y1zh7 / shib7zh7 d00 shid17/ shiy11zh 1[ch7n7 da nil98 go k00h b44 daalyaa n7l47 t1diin yihah d33 di, 77d33 da deezhnish, 1dadil tas go baanaaldeeh 77d33, 11 shi[ b44h0zin Edith, 11d00 hah0n77chxaad deezti ndi shik47 doo bi[ b44 da h0zin da.
47 So, unknowingly, my aunts, my uncles, my grandparents, my great grandparents were all impacted. And that's one of the reasons why we're trying to force this in right now, because we need to be heard. My great grandma, Helen Nez, she needs to be heard. Her area has been impacted for years.
Doo ho[ b44 dah0zin g00 shim1 y1zh7 /shib7zh7, shid17 /
shiy11zh, shim1 s1n7 / shin1l7, d00 naaki di m1s1n7 d00 n1l7 y4ego beiina dasdi[
kwe4; d77 biniinaa t111y7s77 bee da nihiil jizh kad didoh ts77[ nii dzin. Shim1 s1n7, Helen Nez d0 di doh ts7[ 11j7 d0 bik4yah [eetsoh [eezh bi[ hadasgeed7g77 bee bi[ 1n1hwiit44h go d77j98 di bi[ hoolzhish.
There's too many mines on the Navajo Nation. That can't be overlooked. If you really, really look at it, that is environmental racism.
Every single time that these guys have to deal with any kind of government entity alone, it's just -- I'm sorry -- but it's just pissing in the wind.
Din4 bik4yah bik11g00 t00ahay077 [eetsoh [eezh bi[
hadasgeed y66h t11 1k00h naazhjaa go bikeh kaooldaah. T1adoo t0 bil11h g00 d7n0h 99. Ts7d1 1h1n7 go d00 hazh00 y4ego n4l99 go d77 k4yah bik11 gi 1hoon7[7g77 bee nihi ooch99d, bee nihijodlah, bee nih1 hodooniih. Ts7d1 t11
[ash dilt4h7g77 W11shindoon nil98 nii bi[ dazh dilnish go ts7d1 doo yiitsooh da, doo1t98 dah nadleeh.
We have to get together, all of us -- Navajo EPA, U.S. EPA, NRC, people from the State, State representatives, county representatives, grassroot organizers. We all need to get together to get this all cleaned up and done properly. If that means we have to do bipartisan stuff and go to Congress, we have to do it, because it's impacting too many people for too long.
48 T11 1n7iltsoh go t47 1doon77[; Din4 Biw11shindoon EPA doooonish7g77, Kin1h1gai EPA d00oonish7g77, NRC, H0tsaago hadahasdzoh7g77, H0tsaa hada hasdzoh bi Naat1anii, !ts7s7go hadahasdzoh d00 Naat1anii danil7n7g77 d00 k4yah bik11di k44hda ha t7n7g77 t11a[tsoh t11[ahj8. K0t10 daahii diil tso[ go k4yah hasht44h dooln77[ d00 b44 nahaz1anii bikeh go 1dooln77[. T11 a[chish d66 Dzaaneez d00 B7ch99h yee adilohii bi[
neinish go ndi n7l47 Kin1h1gai di yah a diin44[ go b77ghah. H11l1 doo t11 nih7 t47 b4nei kah da, B7laasdlaii t00 ahay077 y4n1h kah go t00ahayoii n11hai.
So, please just understand that. And if you have any questions about this poster, you can come to me and ask.
T11sh00d7 d77 biki doh tx88h gonih1 n7dooh [4. D00 d77 [a sooz9 naaltsos ndtsaa go bikih naasdzoh7g77 b7na7d0[kid go shaa doh gh1[ d00 hazh00 bee nihi[ hodeshnih.
If you can go on to the next page. We had the EPA state that we were not here, and also GE stating that we were not here, before the mining had started. And yet, we have photographic proof that we were here, and pictures do not lie. So, you can read who these people are on these pictures. On some of them, you don't know. And so, you know, there's a face; there's a human being right there photographed, and they're sitting there waiting to live their lives, but they don't know what's happening to the next generation. And so, we are here now to tell you what's going on now is wrong.
N11n1 n11s g0ne naaltsos n11n1s tsooz7g77, EPA 1nihi[n7, tah doo haag4d66 d33 doo k00h k44hot98da n7t44 nihi[ n7 [ah. &nda GE d0 1k0 j7n7. 1ko k00 aheskid7g77 binaj8 477 k00h h0niidl= nitt44 go yaahalne d77 doo yooch77d da. D77 Din4 477 bizh7 da bik11 b44 daalyaa go y7n0[ta.[a
49 sh99 47 doo b44 honoh sinda. !ko nih[ b44h0zin d77 anii 477 b7laasdlaii 1daat4 k00h b44 daalyaa go; nah11zt3 iin1 yiba. N11 dooch7[7g77 477 doo b1 b44h0zinda neenij8.!ko d77 bee nihi[ hwiilne7g77 doo 1k0t4eda nidiin7, doo1l98 dah.
So, if you can go on to the next page, you can see that we're still here in the '70s and '80s. And you can see the children and uncles and aunts of mine all playing in this pile right here on Kerr-McGee. That's right here, right on the side of you guys. That's the proximity, and we're living right between two of them.
!ko, n11s n11n1, Tah dii k00h k44hwiit7 tsostsidiin d00 ts44b7diin yihah biidi. D00 kwe;4 n0[9 1[ch7n7 shim1 y1zh7 / shib7zh7 d00 shida7
/ shiy11zh k00 nidaane [eetsoh [eezh bi[ hadasgeedy66h yik11 gi d77 47 Kerr-McGee b1 oonish. !00, k00h nih77ghah g00 1t4. K00 1y77d7 yee naaki go shijaa go bita gi k44hwiit7.
And now, you actually see and feel how the community has felt for years and generations. So, this is only one day. Like my grandma said, it's one day you're here. You're experiencing this for one day. We experience this all our lives.
Ako kad, nihi[ b44h0zin sh99h j0 noo[99 doo sh99h nihitahdi 1y07sin7g77 kwe4 k44hwiit7n7g77 nin1h1h11h d00 neenij8 oochi[ go kwe4 kad 1nih0sin 7g7. Nih7 47 t11[a1j7n7 go kwe4, shim1 s1n7 / shin1l7 1n7n7 gi 1t10 nih7 477 t11[a1j7 n7 go kwe4 noo y1a go b4n1h11h. Nih7 477 n7l1d66 bi[
niilz44[ go nin1 h1 h11h.
So, if we can go to the next page, that's going to page 5.
This is the mining era from '69 to '86. And that Kerr-McGee mine, that A-frame, I grew up looking at that A-frame. It's no longer there, but I grew up
50 looking at that A-frame.
N11s n11n1, naaltsos asdla7 g0ne 1t4, d77 477 [eetsoh haageed h1t3diin d00 biaan n1h1t47 yihah d33 d00 tseeb7diin d00 biaan h1st3 gi hoolzhish7gi 1t4. !1d00 d77 47 Kerr-McGee b1 haageed. $7 deigo yaa1h7g77 A-frame, 47 n4sh98 go, yish98 go shiyaa hooa.
And you see the bottom corner picture on the right is the Red Water Pond Road. That road has been fixed because it was radiated.
And I had no idea that every day when I was walking to school, to the bus stop, which was up on top of the road, and coming back after school, all of us kids were exposed to that. And, you know, I never knew. I never realized why my legs ached, my feet ached. And now, I know.
Red Water Pond Road 47 w0yahdi noshn1aj7 go eelkid.
Atxiin7g77 477 bik11di [eetsoh [eezh bi[ haageed y66h bik11j7 sil99 go nahj8 haageed go hasht4h n1lyaa. Doondi shi[ b44 h0zin da 0lta g00 chid7[it077 nin1lt[I g00 atxiin bik11 g00 n7d7sh d11h d00 11d66 atxiin bik11 nin1h1sh d11 go [eetsoh
[eezh bi[ haageed7g77 bideezla b44 s4y1al1. D00 shi[ b44h0zin da. Shij11d da diniih
[eh shikee da diniih [eh, kad ndi shi[ b44 h0zin.
And so, this is a situation that the children of my aunts, my uncles, we didn't ask for this. And yet, we're impacted. And we didn't know.
!ko, shim1 y1zh7 / shib7zh7 d00 shida1 / shiy11zh b11[ch7n7, k0t10 bi[ haz32 doogoh doo day77keed da. !k0t4e ndi a[tsoh b44 siikai go nihitah biih dahi deezh chaal; doo nihi[ b44 dah0zin g00.
When I was a kid, I was herding sheep for my grandma.
There was no fencing at all, nothing in sight. There was no boundary.
Nobody was there to say, "Hey, you can't go here. This is dangerous."
There was nothing like that.
51
![ch7n7 nish[99 d33 shim1 s1n7 / shin1l7 b1 dib4 nanishkaad go, doo dan7ti da [17 ndi, 1din. Dooh [a bin1azti7gi da h17da doo sho d77 kwe4 doo naad1ada, b11h1dzid doo n7n7 da, doo [a bee dah azt33h da.
I herded sheep up there into the mine area. On hot days, if it rained, the pools of water that developed on the rocks, I had no idea that I was doing the same thing as Mr. Yazzie there. I was, you know, taking my drink because it was hot, and I didn't realize that.
{eetsoh haag44d g00 na nish kaad [eh 11j7, Desdoi go, Nah[tx99h go ts4k11g00 t0 deikaahgo t1111j8 t0 yishdl99h Mr. Yazzie 1n7n7 gi 1t10, j0 desdoi go biniina t11 1aj8 t0 jidl99h doo ho[ b44 h0zin g00.
So, let's go to the next page, page 6. And this is pictures from the '79 spill. You can see the dam breach where it came from the dam and went into the arroyo. And it shows you the tailings there before, and then, it shows you the arroyo after, even the color. And basically, that was the same acidity of battery acid, and there were people who waded through that water to get to their livestock. They ended up with a lot of skin conditions -- blistering, some amputations. There was no reason for something like that to happen.
Kad n11s n11n1, hast1n7 g0ne, d77 477 tsostsidiin d00 biaan n1h1st47 nan71 desh chx0sh y66 eelkid go 1t4. Nan71 desh chxosh go 11d66 t0 dahid4y6n44h koj8 bikooh g0yaa ch7n7 go. [44tsoh [eezh bi[ hadasgeed , d00 bik44d00, 7nda y66 k00h eelkid go n0[9 t0h7g77 ndi [ah go 1t4. J0 1di((id7g77 t11 chid7 bij47 biisik1n7g77 bi[ a[he[t4 go adi[id.[ash99h Din4 47 t0 yigoh go yii die y7 k11h go bil99 nahj8 k0da yiilaah. D77sh99h biniinaa [a naas9 bik1g7 bk11 g00 t0 dai[t3 d00 [a 47 bits10za bits33 nahj8 1dahash giz; ha1tiish biny4 k0t10 bee nihi doo nish d001l98 da.
52 And so, being open-minded and understanding that uranium is not the answer -- people say that uranium and nuclear energy, it's clean, but nobody is looking at the actual entire cycle of it. We are living in that very beginning cycle, and nobody sees that. So, please understand this.
T0 baanits7jitseesgo d00 bikih ji ditx88h go ndi d77 [eetsoh chii doo8[ gi dooda go t47 nih1 y11t44h niidzin ashzh3 [a Din4 b7l1 asdlaii chii diil 8[ go nig1 y11t44h, doo b22h chin da daan7i ndi. B7laasdlaii doo ts7d1 hazh00 d00 1h1n7 go dazh ne[98 da; t111t4 1t4egi. Nh7 47 kad ts7d1 1l32j8 bi[ n7ti7g77 bii neikai, ndi doo dajoo99h da. D77 biniinaa nih1 bikI dooh tx88h.
Page 7. This is, basically, the view from the top of the whole area of UNC, the milling area. And I just want to point out that, on the top of the map, there's something missing, and that's the human element right there. You're missing the community. You don't get to see that proximity of how close those houses are.
Tsosts7d g0ne si[ tsoo z7gi; d77 47 w0dah d66 eelkid UNC t111t4 haz1n7gi [eetsoh yik1h gi at4. {a go doo d77 naaltsos k4yah bikih sinil7g77 doo bik11da, j0 477 ei B7l1asdlaii b22h 1din. !kwii k44hwiit7ng77 b22h 1din. 1k0 1h1n7 go danihi ghan7g77 doo dah 98 da.
You know, I don't want to be mean, but I have to be. That's the U.S. EPA not putting that human element in the actual mapping of these locations. And it's disappointing because I thought they were there to protect us, but it looks like they're just taking away the actual human element from their project here. So, oh, I don't know.
Kwe4 shooh, kwe4 ch1h ch8 nihich8 ninish ah, j0 1k0t10 t47 bikI di doh tx99[. Kin1h1gai d66 EPA da7n77sh d66 t1adoo B7l1asdlaii d77 k4yah naaltsos bik11gi nashch227g77 yik11 1yiilaah da l1 haageed b7da
53 d44ti7g00. Dool1 d0 dooda da nisin, sh33h hanii nih33h hwii nidzin nih1 daj7ln77sh l1 ni.ndi kwe4 nijilnish d00 binijilnish7gi 477 B7laasdlaii bi[
hon71n7g00 t11doo b111ho dzi niiz99 da l1. Doo bee[ t4edah.
Let's go to page 8. So, the runoff along this Kerr-McGee mine here, there's an arroyo that goes all the way down and it goes into an area called High Blind Road. This picture shows you the erosion that happens when it rains during monsoon season.
Tseeb77j8 n11s dii kah. Kerr-McGee bi[ haz1n7gi kot10 t0 da7gh11sh kwe4. Koj7 bikooh n7l477 g0yaa, d00 n7l47 koj8 High Blind Road woly4h7j8 bikooh h77l1. !ko d77 477 y4ego daho di[tx99h go kot10 t0 [eezh yoo gh11sh [eh.
This is a picture of my husband kind of giving you some perspective on how wide, how deep, the runoff is. This is monsoon season, and supposedly, there's studies about how the rainfall here is, and everything like that, but, as you can see, my husband is standing there. And he's about the same size as me, the same height, the same build. And you can tell that that water is pretty quick flowing. So, we ask, you know, what do you see when it comes to that picture and erosion?
D77 eelkid7g77 47 shahastxiin kwe4 siz9, bikooh diego 1n7[tsoh d00 1n4[t44l7g77 binaj8 baahane doo; y4ego 1da honiil tx99h go k0t10 t0 chih n1 goh dajin7. D00 y4ego adaahonii[tx99h go naask11 hani d00 koj8 1kw77 bi[ dan7ti7g77; 1k0 kwe4 sha ahstxiin kwe4 siz9 t11 sheen7[tso, t11a[hee niil ts11z; 1k0 dah n0[98 go d77 t0 t11 y4ego dzo[ ha[, nah nih7 d7diilki[,
hash yidt;4ego noh9 d77 t0 y4ego yigoh go d00 t0 oogh1sh7gi?
So, go, then, to the next page. And that page shows you the most recent happening that happened, and this bridge was -- I ought to
54 put quotes up -- quote, "fixed." It was repaired. And then, riprap was put there to help with the erosion. And as you can see, that erosion is very evident. And you can see that all those stones, those big, giant stones, are gone. So, we're trying to pound it into you guys' heads that you don't know Mother Nature, and She's going to find a way.
N11s n11n1, D77 477 t11 1niid7 go 1 hoot99, d77 nan71 --
-kwe4 haoodz77g77 77shj11n 1desh[77[; hashte n1lyaa. Hasht4n1lyaa.
11d00 Ts4 a[tah 1 da n7[tsoh go 1kwe4 ya dajii y99h d00 n7d44dziid.1ko doo t0 1yoo oogh1sh da dajin7i go. Ndi t0 naagh11 h7g77 t11 b44 h0zin7 yee. D00 ts4 1y077 1dan7[tsoh y66h 1din aad00; j0 t0 nih7ni biij8 d77 gi 1t10 477 Niasdz11n naalnish da noh sin doo han7zin, ndi Niasdz11n 47 ts7d1 [a yil4h7g77 t11 b7 bikeh go hashteh yi[88h.
The same thing with the proposed jetty that's right in front of the mill. That area, right now, the water has started undercutting underneath the already evaporation piles. So, who are you guys to say that that's not going to continue happening again and again and again? Sure, there's studies for a hundred-year flood, you know, but it's showing you that that wasn't even 100 years. That was one day, monsoon season, it was gone.
D77 t111k0 n11n1 t4 Ts4 d00 tin bi[ yit[oh ni da jizh jaa7g77 nigh47 [eetsoh yik11 n7t47 g00 bid11h gi. 11di kad, t1177d33 evaporation--t0 n1ltsaah go bi[ haz1n7gi biyaadi ha yi[ee[ go oog11sh. Da 1ko nih7 1da dohn7, doo1k0 doo n77[ da, doo1k0 doo n7[ da da do n7i go hoolzhish doo. T11aan77 neezn1 diin t0 n7daal22h7g77 47 nidaask11 go k00h naaznil, d77 477 doo neezn1diin yihah 7g77 1t4eda go bioonish. T11 [a 1j9n7go y4ego na h00l tx33 go 1t4.
And then, the last page here has a lot of paperwork that
55 we've done. And these are the most recent ones that we've done talking about the Draft Environmental Impact Statement, the DEIS, and how we want this pause. We want the DEIS to be paused.
!1d00 d77 1k44di sinil7g77 477 naaltsos t111niid baa nish shish nish, $77 Draft Environmetal Imapct Staement yi[n7Niasd11n bik11gi naask11 h11g00 keyah baa dahasti d00 da dooldi[7g77 biniy4 naask117g77 binishshish nish go 1[ts4 ni 1dooln77[ dishn7, Nah j7 go ni doot11[ 1[ts4.
And like I said, everybody needs to be at the table to talk about what we can do that's not just safe for the community, but safe for where we want to put it. We want to have our other communities safe like us, too.
J0 1d7shn7, t111niiltsoh t11 [1h1j8 1[ah dii dleee[, d00 nabik7h y1 da diil tih, 1dooln7[7gi, 22h 33h hasin bi[ dan7ti go binahast32 go, kwe4 k44hwiit7n7g77 d00 nihi naag00 k44h daha t7n7g77 a[d0, j0 1aj7 d0 b22h1 hasin.
But I bring this up a lot. I know it's environmental racism.
We've heard about Moab getting cleaned up. They got new homes. And yet, when it came to the community asking for the same thing, it was "No."
D77 tahdii baa h1n1s diih, k4yah bik111hoon77lii bee nihi ki j8 00ch99d bee naanish b44 h0z7n7 go yidt99h go 1k0t4. Nigh477 Moab di k4yah daachx- g00 hasht44h hoolyaa go nihi[ b44 da h00zin. &nda hgohan da b1 1 n7daalyaa. K0j7 k44hwiit7n7g77 nih7 d0 1k0t10 k4yah nih7 k1oh jeeh go k4yah hasht44 dool n7[ da diiniid ndi nih7 477 dooda nihi dooniid.
So, I really want you guys to please pause it. Let us all get to that table -- community members, Navajo Nation, Navajo EPA, U.S. EPA, yourselves, DOJ. Everybody get to that table. Anybody who needs to be at that table should be at that table, and not just sitting there because they're
56 getting paid for a meeting, but to be there and be present in the moment and understanding and listening, and actually trying to resolve this situation, which has gone on far too long.
!ko t11sh00d7 d77 t111t4 ni 1dooh [77[. T11 1niit4 a[ch8 da d7n77 b88[ go; Kodi k44h da ha t7n7g77, Din4 Biw11shindoon, Din4 Biw11shindoon EPA d00 da7n77sh7g77, Kin1h1gia EPA d00 da7n77sh7g77, Nih7 d0NRC, D00 Aghadiitaahii bi[ haz1n7 doo. A[ch8 da d7 n77 b88[. H11sh99h sh7 d0 n7zin7g77 d0 atah da jiz d1a doo. T1adoo t0 hach8 azl1a go 11di dah jiz d1h7, [a d00 ho nahata d00 honits4kees beean7j7lwo go bee1ho doo n77[ii [a ha dooltsi[. D77 yee ts7d1 n7zaad bee bi[ hoolzhish.
Thank you.
Ah4hee.
MS. HOOD: Thank you very much.
MS HOOD: Ah4hee ndtsaago.
Talia?
Talia?
TALIA: (Translation of Native language spoken: Greetings, Im Talia Body, [identifies traditional Navajo clans], Gallup, NM is my hometown and Im from Tuba City, AZ.) Hello. Good afternoon, relatives.
Thank you very much for everybody who has come here today to support the Red Water Pond Road.
TALIA: (Din4 bizaad kehj7 ata hane. Y11t44h, Talia Boyd yisnishy4, [!d00ne4 baa hojolne] nan7zhoozh7, Yoot0 hahoodzoh7g77 1adi shighan T0naneesdiz7 d66 naash1). Y11t44h. Y11t44h a[n7n73 shik47.
Ah4hee t111n0[tsoh kwe4 nooy1h7g77 kwe4 Red water Pond Road gi k44hat7n7g77 bikee s00z9.
57 These issues that we are speaking about today are very much emotional, and they very much hit our hearts at the core.
Kwe4 d77j9 baayeil ti7g77 t111yis77 naii[ nah d00 ts7d1 nihi j47 bi n77 g0ne4 baa771h na nihi[n1.
I live in Gallup, New Mexico. My family lives in Church Rock, New Mexico. I'm originally from western Tó Nehel h in Tonalea, Arizona.
Nan7zhoozh7di shighan. Shish ch7inii 47 Kin {itso Sinil j7 da bighan, Eeaah d66 477 1yis77 naash1 T0nehel99h, Hozdoh hahoodzohj7.
Every day on my way to school, grade school, we passed the Tuba City disposal site; also known as "rare metals." At that time, there were no signs alarming us to the radioactive and toxic dangers, nor was it fenced or capped.
T11 dikw77j9 0lta g00 hidsihsh1a go, 1[ch7n7 nish[99 d33 d77 Tuba CityT0naneesdiz7 di [eetsoh [eezh bi[ haageed y66h noo go bi[ haz3, 47 Rare Metal go b44h0zin. &7d33 doo b11h1dzid7g77 bideezlada bee dah naazt32 da, d00 doo bin11zti da d00 doo bi[ yaaaz32 da ald0.
Children would play on that tailings pile. When they would gather, they would play on it like a sand dune when it was capped. Years later, those families were displaced and relocated, and a lot of them died from cancer.
![ch7n7 ak00h [eetsoh [eezh bi[ haageed y66h yik11 g00 nidaan4e[eh..Bikih dah ast32 go 477 1[ch7n7 kwii yik11gi s47 [eezh nahalooh nin11 daa n4[eh ne. D7kw77sh99h nin11n1 hah go d77 Din4 1kwii da bighan n7t4 y66h nahj8 h11n1, d00 l37 d77 Cancer-[00d doo n1dzihii bits33 d00 1daa din.
My family, then, moved to Church Rock, New Mexico, home
58 of the 1979 Church Rock spill, the largest radioactive spill in U.S. history to this date.
Shim1 d00 shizh44 bi[ Kin{itso sinil7j8 n7diin1 koj7 Yoot0 bi[
hahoodzohj7. !aj7 N1h1t47 ts1ada d00 biaan tsostsid d00 biann N1h1t477 yihah di nan71 d44giz y66h j7 Kin{itso Sinil b77ghah g0ne4 t0 ch7n7go go k4yah asdladiin sinil g00 t111[tsoh g00 baa dah00ne 77d33 Our homelands and our Native peoples of this land have been exploited and desecrated by the U.S. Government, the Manhattan Project, in the name of the nuclear fuel chain and the Military Industrial Complex.
Nih7k4yah d00 Bik1g7 Yisht[izhii Din44 Kin N1h1lgai d66 ts7d1 t0 niheeh naan4 d00 chi niho[9 t111y7s77 doo B7laasdlaii niidl99 g00 nihaa nits7h1kes doo 1niidl98 da t11 n7l477d66 hoolzhish d33 d77 Manhattan Project t0 bikihj8 s830 d77 nuclear fuel chain yi[n7igo d00 Miltary Industrial Complex y44h nihi kij8 bee da7n77sh.
The Dine and many other tribes, including Yakama, Umatilla, and Nez Perce, are impacted by the Hanford site. Oak Ridge has, also, many Native peoples that have been impacted. Cherokee, Sequoyah Fuels Facility has impacted our Cherokee relatives. Yucca Mountain, our western Shoshone relatives have been impacted. White Mesa Mill, our Ute Mountain relatives have been impacted. All the 11 Associated Tribes of the Grand Canyon have been impacted by the Pinyon Plain Mine. Our Kaibab Paiute relatives, our Spokane relatives from Washington State have been impacted by the Spokane Midnight Mine. Our Laguna and Acoma Pueblo peoples have been impacted by the Jackpile Mine. And our Santa Clara and other Pueblos along the Rio Grande have been impacted by the Los Alamos
59 National Labs.
Din4 d00 koj8 Bik1g7 Yisht[izhii 1[tah Din44, Yakima, Umantilla, d00 Nez Perce, Tsiilz47 b11dah1 dzidii hogha d00 nahg00 kl9l7n7g77 bee bid7 d0dl11sh go haz3. Oak Rige hooly4e di d0 kot10 Bik1g7 Yisht[izhii bee bid0dl11sh. Cherolee, Sequoyah Fuel Facillities j7 da7n77sh d00 Cherokee Din44 bee bich8 nidahwiin1h Eeaahj7 Yucca Mountain j7 nihi k47 Shoshone Din4 d0k0t10 yikeh kanakai.White Mesa j7 [eetsoh yik1h7j7 d0 N00da7 Din4 k0t10 yikeeh kanaaaki a[d0&nda [ats1adah dah yin44[ go B7k1g7 Yisht[izhii nigh47 Grand Canyon j7 Pinyon Plain Haag44d d7 g77 bee bi[ 1n7da hwiit44h sil99.
&nda Kaibab j7 nihik47 Piutes danil7n7g77 d0, Nigh47 Spokane nihik47 Washinton j7 bi[ hahoodzoh7g77 Spokane Midnight Mine woly4ego b7da di dl11sh.
T11 koj8 1n1hool1ago Laguna d00 Acoma Kinyis1anii Din44 d0 Jackpile j7 haag4d7g77 yikeh kanaakai.N7l477 g0dei Kin yis1anii Din44 Santa Clara d00 n7wosjhj8 Rio Grande bib22h g0 dei go Los Alamos bits32 doo yik;eh ka naakai.
Native Peoples, we know the cost of nuclear. We come from those front-line communities. We have been experiencing this from day one. We have been dehumanized. We have been displaced and disproportionately impacted by adverse health disparities.
Nih7 Bik1g7 Yisht[izhii niidl98nii Nuclear woly477 33h8[7n7g77 nihi[ b44 h0zin. Nih7 ts7d1 1l32j8 di bi[ k44hdahwiit9h. Ts7d1 nih7 1[32j8 b44siikai go nihi[ b44 hozin. Ts;7d1 doo aniidl98da, doo B7laasdlaii niidl98 g00 nih11 nits4 h1kees t0 nih11oodloh koji, T0 b0h0ln77h g00 nih7 doogii[ d00 T11 a[tsohn8 doo ts7d1 a[hee[t4eg00 bee nihi oonish [eh, nihi ts77s da bi ts32j8 go din44k33h gobee nihi di n4[99h [eh.
The Nuclear Regulatory Commission knows this. The U.S.
Environmental Protection Agency knows this. Yet, a blind eye is turned and
60 fingers are pointed. Why? To maintain the status quo?
Nuclear Regulatory Commission woly47 d77 bi[ b44h0zin.
Kin1h1lgai d66 EPA woly47 d77 bi[ b44h0zin. Nahj8 go da d44z99 go b7la yeeh koj8 go dah atsiih. $77 ha1t77h biniy4? J0 n7l1 d66 t11a[tsohn7 t11 1k0 daat98 goo b44 h0zin.
We are tired of deception, secrecy, and bureaucracy. We do not consent to being poisoned, sacrificed, and forgotten -- in the name of the nuclear fuel chain and the Military Industrial Complex.
K0daoh t7n7g77 b22h ch44h deekai, yooch77d, t1adool44 nanilin, d00naanish bee dawohkah d66 to nitso[tee d00 bini danohsin.Nih7 477 t11dool44 b11daha dzid7g77 bikeh kaneikai go dooda, t111k0 h1n44h go nihi di gh32 go dooda, d00 t0 nihaa hwiyoon44h go doo niidzin da d77 Nuclear fuel chain d00 Military Industrial Complex bidoh n7n7g77 binaj8 1da doh n7 d00 k0nihidil9h.
We demand justice, accountability, and transparency. For decades, my elders here have repeatedly demanded for full and proper cleanup. We want your waste, the U.S. Government's waste, off of our tribal trust lands. We are not talking about moving it over the hill and across the road. We want it away from our communities.
A[hee[ t44go k4hoo n77 [ii nidzin, 1dat98nii nib44 hohooz88h go, t11doo nanilin7 yooch77d b22h 1din go niidzin. Nin1h1h11h d33 k00h s1anii d00 hastoi k4yah d11chx0ii t11a[tsoh hasht44h dahdl44h nahg00 bik11 di d00 bii Bee Nahz1anii bikeh go b11h1dzidii b22h nahg00 1dao[44h daan77 go bi[
hoolzhish. D77 Kin1h1gai bi [eetsoh [eezh bi[ hadasgeed8g77 b1 da7n77shii t'0 yik;ih n77dzood h7g77 1t4; 47 d00 niidzin da kwe4 k4yah nih1 y7noh t37gi trust land, nahj8 k0[44h. Doo t0 nahj8 ts4naaj8 d00 dahyiskid bine d00 atxiin bitsis j8 ko[44h go 11diiniid da. Kwe4 k44hwiit98 d00 niwoshj8 0[44h.
61 We demand clean air, land, and water. We demand that our basic human rights be recognized and honored. We demand that our children are protected from deadly radioactive and toxic contaminants. We demand that our voices be heard, and that the cost for cleanup of abandoned uranium mines all across the Napeequa -Din4 Bik4yah be completely covered by the U.S. Government and not reliant on settlements to find cleanup.
N7[ chih, nihit0 d00 nihi k4yah doo b22h chin g00 niidzin, D00 B7laasdlaii nil98nii bee b1ada haz tiii beeaniidl99 go 00lzin d00 nihikihj8 yit98 doo go niidzin. Niha1[ch7n7 d0 b22h3 hasin go [eetsoh [eezh bi[ hadasgeed bideezla bits32 d00 da n7chiih7g77 t1adoo y4n1kaih7 d77 y4ego y7n7keed.
Ts7d1 nihizaad di doots7[ niidzin d00 k4ayh n1lzhoh gi b33h7l7n7g77 bini t11 Kin1h1gai d66 W11shindoon t11b7 yik4 es[11h go k4yah bik11 g00 d00 biid66 n1lzhooh doo. T1adoo 47 1t9 han7n7 47 doo hah da.
In the Southwest, we rely on our groundwater. We don't have surface water here. We need clean groundwater.
Koj8 Sh1di11h d00 $eaah j8 go k44hwiit7g77 nit[1adi t0h7g77 t47 y4ego chiil9. Doo 477 ni bik11 g00 t0 naazy88h da. Biniinaa t0 ni bit[1adi h0l0 n7g77 doo b22h chi7g77 niidzin.
The DEIS is horrendous. It's full of holes and red flags.
The example, the proposed area for that waste sits on a flood plain.
D77 k4yah bik11gi naask17g77 d00 d0 t0 baaih, Bigh1 dahasdz3 d00 baa da hastiii t00ahay077 go bitah. J0 kwe4 sho, d77 [eetsoh [eezh bi[ haageed noo1dool n7[ han7n7 gi 47 la go t0 ch44 da goh d00 t0ndtsaa go n7deigeeh.
We want to use our traditional medicines; we want to eat our traditional foods without fear of exposure, and to honor the lives of our
62 ancestors.
Nihi bee4ool88[ tahdii chiiniil9 d00 tahdii nahd66 da chiy11n n44h deid3; t11dool44 b11 da ha dzid t1adoona0 w0dl7 h7 dei d32 go niidzin, j0 d77 nihiz1z7 bee b44 h1niih go 1t4.
You are on Native land, whether you admit it or not, and we know our rights. We are not going anywhere. We are not your scapegoats.
You are violating our basic human rights, and we will not give up. You need to listen to the people.
B7k1g7Yisht[izhii bik4yah bik11gi 0ht9, doosh99h 1kw77 nohsinda ndi. B7laasdlaii bee b1 nahaz1n7g77 nihi[ b44 h0zin.. Doo h11g00 dah deekai da. Doo47 t0 nihi7dl11sh da doo a[d0.B7laasdlaii Bee b1adahaztiii go Bee Nahaz32nii kih7t77h go 1nih7[9, Ak0ndi ts7d1 doo nihikeh di d77dlee[ da.
Biniinaa nih77s s7ni[ts33.
. And as a lot of my family members here and relatives have explained -- you know, you asked, "What's the status of EPA? What are the updates?" That is appalling. Why aren't your agencies communicating amongst each other? Why do you have to come to the community to get those updates? What the heck is going on in D.C. and wherever your offices are? It's appalling. It's horrendous.
Kwe4 shik47 d00 bi[ h47j44ii bi[ b44 da h0zin k00h dahalne go, na7d7ni[kid7g77; !ko Kin1h1gai d66 47 h117 bi naanish yilwo[ d00 ha1t77sh baa naaldeeh din7. Dool1 d0sh2 da; doondi haniih a[ch8 y1 daa[ti da t11 nih7 11j7. Kodi noy1ago7nda haash hoot4 dadon7; aadi DC dish2 ha1t77sh baa nah kai, h11shdish99h nihi[ nahz32 di. T0 la doo be[t4eda t0 baaih.
You know, we need to have this planning led by impacted communities, by Native peoples that are impacted, and not this top-down
63 shenanigans that we've been seeing.
D00 d77 1yis77 k44hda ha t7 bi[ hon71n7 g77 y4ego dasdi[7g77 1[32j8 Y1 da nah11zt32 go be[t4, t11 a[tsoh B7k1g7 Yisht[izhii nil7n7g77 y4ego das di[7g77, t11 1ko doo bi[ b44 h0zin7g77 n7l47 d66 w0dah d66 yaago yid a dilnish.
Nuclear, again, is not green or clean. We have to recognize that it is a very carbon-intensive process, the whole nuclear fuel chain from the front end to the back end. We are from the front-end part of it -- from the mining, the milling, the transportation all the way to the reactors.
Nucleart11dool44 be a[n77gi dah n11tiihg77, 477 d00 y11t44h da doo nih7 d7neeln1ada. J0 t111yis77 bee dook33[gi bilid nehel44h7g77 bil11h, d77 nuclear bee yish taazh7 bitsii tsiin d00 n7l47 bitseej8, doo nih7 d7 neeln1hda. J0 nih7 47 bil11j8 1hoon7[7g77 bii neid1, H1ageed doo, d00 yik1h7g77, d00 hidi geeh gi n7l47 j8 di doo k33[j8.
Almost all uranium mining has happened in the Western States. We know that. We know New Mexico and the Grants Mining district is rich in uranium. We also know that our relatives in Wyoming are also being targeted. Our sacred mountain in Mount Taylor is being targeted. There is the Roca Honda Mine that is still being proposed.
Koj8 eeaah nh0sa j7 t477 [eetsoh hadaag44d go hoolzhish; d77 nihi[ b44 h0zin.nihi[ b44 h0zin Yoot0 haadzoh d00 Grants bi[ n1h0sa di [eetsoh t00ahay077 go h0l=. Wyoming bi[ hahoodzoh d0 nihik47 bich8 n1hodichi. &nda dzi[ da diyinii Tsooh dzi[ da bik44ho diiniih haag44d biniy4. {a Roca Honda woly4e go haag44d binaha t1.
When our sacred landscapes are desecrated, that has a direct impact on the psyche of Native peoples and hinders our ability to heal
64 from those places. And it decimates the integrity of those areas. We rely on those spaces to heal. We have been here since the beginning. We have regenerative relationships with the natural world. Our land does not speak English. It recognizes Native languages and love, and that's what is needed here.
Nihi k4yah daho diyin go naaznil n44h doo ho[ da7l99g00 nidaji[
chxooh, k0t10 ts7d1 nih7ni d00 nihij47 bidiiti go nidajii[ chxooh bee hada[t4 nei dlee[ y66h. T11 1yis77 k00h k4yah diyin go bi[ nahaz32 g00 a[tsoh nihits33 da jii[ chxo go t0 kot10 bi[ nahahz3. B44 hada[t4 bee 1n1 a[hii dziil y44h. K00h ts7d1 1[ts4 k44hwiit98 go hodeshzhiizh. K0t10 niasdz11n d00 b7laashdlaii chi ahool9 n7l47 d33.D77 k4yah doo Bilag1anaa bizaad kehj7 y1[ti da. Bik1g7 Yisht[izhii bizaad d00 beayooi 00ni t47 yidiitsatsid1 477 kwe4 [a h0l-0 doo y66h.
We do not consent to waste transport or dumping. We have a lot of qualms with the transportation routes. We know that it's shipped through rail and major freeways. We know that there's been accidents in the past.
{eetsoh [eezh bi[ haageed66h doo nihitah g00 hidigeeh d00 yahiigeeh da doo go dooniidzin da. Dan7txiin g00 t11dool44 b11 da hadzidii doog44[ go y4ego baasiiti. Nihi[ b44h0zin go 477 k- bee ob2sii d00 1yis77 tsxi[
go ni daajeeh j7 k0t47 naag4h. D00 l37da baahasti7g7 1dahoon77[ k00h dan7txin bik11 g00.
We also know that the so-called new science can also be broken, right? It's not forever. But this waste is a forever problem. My children will have to deal with this. All of our children will have to deal with this.
65 T11dool44 1niid7 nib44 dadist32 nii; -science woly47 d0 [ah da k44l t=h, t11sh 1k0t4? Doo t11 b44 deet1n44 gi 1daat4eda ya ? D77
[eetsoh [eezh bi[ hadasgeed7g77 477 hool1ag00 bideezla h0l=- go bee an1hwiit44h. ![ch7n7 t111t4 yii ni n11n1l deeh goo n11s di.
We are all impacted by the nuclear fuel chain. On the Western States are all the reactors. The state with the most nuclear reactors is Illinois.
D77 nuclear fuel chain woly47 t111niitsoh bee nihi disdi[. Bee da dook33[7g77 koj7 eeaah nah0sa j9 y4ego choo9. Illinois hooly4edi ts7d1 l37 bee [eetsoh da deek22h.
What do they do when they're done with all that waste?
They try to ship it back here. That's why we have Holtec. We have WIPP.
Haash dazh dool77[ d77 [eetsoh biba t47 sil99 go? Koj8 daats7 nin7 n11 da j7geeh? Hol;tec d00 WIPP biniy4 1n11 dajiidlaah.
You know, New Mexico is a sacrifice state. We recognize that, too. We've seen all parts of it -- the mining, the milling. We know Sandia has a research reactor. We know all of these things.
Yoot0 hahoodzoh7g77 t11 nahd66 t00ahy007 k4yah t0 da jii[
chxo goo hon73 d77j7idi t111k0t10 b44 hoid7lzin. T111k0t10 nihi[ b44 da h0zin a[d0 hadaageed d00 [eetsoh daak1ago. Sandia di a[d0 [eetsoh bee dilk3 bee da h0l0o go nihi[ b44 da h0zin.; d77 t11 1t4 nihi[ b44 da h0zin.
We're asking you to please listen to us. Hear us. We are tired of pleading with federal agencies who have continually turned a deaf ear to us. We demand justice.
Da nihi di dooh ts7[ niidzin t11shood7. Di dooh ts7[. B22h yee ch44h deekai Kin1h1gai d66 1daa ni daiiniik22h go ts7d1 tah doo nihi diits77h
66 da. A[hee[t4ego k44hodin44h bee nih1 y7niikeed.
(Translation of Native language spoken: Thank you.)
(Din4 bizaad kehj7 ata hane. Ah4hee)
MS. HOOD: Very powerful.
MS HOOD: Dool1 d0 bidziil go haoodzii da.
Kravin, you're up next.
Krayin ni naa hoolzhish.
MR. KEYANNA: Hello. My name is Kravin Keyanna, and I used to live here five years ago.
MR. KEYANNA: Y11t44h sh7 47 Kravin Keyanna yishnishy4, asdla n11hah d33 k00h shighan n7t44.
My parents moved all of us kids -- me, my little sister, and my big sister -- all due to the uranium from there and, basically, over there as well. We were, basically, cornered in between, pinned down, and everywhere we went was, basically, near the contamination waste and in the ditches; we'd go in there.
Nihish ch7inii 1[ch7n7 niidl98 nii, sh7 d00 shi shideezh7 d00 sh1d7, kod00 t11 [eetsoh bideezla bits1 daaz chiih 7g77 biniinaa ko d00 nidiin1, t11 nahaz1n7g77 bits1 daazcji go biniinaa. Jo bitagi nihighan go. Naaneijaah g00 bikooh g0yaa da t11 1k0t4.
And I was looking at a map a while ago today, seeing that some of the contamination was where we mainly played. We were in it, knew it, sometimes fell deep in it. And on rainy days, we'd all play outside just because, if there's enough room, we'd find a little, tiny pond, and then, we'd swim in it. It was crazy.
K4yah biki sinil7g77 d77j9 n4sh99 n7t44 ts7d1 agh1 ni dei
67 n4h66h g00 [eetsoh [eezh bi[ hadasgeed7g77 naazh jaa l1 go baa1ko niiz77; bii nidas siine, [ahda y4ego biih n7dei t[ish go. Nida ha[txingo 47 t[0odi t0 bii ni d47 na ]eh.
And it kind of makes me frustrated because I love home.
This is where I like to be. It's quiet, no fussy neighbors like at home now. I can't be loud or run outside, because when we did, there was a little spot; when we moved, we'd play out there, and then, we got in trouble for it because it wasn't property -- it wasn't even their property in the first place. But we got in trouble. They fenced it off and it was kind of unfair.
Doo shi[ y11t44h da n7diin1n8g88, kwe4 shighan go shi[
n7zh0n7. K00h shighan go shi[ nizh0n7. Hodeesyeel d00 h11g00sh99h hahoo1ada n7l47 di shighan n7di 1hoot4h7gi 1t10. Doo dazdil wosh da kwe4 d00t[0o go baa h0ch8 da. Kwe4 47 [ahgo t111ko nidei n44[eh n7t44; n7diin1ago t[0d di nidein4e go t111ko d77 doo nihik4yah da nihi dinih. J0 h0d0 d77 k4yah doo hak4daayah da. !ad00 bin7 dajisti 1ko doo 1k0t4eda nisin.
And basically, everywhere we played, it would be with my nieces, uncles, and aunties, nephews, and we'd all gather, play in the ditches.
It rained, basically, every day.
K00 47 nidien4e go t111niit4; shim2 y1zh7 / shib7zh7, shida1 / shi[ naaas, t111niitsoh bikooh g00 yaa nidein4e[eh, nih1daha[tx88h go.
And moving away from them was hard for me, knowing that I couldn't see them as much as I used to. Because sometimes it would be every weekend I'd see them, every day after school. And then, ever since we moved, I would always ask my Grandma Jackie, because she was still there at the time, and then, I'd ask to sleep over, because, then, all my favorite cousins, uncles, and nieces were there. And we'd all still hang out. We'd
68 go up in the mountains, in the ditches, multiple areas.
N7diin32 go doo shi[y11sh00 da, shik47 doo t11 d7kw77 j9 dash 99 g00. {ah da t477 dam00 go nides44h, doo nidaiitah go da. N7diin1a d00 w0sh d66 shim1 s1n77 / shin1l7 Jackie, tah 1adi bighan go, 11di iidesh hosh bidishn7igo; j0 1adi 47 1[ch7n7 1h1n7 go da shik477g77 1adi h0l=a[h7 nei kah go nigh47 g00 dzi[ g00 da, chaa g00 da bikooh g0yaa da neikai [eh.
And I never knew that contamination was so far out where we used to play. And it was kind of crazy knowing that now, that I could also be affected, even as well as my nieces and nephews.
Ndi doo shi[ b44h0zin da d77 [eetsoh bideezla y4ego h0tsaago b44 h00chx- l1 go. T0 bikeh d4sziz; b44 s4y1a sh99h nisooh, doo koj8 d77 shik47 1[ch7n7 bi[ da nish[7n7g77.
And it also affected my mother's health, too, as well, a lot.
She had many miscarriages, except for me and my little sister. And it kind of makes me sad, knowing that I could have had a little brother, and maybe a lot more. And it was very hard knowing that miscarriage is also a side effect due to uranium. And we were just -- I don't know; it was crazy.
Shim1 d0 biho di[ ti, d7kw77 dish sh99h bits3ha7744[. T11 nih7t477y1 shideezh7 bi[ nihidizhch9. T0 baa sh7ni [eh, shid44zh7 da shitsil7 da n11 hodoodlee[ n7t66 gi. D77 [eetsoh bideezla k0t10 ih naalnish go 1t44l1.
And then, moving away, I was just 11. I was still a child.
And I consider myself someone, even though I'm 16. And I still want to go outside, but we can't do any outdoor stuff in town because there's rules, curfews. Not much out there to do besides sit at home and just weep there.
Kod00 n7dii1ago, [ats1adah shin11hai, kad 47 h1t33 tsaadah shhin11hai, tad nos44[. Tahdii t[00d nash1a go shi[ y11t44h , Kintahdi 47 Bee
69 Nahaz32 d00 bikeh go1daal7n7g77 h0l=0 go doo y11shooda. T0 hoghan g0ne t47 agh1, doo y11shooda.
And then, every time I have a chance out here, I always try and take as much as I can, locate it. Because I know we stay in town way too long, and I hate it because I love home. It's probably the best ones.
Kodi n7n1hash d1ago ts7d1 [37go bee anishtah go 77nisin,
[a1[y007 g00; Kintahdii [37 nida nihiil k11h, ndi kodi 47 1yis77 shi[ y11hoot4h.
Ts7d1 shi[ h0zh0n7.
What I also miss about being home is being home like with your Grandpa Peterson. We used to all, every time we'd wake up, we always put on SpongeBob or something like that, and then he'd cook us breakfast.
It was the best. And I miss that a lot. And now I just wake up to bougie stuff now. No more potatoes and beef and tortillas, none of that anymore.
J0 kwe4 shighan go 477 shichei / shin1l7 Peterson bi[ hoghan di a[hi[ h0niidl=Kw44 nihighan d33 bighan di 1b7n7 go ts44dei dzi d00 naalkidi SpongeBob nih1 yikeh neigis d00 nih1 chiy11n ayi[88h, d00l1 do sh2 shi[ nizh0n7 da 47 d00 b4 h1s11h. Kad 477 t0 H117 sh99h bikeh go danihighan kintah di. B11h nim1sii bi[ yis disgo y66h 1din.
But it was kind of hard moving because I miss my grandpa.
And it was all due to this waste that's around us. We're basically surrounded.
And I want to be home again. That's all I can say.
Y4ego shichei b1h1s11h kod00 n7diin1a d00; j0 d77 [eetsoh
[eezh bi[ hadasgeed7g77 nihi n1z1h7g77 biniinaa kodzaa. Hoghan di n7desh d11[
nisin. T111k0d7.
And I'm sure, for all of us that's sitting up here and back there, I mean, I'm sure that we all want the uranium waste moving offsite.
70 T11sh99 1nii[tsoh {eetsoh [eezh bi[ hadas geed7g77 bideezla bi[ kod00 n1hg00 adoog44[ niidzin.
Thank you.
Ah4hee.
MS. HOOD: Thank you very much, son.
MS HOOD: Ah4hee shiy11zh.
Now I would like to call on someone from Pipeline Road, Tony Tom.
Kad 477 [a nigh477 Pipeline Road d66 nagh1h7g77 kod00 n1halne doo. Tony Tom.
MR. T. TOM: (Translation of Native language spoken:
Greetings, Im Tony Tom, [identifies his traditional Navajo clans]). Tony Tom is my name from the -- my grandmother and my grandfather were here. I've been living here for 66 years. My grandma passed away in '96. She was 85.
MR. T. TOM: (Din4 bizaadj7 ata hane. Y11t44h, sh7 47 Tony Tom yinishy4. [1doone4 yaahalne]). Tony Tom yinishy4.---shim1s1n7 d00 shicheii k00h h0l=- n7t44. T11 k00h shighan go h1t1diin d00 biaan h1t33h shi n11hai.
Shim1s1n7 tseeb7diin d00 biaan asdla bin11hah go 1din, N1h1st4diin d00 biaan h1st33h d33.
And (audio interference) parents and me, we lived (audio interference) to be 90-plus. So the area right there is probably more than 200 years resident. But on the map it seems like nobody was out there.
That's you guys up in (Translation of Native language spoken: Maybe that is why the mines were opened here because it seemed no one live within the vicinity, my notion.). have a great gift that God gives us. We don't ever say
71 thanks opening our eyes in the morning. That's a gift. I didn't see you all this morning, so now I'll say good afternoon. And all four corners (audio interference) thank you. Thank you for -- Commissioners, thank you for listening each and every word.
D00 (audio Interferencedoo diitsadah) shinm1 d00 shizhe4 bi[ danihighan (audio Interferencedoo diitsadah) N1h1t4diin d00 n7woshj8.
K00h da hoghan7g77 sh99h naaki neezn1 diin d00 niwodi n11h1h d33 kwe4 k44h da hoj7t9. Ndi k4yah naaltsos k4yah bik11gi naashch227g77 47 doo da hoghan7da nahaloo yaahalne. J0 nih7 47 (Din4 bizaad kehj7 ata hane. Doo daaats7 k00h dah hoghan da nahalin g00 biniinaa hadaasgeed;, t0 nisin). D77 diyin nihei n7l1h7g77 doo ah4hee dii n7i da 1b7n7 go ts4 neidzi go, d77 bee nihaa ha jooba 1t4. T0 y11t44h a[n7n73 nihi di desh ni[ h11l1 ab7n7 d33 doo nihi[ts32 da. D00 taa d99g00 adahwish 1a go (audio Interferencedoo diitsadah) ah4hee. Commissioner ah4hee ts7d1 t11[a7 saad deiy7l ts7d7 g77 n1ho[11h y77ts7n0[ ts33 go.
I know you guys sitting there looking at your clock. How much time these guys have left? We have a lot of time. We'll be saying this duplicating words. It hurts. And you guys got nice clothes on. As soon as you get home, get in your vehicle, you can throw them away. Today is a gift.
You all witness what the weather looks like. God said this is what they live through. This is what they ate; drank water. Full of clothes that dirt. That's how we lived it. Like I said, 66 years of this.
H11g00sh99h aad66 oolki[ n7da n0[88h go nah7tso t3.
H11n7zah l1 b1n11h1st3 n0h sin go sh99h 1t4. T11 sh99h [1h1 g0n4 t47 y1dei y7 n77l t44h doo ndi.Bike neezgai. Nihi 44 danizh0n7 yee go bee tsood1. T11 chid7 biih wooy1a go hoghan di n1 nohdz1a go nah g00 adooh ni[, nihi44D77j9
72 d77 1hoot4h7g77 bee nihikih josdl77. Kodi 1hoot4h7g77 wo[ts3. Diyin 1nihi[n7, d77gi1t10 dabighan nihi[n7; d77 yi[ daay3, d00 t0 yi[ die dl3 nihi[
n7.Bi44 kot10 yii naazhjee n7. Iiiaah, n1hi diz77d d00 bi[ nin1h1h11h, k0t10 shi[ hool zhish h1t1diin d00 biaan hat44h n11 hah.
Where are we going with this? It's kind of like living in heaven. There used to be ore trucks running down the road. The ore's flying out the highway from here to Grants. Now we're kind of living in hell.
What are we going through, you know? So people are right. What hurts.
And who's going to pay for it? We lost a lot relatives, maybe due to this. But people say I don't think so.
H11g00sh yidtih7g77 1t4? Tah n1hd66 t11 y4ego y11hoot44hgo nihi[ haz3, chid7 t11[a7go atxiin bik11g00 ooy44[ [eh ne, n7l477 Grants g0yaa bii d00 [eezh hahas11[ go. Kad 477 t0 baaih, h11sh y7dt4ego k0t4?
Din4 t11an77 1daan7. Bikediniih. H47 477 yik4 ni dool44h go? Nihik477 t00ahay077 nihi ts33 1daa din, d77 daats7 bits32 d00 1t4. Dooda sh2shin n11 han7i go doo b44h0zin da.
So, you know, like they said, please listen. But I'm pretty sure that you guys got something in your pocket to take home. And living in New York or California totally different than living here. And you witness it now today. It is hard. It is hard to see somebody -- you know, I went to school with Larry, Annie, and Peterson, you know? Conditions of how some us look like, 60-plus years. It's something that we got to deal with. I mean, there's grandmas here, there's infants here, you know? It is really hard.
T11shood7 danih77ts7n0[ ts33 kwe4. Kod00 n10]44h dooh7g77 sh99h [a nihizaazis biih naazh jaa. N7l477 New York d00 Californai di haghan go kodi nihi ghan8g77 doo bi[ 1[h22h da. K00h d77j9 da no[99. Nanit[ah.
73 D77 Larry, Annie, d00 Peterson bi[ da77[ta d77j98 di h1at4diin n11h1ah bii deedz1a go nanit[ah go nihitahdi bich8 1n7da hwiit44h daazl99. Bee 1n1hwiit44hii t11 nih7 l1 keeh sil1, nanit[ah. K00h am1s1n7, k00 aw44 bitah nil1, jin4[ 98 go b1 nanit[ah d00 diniih.
So where are we going? Which way are we going is what we're saying. And we're trying to have these people listen to us.
(Translation of Native language spoken: It is truly difficult.) It's been going on. I see Red Water Pond marching down the road and lot of us did work didn't have time to seem like it. It's our fault. It's my fault for maybe coming here once in a while. My uncle used to show up quite a bit, but back in June he passed away. So lot of these leaders (Translation of Native language spoken: are now deceased). Even in our chapter houses. I spent two years with these -- I'll do this (Translation of Native language spoken: to entice us).
Two years is over. Nobody says hey, boo.
H11g00 l1 deekai? D77 baayeilti7g77sh h11g00 deeztI7g77 1t4? Kod00 Din4 nah11zt1n7g77 da nih77s7n0[ ts33 bidiin7 (Din4 bizaad keh j7 ata hane. Ts7d1 y4ego nih1 nanit[ah go 1t4). T0 bi[ hoolzhish. Red Water Pond Road gi k44hat98nii k00h n11n1 kah [eh, [a nidielnish go doo nih1 da b77gha g00 t0 1k0n11 t4e[eh. T11 nih7 77t9 doo koj8 nideikai da. Shida7 / shilnaaash t47 t11 y4ego kodi n1d11h n7t44 nigh47 Yaiishj11sh chil7 y66h d33 1din sil99; l37da nihi nanit1anii (Din4 bizaad kehj7 ata hane. Nihaa n11hidiily1). T11 n7l477 T11 Sinil7 di ndi t111k0t4. Naaki n11hai sh7 k0 deeshn7[ han7n7g77 (Din4 bizaad keh j7 ata hane. T0 bee nihi yahoog44s biniy4) Naaki n11hai, doo ndi shoh n7n7 da.
Our president, thank you (Translation of Native language spoken: that you are among us here). It used to be chairman (Translation of
74 Native language spoken: what we called our past leader). They change that.
Our first lady -- our grandma's the first lady. So thanks for showing up and thanks for coming.
Nihi naanit17, ah4hee (Din4 bizaad kehj7 ata hane. K00h nihaa y7n7y1a h7g77 ). Chairman dadiin77 n7t44 nahd66. (Din4 bizaad kehj7 ata hane. Nihi naat1anii nahd66) [ahgo1lyaa. Nihi m1s1n7 47 11j7 first lady nil9.1ko ah4hee nih47n7y1.
And lot of info. Like I said, I live over here 66 years and where -- I don't know how old you guys were in '79. Where and how all this started. My grandparents used to be a permittee holder, right on this side of the fence here. Cattle. Sheep. That's what is was for. Never knew this is going to be happening. They live right where the mill was. Somehow one day plan goes chapter settles. Okay. You all have to move. Where do we move? Right across -- right across.
T00 ahay007 a[tah baa hane7g77. J0 1d7shn7 k00h h1t3diin d00 h1t11h shi n11hai kwe4 shighan go. Tsosts7diin d00 biaan n1h1t47 yihah d33 sh99h dikw77 nih44 d11hai. H1166 sh99h d00 h1d33 sh99h haalwod. Shim1 s1n7 /
shicheii & Shin1l7 asdz11n d00 hastxiin kwe4 Dib4 binaaltsos dah yo[tsos n7t44 d77 an7ti binaa g00; b44gashii. Dib4 b1. Ts7d1 doo k0 hoo doon7[ niidzin da.
Ts7d1 n7l477 [eetsoh dak1h7gi hoghan n7t44. Tah n7t44; [aaj9 T11 Sinl7 yi[
a[gha d44t3. H1g00sh99h. Nahj8 adhi dooh n44[ ho dooniid. H11g00sh da diin4[?
N7woshj7 tsenaaj7 go, tsenaaj7 go Promises were made. Electric. Good road. Never happened. Never happened. They moved. Never happened -- nobody looked at them. They live way back in there. The only road was up the road here, across and over the hill along the ridge. So things like that we went
75 through.
H11g00sh99h nihi yah dahwisgiz. B44sh [ichiii, chid7 bitxiin y11t44hii; t1adoo ndi 1dzaa da, t1adoo ndi 1dzaa da. {a aheez n1. t1adoo ndi 1dzaa dadoo n1t33 n7 dazh n44l99 da1din. N7l447 di hoghan 1n7daalyaa.
Atxiin n7g77 477 d77 k00 1txiin7g77 ts4nah d00 y7lkid bitsis, d00 y7lkid bik11 g0ne. 1k0 dah00t88d.
So lot of chapters was involved, but I heard somebody say nobody came around. These mines came through here without even waking us up. We just know there was drilling like a carnival here. They had lights on Big Reds. They leave their pond behind. Lost sheeps, cattles. I mean, it was a rough life.
L37da T11 Sinil7 y44 atah daan7, ndi [a 47 doo [a7 T11 Sin7l7 11di n7y1ada daan7. T1adoo ts44 niidzid {eetsoh haa g44d nihi[ yah 77y1al1. T0 h11 g00sh99h daan4 bi[ ninin1h nahalin go [ee dadil tsas go nihi[
b44h0zin. Ndtsaa go dadilt[i go. T0 choo9 n44h t11 1k00h naazy88h go bits32 j8 dadah dii n1. Dib4 d00 b44gashii t0 yoo 1hek11h go, t0 doo44h0zin g00 hooa.
But all a sudden these mines came up. So we got to go somewhere with it in a better way and with some handshaking. I mean, that's the only way to solve it. Other than that it's a ongoing thing.
T11doo hoooy1n7 tah n7t44 haag44d bi[ 221n11hool yaa.
!ad00 7nda haadei t7dt4ego y11t44h j7 go 1doon77[ biniy4 t0 1[ l1ke doonii.
J0 k4 bi[ n7tIj7 t47 be[t4; doo t0 bi[ had7n7t44h da.
And I appreciate you all coming. I know gas is high now and roads are smooth. And thank you all (Translation of Native language spoken: to everyone that showed up here at the meeting). And ladies here, thanks for showing up. We really -- well I kind of knew what was going on
76 here, but really not paying attention because just head home and -- and this is part of my fault, not coming to the meetings and maybe hang with Larry like we did back in high school.
Nihaa1h4nisin kwe4 no y1h7g77. Chid7 bitoo da7l98 ndi 1txiin 47 bik11gi azkaad; Ah4hee nihaa y7n7y1. (Din4 bizaad kehj7 ata hane.
Kwe4 1[ah aleehgi ni hisoh kai h7g77 ) S1anii k00h noo y1h7g77 d0 baaah4hasin.
T0y0 t11 baaako nisin ndi doo kwe4 nihaa n1sh d11h da, j0 477 t1ash7 1sht9.
Nigh47 Larry da bi[ a[hi[ n1 hojilnih sh99 1t10 77n77lta y66h gi 1t10.
I'm going to tell on you, ( ) Larry.
Larry naahodeshni.
Where's Annie, too? I want to tell on Annie, too.
H11j9 Annie? Nid0 nahodeshni.
(Translation of Native language spoken: Thank you.) I thank you. Although just kind of make it short and sweet and hopefully we can get somewhere with this. Hopefully. And like I said, I was -- my parents were a permittee holder. Grandparents was a permittee holder back there.
And where am going with that now?
(Din4 bizaad kehj7 ata hane. Ah4hee ). Ah4hee. ![ts7s go ndi t11 daats7 hashteh doon77[. Shim1 d00 shicheii t11a[ah dib4 binaaltsos da yo[tsos n7t44 kwe4.
I went to the ranch meeting. I was going to ask if they had something available that maybe you all can have in -- to get into the ranch.
My cattle needs to live somewhere, too, you know? And we all go to -- like the McDonald, to go to Lotaburger, steaks. So that's part of our revenue.
So I need to go somewhere with my family there, too. So you know, I'd like to say please think about that.
77 J0 d77 47 t11sh7 [ah go shil99 b44gashii b1 doo nisin go1d7shn7. H11j8 da shaa nahaniih doo McDonald da Lota Burger da d00 B44gashii bits8 1daat47. Bee b4eso 1l98 doo biniy4. Sha1[ch7n7 bee 1t4edoo biny4 1d7shn7, biniinaa nih1 nidi doo[44[.
And thank you. Thank you for showing up. And I'm going to go ahead and introduce my brother. My other uncle didn't show today, so I'll go ahead and introduce my brother Sider representing Pipeline over here up the road. So thank you. You all have a good evening. We'll see you all tonight again. Will we have room for this many over there?
Ah4hee. Ah4hee noy1h7g77. D00 kod00 shilah nihi ch8 b44 hodes z88[. Shi[ naaash 47 t1adoo n7y1a da 1ko shilah kooh Sider woly4 a[d0 Pipeline Road d66 sh99h y1 n7y1a doo. !ko ah4hee, nizh0n7 go sh99h nihee ada doo11[. D77t[44 sh99h n11daa hii dil tse[. T11sh niheeh h0n7[tsoh 11di? T00aho niiyoi.
Sider? Sider?
Thank you. (Translation of Native language spoken:
THANK YOU!) Ah4hee. (Din4 bizaad kehj7 ata hane. AH$HEE.)
MR. S. TOM: I didn't know I was going to say something, but my other uncles didn't show today. So they're in meetings and they're a part of the chapter councils, too. So they have meetings also.
MR. S. TOM: Doo ndi hadesdzih da nisooh niy1. Shi[ naaash 477 doo niy1ad, 47 d0 T11 Sinil7 j7 binaanish 47 sh99h y22h doo n7y1a da.
But we grew up here in this area and I'm back there with my brother Tony from Pipeline Road. And you know, everybody talks about this land here. And why? Why did that dam break? Why did that dam break?
You guys know why it broke?
78 Kwe4 na h0sa gi nihi yaada hazl99 shilah bi[ Tony nigh47 Pipeline Road d66 77t9. D77 kwe4 k4yah s83n7g77 baa y1 deel ti Ha1t77sh biniy4 ? Nan71 dee gizh7 giish sh2? Ni hi[ b44 da h0zin 477 nan71 dee gizh7gi.
The reason why that dam broke, he just said right there, his grandparents used to lease that land where that mill is set. They used to live across on the south side. That's where we used to get your drinking water.
From there to where we live. That was our drinking water. And when they shut that down, we had to go to Gallup to get our drinking water.
J0 biniinaa nan71 deegizh7g77 47 baah00ne shim1s1n7 1kwii dib4 y1 naaltsos dah yo[tsos n7t44 jin7d77 [eetsoh dak1h n7t47gi. $7 bish1di1ah j7 go dabighan n7t44.!1d00 47 nihit0 1deil9 nihi ghan j8. J0 1ad00 47 t111yis77 nihi t0 h0l0- n7t44. $7 11j7 bidadeel k11l go N7l47 Nan7zhoozh7 d66 t0 1n11deel9h.
But that dam and that area there was traditional -- they used to do a lot of traditional ceremonials there for winter and summer. Right there where that dam's at, in that area of that dam. And that's a sacred place, too, that mountain itself. When they were trying to round up all the Navajos they used to hide up there and they used to say a lot of prayers up there. And right before that, that place, that -- before that water ended there used to be a burial ground there. There's some infants that were buried there from that
-- the elders that used to live there. So why? Now you guys know. Now you know why that dam broke and caused chaos through here. It was through -- it happened.
!kw77 nah0sagi hat11l dandts1ah7g77 1n7daal88h n7t44 haigo d00 sh98 go 477 nan71h7gi; ts7d1 nan71 bi[ haz1n7gi 47 hodiyin go haz3 d00 dzi[ s81n7gi t111t4 hodiyin go 1t4. Nah honidzood d33; 1k00h nihi
79 Din44 n7dad7n7 t99h n7t44 d00 l37 sodidzin a[tah 1t4ego bee hadaisdzii go bee hodiyin. Ts7d1 47 nan71 1lyaa h7gi d0 y00 1daalne n7 t44. {a t1h aw44 1daat4ego akwe4 da hoghn n7t4h7g77 beaw44 go d0 akwii nah Ha1t77sh biniinaa doh n7n7g77 477 d77 biniinaa 1k0 dza. Bi[ haz1n7gi.
And here, even here, these mountains. When Annie was talking about her prayers -- see these mountains, the mesas, those are breasts of this earth. And that's who we pray for and who we talk to in the mornings. And there's a lot of areas in this area that are used traditionally.
Right here in this area. Even where we live right up on top of this mesa here.
Right where that second mine shaft there's a lot of herbs there that we used to use. And they told us to leave it. And they promised us. People will come over and promise us.
T11 koo ndi, d77 kooh dzi[ da n7 1h1 g00 dahodiyin. Annie 1hn7 sidiszin go n7; d77 dzi[ d00 dzi[ dan7k1n8g00, 47 Niasd11n bibe 1daat4.
$77 bi[ sidiilzin, bidah die ghal go nihi sodizin bii d00 bi[ da n7tigo 1b7n7 go bee sodiilzin. K00h nahosa g00 l37 kot10 diyin go hon732 go chiiniil9 k00h. D00 n7l11h j8 go dzi[ da n7k1n7j8 go bik11di da nihighan j8 go da. Ak44d66 han111g4d n7t4 66h g00 47 chil azee t00ahay077 h0l0 n7t44 t1adoo chii yino[9n7 nihi dooniid. T0 bee nihi ya hoo giz. T0 kot20 nihi[ yahe k1ah nihi y1 da hoo giz d00 nihi ni daalo.
Yes, we're going to build you that -- leave that hogan alone.
It's contaminated. Because I built that when I was 16 years old with my grandpa. And he -- they told us to leave that alone and get out of there. So this day. But 25 years now it's just sitting there waiting for somebody to come over and build our hogan that I built and build a new one there. And it's just sitting there. They said it's full of radiation. And a house that sits next to it
80 is the same thing, too. So they told us to move out. But nothing's ever been done.
D77 nih1 1da diiln7[11j7 dooda nahj8 hanooh. {eetsoh bideezla bin77 d77chxaal l1 han00h. H1st33h ts1a dah shin11hai go shicheii hoghan bi[ 77sh[aah y66h. kodi hoolzhish di naadiin asdla n11hai tahdii t0 s832 go biba [a 7n7dooln77[ bee haoodzi y66h ch44h n10 w0dl9. T0 s83. {eetsoh bideezla bin77 d77chxaal l1 han00h. Kin [a b77ghah gi s83 47 d0 kot4 han7.
Nahj8 nihidin7i go, doo haadei t4ego 1n44h da d77j98 di.
We been told, hey, yeah, we're going to help you people out, this community, all of us that live here. Nothing's been done. They just made their money and off they went and left us with nothing.
Aoo, nih7 k11diijaah nihid7n7i go, kwe4 k44hwiit7n7g77, t11an77l tsoh. !din tah doo 1n44h da. T0 11j7 bib4eso 1dayiilaa d00 n7l1g00 daazl99 kodi nih7 477 1din.
But you know, I say this, when you work in these mines, there's 524 mines, uranium mines still that are not claimed. And people come over and say hey, that's -- let's just work on this one area and cement
-- put cement on it and just cover it up. Why don't you just -- this is an idea for you guys: Why don't you guys take it to one whole place and take care of it all at one time instead of having it in all different areas? And people complaining to you and saying hey, you know, do that for an idea. Make something up where it can be all in one place, not in different areas where people will complain. Put it in one area. And that's all I have to say.
J0 b44h0z7n7 go, d77 hadaag44d gi nijilnish go, asdla di n44zn1diin d00 bi;aan naadiin d99 g0 kot10 bi[ hon73 nihi k4yah bik11gi, t111t4 [eetsoh [eezh bi[ hadas gee d8g88 at4 t0 biki ho noodzood go nahaz3.
81 T11[17go ts4 n11dl44[7 bi[ yaa ni doot1[ binida diil nish hanooh.Doh hanii t111t4 t11 [ahj8 t11[1h7gi a[h2 0[44h go k4yah n1sh00h dah. T1adoo t0 dikw77 g00 sh99h bi[ nahaz1n7. J0 y4ego baa saad h0l=. D77 gi 1t10 sh7 baanits4s kes. T11[1h1j8 t11[1h1gi ni[ haz10, t1adoo dikw77 g00sh99h bi[ hon71an7.
Koj8 hasdz77 doo.
MS. HOOD: Okay. I would like to have Jonathan Perry.
MS HOOD: H1g00sh99h, Jonathan Perry kodi.
MR. PERRY: Good afternoon, everyone. (Translation of Native language spoken: Acknowledging my leader). Mr. Nez, good afternoon. Commissioners, good afternoon again. Thank you for inviting me to speak to this body here today. I do appreciate the time given.
MR. PERRY: Y11t44h a[n7n7, t11 1n0[ tsoh. (Din4 bizaad kehj7 ata hane. Shi naat1anii ) Mr. Nez, y11t44h a[n7n73, Commissioners nih7 d0, y11t44h a[n7n73 n11n1. Ah4hee kwe4 h1go da shi dooniid go saad bee sh1 da ho[a d77 1[ah 7l98 gi. Saad bee sh1 ho[a7g77 baa ah4nisin.
My name is Jonathan Perry and I live up the road not too far from here, a few miles towards Crownpoint. And there are several points I want to make today to our Commissioners. And I know earlier I kind of started yelling, but I'm not a really -- I'm not a mean person unless you get on my nerves with my people here.
Sh7 477 Jonathan Perry yinishy4, d77 atxiin7g77 b22h shighan kod00 doo n7zaad da, Tsists0z7 bich8 go. D7kw77sh99 a[k44 haz32 go bee nihi[
hodesh nih Comissioners noh [7n7g77 d99j9. T;ah ab7n7 d33 t0y0 ho dii tsa go nihi ch8 has dz77 ne ndi do 1y00 ch1h ch8 s4[32 da shidin4 b00h tsih go t47 y1 1k0 shi[9h.
So it's really hard because everyone here has been telling
82 the same account over and over and they have to go to meetings all the time.
You have government officials that come in almost every year and they have to repeat their stories over and over again. And it hurts. It hurts them to think about it. It hurts them to think of not only the pain they're going through as individuals, but the people they lost, the family members that are no longer here, those that can't make it out to events like this because of physical disabilities. It's really hard.
Nanit[ah y4ego, t]11[17g77 b11 n1ho dinih go b22h niniikai 1[ah daaleeh g00 t47 t11a[ah j8 biniy4 hidii k11h go; W11shindoon bi[ hon732 d66 nihaa na1l daah go t11[177 baa nida ho diil nih go. Ts111yis77 bike diniih go1t4. Bike diniih t0 baa nits7h1 kees gi. Bike diniih t;11h0 bee hach8 an1 hwiit4h7g77 baa nits7jikees d00 baa na hojilnih gi, 7nda hak47 haa n11 hi diily1 h7g77 d00 t11 nihi ghan d00 da 1daa din 7g77 da 7nda tah nidaakai ndi d00 b1 y1ash0od a bitah di bee bich8 1n7 da hwiit4h7g77 kot10 has [32 g00 adood11[
doo b1y11sh0o g0 da t111yis77 b1 y7n7i go 1t4.
And this base that we're here on today is very sacred in terms of the people that are here, the community members. Earlier the gentleman stated that the medicinal plants, the location, that's really important when coming to a place like this, acknowledging our culture, acknowledging who we are as Dine, the way we do things here, how we conduct business.
It's not the same as when you go off to cities or other places across the country. When you come and you visit us here, make sure and please acknowledge and respect our space as Dine. Make sure that we have time to speak. Make sure that we have that ability to share what's really on our mind, on our hearts.
Kwe4 d77j9 a[h77 kai h7g77 d0 y4ego diyin go1t4
83 b7l11asdlaii Niasd11n nihi k4yah, kwii k44h da ha t7n7g77. Kod00 [a Din4 1n7 nihe azee bi[ nahz3 n7, d77 binaj8 baa nits0kes kwe4 daho diyin go nahaz3, nihe]
4 ool88[ h0l= B7laasdlaii Din4 niidl9 bee nihaa1ho nosin. !daiil7n7g77 da bee nih44h h0zin, 1[ah nidaal4gi 1da77l7n7gi da. D77 doo n7l1adi kin a[kih da di t32d di d00 a[tah Din44 1da o[ 7n7gi 1t4eda kodi.Kwe4 nihaa noy1ago 77shj11nDin4 niidl7n7gi d00 nihi[ haz1n7gi bee nihi[ nohl9 bee1daa1ko no dzin.
Ha da doo dzih gi d0 b7ni t1adoo oolki[ bee nihi di zh88zh7. D77 ts7d1 nihi j47 bit[1adi d00 ts7d1 nih7 ni biidi bee nihi dadi[ 1h1g77 bee nihi d11h doo baa da hane.
As NRC Commissioners it's very important that you are here, and I do appreciate you taking out time, but there's a responsibility in the Federal Government. All of us here as Dine, even our past leaders and those that came before us, upheld our treaty, 1868. We were here. Our Code Talkers went off to war. They protected America. They came back. We still have veterans here today who did that and who called -- who took that call. We were asked to support and defend America. They've done it.
NRC noh [98nii, t11 ayis77 nihi[ nil9 kwii nihaa noh kai h7g77 d00 nihi naanish bitagi hoolzhish go kwe4 nohkai baa1h4h niidzin. Kwe4 bee1n1hwiit4h7g77 [ah d00 nih22h sil1 W11shinidoon bi[ go. D77 Din4 nihi di n7n7g77 d00 nil32j8 Naat1anii nidas dl99ii Naaltsos S1n7 Ts44b77 ts1adah d00 biaan h1st3 diin d00 biann ts44b7 yihah d33 bee a[gha deet1n7g77 tah dii nihi[
7l9. K00h honiidl0h 77d33. !1d00 nihi Sil10 [its077 NaabahiiCode Talkers, daahijigh1a g00 nihi ch33h k4yah asdladiin a[hii sinil7g77 yi chx33h adahaazbaa.
D00 nin1haskai. [a t'ah dii kooh nihitah h0l=, d00 tah dii kot10 d99j98 di nihi Din44 tah dii anaa sil10 g00 aheh k11h d00 nin1h1k11h. Asdladiin k4yah a[hiisinil7g77 bichx33h ni dah baah nihi dooniid d00 t111k0 da iilyaa.
84 The other part of that, of the Treaty of 1868 needs to be upheld by the Federal Government, and that's the protection of our people here. Far too long we've been hurting. Far too long the companies and corporations have been coming in here. They've been applying for licenses.
They've been applying for permits. They've been coming in identifying areas.
We would not go to a church and say we're going to build something in the middle of the church. We would not dream of going to Arlington Cemetery and desecrating that area of the cemetery. And that's the same respect that we want here.
Aad66 Kin1h1gai d66 W11shindoon noh[98 nii d77 Naaltsos S1n7 Ts44b77 ts1adah d00 biaan h1st3 diin d00 biann ts44b7 yihah d33 bee a[gha deet1n7g77 tah di7shj98 di nihi[ da 7l98 go y11t44h, nihi Din44 t11 b00lt2 go. N7zaadg00 yee t111yis77 nihi keeh ti da hwiiniih. Naanish yi[ da die y7n7i hii t0 kodi nihi yikih naakai go n7zaad g00 naahai. Naaltsos bikeh go 1doonishii d00 binaj8 ni doonishii da y0keed go. D77 k00h daan7i go k4yah n7dayiil11h. Nih7 477 doo aadi nihi[ yah adiid11[ go ts7d1 kwe4 d77 sodizin b1 hoghan7g77 bin7i gi t11dool44 1da diiln77[ di diini[ da. Ts7d1 doo Arlingtondi sil10 [its07 y7 shij44di bi[ nida hwi dii yiil dlah da, jo hodiyin go haz3. T11 1k0t10 nih77n7 keed kwe4.
The gentleman here stated earlier, down there there's burial sites up in the areas when they were rounding up Navajos in the 1800s.
There's areas that they stuck out, at that they hid, that they protected. Those sites are still here. Those stories are still with us. The ceremonies that we still practice, the songs that are connected, the stories are still there with us.
!niid nih1 hastx07 kwe4 [a 1n7 nigh477 g00 Din4 Tseeb44ts1adh yihah d33 nai da ho n7 dzood d33 t11 ak00h [37 nash jool n7.
85 Da bi n00 g00 sh99h tah dii nah1z32 go1t4, 477 daho diyin a[d0. Tahdii k00h nihi[ h0l=. Nihi nahagha 1daat4h7g77 da sin d00 sodizin bi da diitI d00 bi[ dan7ti 7nda hane bii dan7ti go k00h h0l=.
Our umbilical cords that we bury for our children to come home to identify where they're from is still there with us. To this day a lot of our people still have that. Our young people, the young gentleman that spoke earlier talked about his place here when he grew up. He's going to carry that throughout his whole life. His siblings, his relatives that are now grown are going to carry that with them their whole life. So I'm asking NRC uphold the treaty as a part of the Federal Government that you are. Protect the Navajo people here.
Niha 1[ch7n7 bits44 b1 [eeh da hii n7[7g77 naagh1a d66 y4n1lniih doo biniy4 tah chideil9 d88j87 di. Nihi Din44 d77j98 di tah be4ool88[
1daat4. Niha1[ch7n7 nots4[7, [a kod00 nahasne7gi 1t10 [a kod00 k4yah d00 da hi des kai go hoghan tah y44 daal nih, t11sh99h kot20 hoolzhish g00 bighan y4n1lniig doo. Bik47 d0 k00h k44dahat7n7g77 1k0 daat4 d77shj989 di. J0 nih7
[ah d00 Kin1h1gai d66 W11ashindoon bits10 a 1n0ht4h7g77 b22h 1nihi dishn7 Naaltsos S1n7 bee a[ghah dadest1an44h bikeh g00 1n0ht4. Nihi Din4 bich33h nao[aa[.
The other thing I wanted to mention is that as visitors here to this region we often talk about Navajo Nation or Navajo Reservation, but what I want to talk about is looking back generations and generations of our people that live in this region this is Navajo land, the Napeequa.Din4 Bik4yah. We have stories that go back multi generations here. I'm mentioning this because I want you to recognize and acknowledge not only laws that exist within the books, but our Dine fundamental law that exists with
86 our people here as well.
{ah go d0 baahadesdzih, [ah da d77 kwe;4 Din4 bik4yah Kin1h1gai d66 k4yah b1 y0t37g77 s83 d00 kwe4 ndts11go bi[ nah0sa gi ts7d1 dikw7idish99h a[hiih1177ch88h go kwe4 nihi z1z7 k4yah yik11gi k44hdahat99 n7t44 1ko Adin4 bik4yah 1t4. Niha hane d7k77dish99h a[k44 iichiih go hane h0l=. D77 baahashne7g77 binaj8 kwe4 nihi[ b44 h0zin doo nisin go biniy4, j0 Bee Nahaz1anii [a ndtsaago naaltsos bee naaznil d00 koj7 d0 Din4 d0 t11 b7 d99 go Bi Bee Haz1anii h0l=, bit[1hdi naazl1.
The four components that you bring up: customary law, traditional law, common law, natural law, these laws that we incorporated that not only our grandparents, our great-grandparents, but going back centuries
-- these laws never changed. Today you have laws that are being introduced by Congress. They get changed every few years. Dine fundamental law never changes. It's been the same as it's always been in the past and it is today.
D99 go kwi baahashne [a T11b7 Bi Be4ool 88[7g7 -
Customary yee Has3Bi Bee haz1anii, T11 Nih7 Nihe4ool88[ Bi[ BiiN7ti go Bee Haz1aniiTraditional Bee Haz1anii, T11 Nahd66 Bee44l9 danil9n7g77 Common B44 Haz1anii, d00 Niasdz11n Hin1anii Bi[ Niti giNatural Bi Bee Haz1anii; D77 nihi Z1z7 n7l1hd66 yei yilnish sh66h bi[ da n7ti go nihi Bee Haz1anii doo [ahgo 1n44hii 1t4. D77j98 di Naat1anii Kin1h1gai di yah an1jaah7g77 B44 Haz1anii T0 1deile go hoolzhish; t11 d7kw77 y7 nin1h1h11h go Bee Nahaz1anii
[ahgo 1n7 n11 daal88h. Nih7h7g77 Bee Haz1anii 47 n7l47 d66 t111lyaa y66h gi 1t4 d77j98 di tah dii t111t4h7gi at4.
So I'm asking you to consider that. And in that I'm saying that to respect our relationship here and what we call (Translation of Native
87 language spoken: Kinship relationship to everything), our relatives, our system of relationship, not only with the people here, but with the land, the air, the water, these elements that make up who we are and our position, our place on this earth. Because every person here, every person that's sitting in this cha'a'oh, this Shade House, has a purpose and has a place. We each have a value. I know the three of you understand that.
D77 baa nits0kees. Binaj8 nihi[ no [9, 477 11h dii n7 K4.
(Din4 bizaad kehj7 ata hane. K3 t11 a[tsohn7 bi[ ke diin7) nihik47, 1doone4 nii dl7i nii bee daa k4h, doo b7laasdlaii t47 dah Niasdz11n, ni[chih d00 t0 t11 a[tsoh hin1anii bi[ k44hwiit7n7g77 nihik47.T111niitsoh k0ne4 chahaoh g0ne siid1h7g77 biniy47 biniy4 nihideely1. D00 anii dl9. D77sh sh99h bikI dooh txiih nih7 11d66 t11 go nih7 tsot1n7g77.
Now in doing so the Navajo Nation also has two other laws I want you to guys to be aware of. The Dine Natural Resources Protection Act, which was passed in 2005, is very important. We call that the DNRPA.
And that's to say that the Navajo Nation wants satisfactory cleanup of all its sites before any discussion begins on any new proposed mining, whether that's conventional mining or in-solute mining, or ISR as some of you might call it.
D00 d77 Din4 Biw11shindoon d0 naaki go Bi Bee Haz1anii h0l=,
d77 d0 baa ak0 noh sin doo. Din4 Natural Resources Protection Act woly, Naadiin d00 biaan asdla yihah d33 Bee Haz1anii sil99. DNRPA dabi diin7. D77 Bee Haz1anii binaj8 hashne k4yah d11chxo g00 n7d11lzh00 go 7nda haag44d ts7d1 hazh00 baa k7hw77neeni go baa y1n11n1 ti doo dish nooh 1dishn7. D77 haag44d a[tah adaat4 h11d77shg77sh99doo; ISR han7n7 g77 da, j0477 d0 a[221daat4ego beeda7n77sh 11j7.
88 The other one is the Radioactive Transportation Act of 2012, the standards that we need to have in order to carry out these plans that you are going to be presenting. How is that going to look to Navajo people, to Navajo Nation, our leaders here, the position that they have with at the -- to be at the table for these discussions, to respect our leader (Translation of Native language spoken: Our leadership), to respect our other people here?
We have other leaders here as well. They might not be elected officials, but these are leaders. They came. They're representing their communities.
{a7g77 47 Radioactive Transportation Act of 2012Bee Haz1anii Naadin d00 biaan naaki ts1adah d33 haal tsid. Kwe4 baahwiin7t7n7g77 y4ego b7d44ti 11j7.Haash noolnin doo kod00 nihi Din4 nahdi da b7 n7 ghan 7g77 yin4[98 d00, Din4 Bi W11shindoon d66, Din4 Binaat1anii da, H117sh99h yee naaz7n7g77 bi[ dan7tI go d00 kodi nihi[ 1[ah n1dleeh go nihi[ da n1h11z t32 go, t11 daats7 nihi nanit17 nihi[ da7l98 doo. (Din4 bizaad kehj7 ata hane. Nihi Naat1anii nil7n7g77) d00 k00h nihi Din4 4 a[d0 t11 nihi[ nil98 doo d00 t11a[tah 1t4ego nihi naat1anii h0l= yigh11[ d66 y1 naaz9.
We have people not only from here, from this region in Shiprock. You have people from Tachee, Blue Gap. You have people from Cameron. All of these locations across Navajo Nation. We are all concerned about this.
Kad k00h Din4 [a Naat1anii N44z d66, T1hchiiBis Doot[izh d66. Nan71ha S1b7 d66 d0 k00h; t11 a[tsoh Din4 bik4yah bik11 d66 k4yah d11 chxo7g77 bi dadii[1h.
There was that report and I'm wondering how NRC, if you would report back on the GAO report from May of 2014 identifying the shortcomings on why -- why do the people here have to hear updated five-
89 year plans every single year? Why is it failing? It's a failure. This report stated that the IHS, U.S. EPA, NRC, Department of Energy, all of these agencies are failing the Navajo people. But we don't hear reports about how are they changing it? What are they doing different? We don't hear that.
{ahgo naask11 go a[hii yinil, T33tsoh Naadiin d00 bi;aan ts1adah yihah d33 haaltsid W11shindoon b1 naask11 go [ah g0 daa god g00 b44 dahozin7g77 bii yisdzoh ne d77 asdla n11hai g00 [ah go naanish a[hiih yinil go Five year plan yi[n7, 477sh ha1t99h biniy4 t11 nin1h1 11h bee nihi[ n1 h1 nih, Haash yidt10 doo naalnish da? T111yis77 doo bee adin77sh da. D77 naaltsos bee haalts7d7g77 W11shindoon d66 HIS, EPA, NRC, Department of Energy t111t4 d00 Din4 dahi n4e[ gi doo hazh0d77 naanish y1 dil n77sh da bik11. Hai t4ego naanish a[k44 niinil [ahgo 1n1nalyaa gi bee y11t44h go adoonish han7n7 g77 477 doo bee nihi[ n1h1ne da. Ha1 t77sh 477 biih n1hes dzoh go [ah go 1t4ego bee oonish. D77 kwe4 haz1n7gi doo baa da hojil ne da.
So I'm hoping that after today you would come back and tell us these are the corrections we're going to make, this is the course of action we're going to do. That's more important.
D77j98 d00 bikih j8 sh99h nihaa n7 dooh kah go kwe4 naanish n7das k33z d7 doh ni[ n7 da doo k3s da g00 b44 h0z7n7 doo. Ts7d1 k0t10 47 bee adoo nish doh n00h baa ho do[ nih. K0t10 t111yis77 agha1go h177 s7niil ts32.
And part of that, too, is the cycle. Now as individuals I want you to look out at everybody right here. Look at everyone. Do you see value in everyone here? Yes, you do. So do I. And I see value in the three of you as well as individuals. But let me tell you, we can talk clean up, but we're not being honest if we grant new permits. We're not being honest when
90 we grant new licenses. Whether that's in another location up the road down here -- and let me tell you why. Because all of this is connected. Okay?
T11 47 naa nish bi[ n7ti gi d0 h1i t4ego bi[ a[ h44 hwiil zhish/
bi[ hool zhish doo, neenij8. Kad 47 t11[a7 niit7n7go aad00 nihi tah doha[ kwe4.
Da nihi n0[9. Da ni hi h0 n44dz32h y7sh--nihi[ y7sh aniidl9 go nih77 n79? Aoo daoh 9h. Sh7 d0 yish9. Nih7 d0 aad66 t1n0[t4h shi[ noh [9 d00 nihi h0needz3.
!kondi, k4yah ni dool z-[ diin7i go [ahj7 go tahdii naaltsospermits d00 licenses bee [3 oolee[ go t0 a[ch8 nihi yoo ch77d. Naaltsospermits d00 licenses kodi da, nigh477 g0yaa da atxiin b22h g00 da d00 koj7 go da bee l3 ii dle[ goo t0 y00ch77d 1t4. J0 d77 111t4 a[hi da dii ti go bee oonish[eetsoh haa g44d7g77.
!k0t4.
Earlier Larry, Mr. King brought up the HRI issue. That's true. Because NTUA, our tribal utility authority that manages our water infrastructure, passed a resolution years ago stating that they are in opposition of ASA -- UA -- or I'm sorry, SUA-1508 because all of this area serves over 10,000 Navajo people for water. And it also serves multiple communities going in that direction, northeastern direction. So NTUA was aware and they said no, please don't do it. We don't support it.
!niid Larry, Mr. King HRI oonishj7 yaa haadzii. $77 t11 an77h.
Nihi T0 yaa1hal y1an7g77 NTUA l37 n11 hah d33 Saad Bee1da Ni hwi dii taahii yeeh SUA-1508 yid t32 j7 nii kai dooda daan7i go; h1al1 ts7d1 neezn1a di dim77l y1zh7 B7laashdlaii d77 t0 chi yo[9 1k00h. D00 koj8 Nahook-s d00 haeeaahj8 go dikw77sh99 bi[ nahz1n7g77 d0 t11 d77 t0 chiyo[9 11j8 go. NTUA bi[ b44 dah0zin, t11shood7 d77 beeado nish go dooda dad77ni7d, dooda bee nih7 k44 ndii kah da ho dooniid.
So in being honest and going forward and saying that you're
91 going to help the people, the other part of that is making sure that no new mining happens. Please.
!ko yoo ch77d b22h 1din go kod00 neenij8 nih7 k1 adii jah doh n7, ako 477 [ahj7 go t1adoo haag44d7gi naaltsos binaj8 da 7n77sh7g77 t1ado t0 bee [3 ni da ayo [eeh7 doo. T11shood7.
It's really hard because for years I've been fortunate for my relatives here and across Eastern Agency to look at me as a leader. I'm a chapter official and I'm a former council delegate. But the work was always hard because we don't get that time with the federal entities. We need better communication. Our support for the Navajo communities need to be improved.
T11 y4ego nanit[ah t11an77. Ndi d7kw77sh99h n11hai kodi Haaaahj7 shi Din44 naat1anii 1n7sh da shoo d[77[ go b1 naash1, kad T11 Sinil7j7 b1 da s4d1 d00 B44sh B33h Das81n7 nish [98 n7t44 nahd66. T11 na nit[ah go1t4 a[d66 W11shindoon doo hazh00 bi[ ni da jilnish g00. Hazh00 a[ch8 y47l ti nih1 y11t44h doo y66h. Hazh00 t1adoole4 Din4 b1 bik44d siiz98 go sh99h nizh0n7.
These 5-year plans, 10-year plans that exist are failures because number one component, our people here should be at the table at all times. They are not. Some time, most of the time we get plans where there
-- it's being pushed on our communities. That's not the way it should be.
Okay?
D77 asdla d00 n44zn1 n11hai naanish bits1 ni doh soh7g77 doo naalnish da, biniinaa 1t4h7g77 47 nih7 doo [ah d00 siid1a da. Doo [a 1k0t4ed da.
{ahda t0 bee nih7doo yi[ [e agh1a go.!kwe4 doo 1kot4eda ya.
Earlier Shadek, my older sister, mentioned the Uranium
92 Commission. When President Shelly was in office I remember him putting that task force together. And I attended all of those meetings. When I became a delegate that was my first legislation that I introduced, the Uranium Commission. And Delegate Nez, or Mr. Nez at that time was delegate and he was the second one to sign with me. I remember I walked out of the office and he was coming in. So we talked about it.
Shad7 kwe4 Uranium Commission yaa haa dz77. B4 n1shiih Nihi Naat1anii Shelly dahsid1h66h d33 47 da yines bin ne. A[ah nidaale 11j7 t11a[tsoh sh77 na[ ne. B44sh B33h Dahs81n7 s4l99 d33 1kwii haz1n7g77 1dooln7[g7 biniy4 Naaltsos hadish[aah d00 B44sh B33h Dahs81n7 bid11h doo nin73. &&d33 Mr. Nez d0 B44sh B33h Dah s81n7 nil9 477 zhi sh1 naaltsos yik11 1yiilaah neSh7 kodoo ch8 nish sh11 h0 47 11d66 yah aj77 y1. Akwwi ha ch8 bee hasdzii d77 naaltsos.
But that legislation was important because it allowed the people here to sit and be involved. That was the main intent behind doing that. It needs to be revisited.
$77 Bee Haz1anii k00h Din4 y7nah1st32 go baa niy1 dasii[ti.
T11 1k0t10 1dooln77[ biniy4 1k0lyaa. !kondi n7 doo k3s.
Mr. Nez, please revive that commission. Make that a priority. (Translation of Native language spoken: Please my leader).
Mr. Nez t11shood7 11j7 y1 dah nah1zt1n7g77 n1hi di[ na[. T11 tsx7[7go 1d77l77[. (Din4 bizaad kehj7 ata hane. T11shood7 shina ni t17)
But aside from that, going forward I want to also acknowledge that there was a proclamation in October that was signed by our tribal leadership. October 21st of 2021, the proclamation by President Nez, Vice President Lizer, Speaker Damon at the 24th Council, they acknowledge
93 there's human rights violation by NRC, violation of our right to life, our right to property, our right to health, our right to our culture, our right to be Dine.
N11s n11n1, kod00 d0 [ahgo n11 h1st3 Gha22j9 naadiin [a yo[k1l Naadiin Naadiin [a yihah d33 naaltsos y4ego ndtsaa go b4444 da h0zin7g77 nihi naat1anii bizhi yik11 1da yilaah ne D77 N11t1anii Nez, Akee sid1h7g77 Lizer, d00 B44sh B33h S81n7 y1 y1[ti7g77 Damon naadiin d00 biaan d99 gone8g88 bina[, D77 B7laasdlaii )och77d Bee Bioonish gi NRC d77gi 1daat4h7g77 yeeh nihi 0[ch99d yeeh nihi naal nish ho dooniid; Iina bee B7laasdlaii bee b1 ah00ti gi, Nihi k4yah chii niil99h gi, nihi ts7s bi[ hon7ti gi, nihi be400l88[, d00 Nihi Din4 bee niidl98 nii. Bee Haz1n7g77 t11 a[tsoh kih jiizti.
Human right violation is very, very serious topic. Whether you're talking about the American Declaration of Right (audio interference),
whether you're talking about the United Nation Declaration of Rights of Indigenous People, or you're talking about our own Dine fundamental rights here in this area.
B7laasdlaii )och99d bee bi0onish gi ts7d1 y4ego baahasti7g77 1t4. D771aj7 [a bi[ n11n7ti7g77 da American Declaration of Right (doo hazh00 diitsa da kwe4), dooda go United Nation Declaration of Rights of Indigenous People, da d00da go t11 n7 nihi B44 Nahaz1n7g77 Din4 Fundamental Rights k00h nihi[ sil1h1g77 da baa y11ti go baa dahasti.
So in that proclamation and with the support of various communities -- and I keep getting closer because is this making more noise.
So it's not (audio interference). But there's chapters, over 80 chapters that signed resolutions and passed that supporting what the Eastern Navajo Dine uranium mining and what the proclamation said.
94 D77 ProclamationNaatsos Bee Hodists37g77 t11ayis77 bik44 ni7ldee k44h da ha t98 g00 bi[ na ha z1n7 g00. Nihi ch8 heesh1[ kwe4 ayoo diits1 (doo hazh00 ditsa dah), Tseeb7diin T11 Sinil7 bi[ honi32 g00 kwe4 Naaltsos Bee Hodists3g77 bee 1ho dooniid7g77 Saad Bee !da ni ho diitahii bee bik44 nii kai a[do There is also resolutions from the school boards, McKinley County, the BIE schools, other entities that exist in our community saying do not approve new licenses. You see the devastation that we have. We don't want to carry it on for another generation.
Saad Bee1d1nihodiitaahii Da )lta d66 d00 Tsine hes j77 yik11 nahazt1n7g77 bits32 d66 ha da hi neez dee, McKinley County, BIE, d00 koj8 bi[ k44h da hwii t7n7g77 da nihi k44 niikaid77 naaltsos binaj8 haag44d die y7jeeh7g77 t1adoo t0 bee [a ooleel7 hanooh. T111yis77 doo y11t44h da.
Neenij8 n11s yidt11[ go dooda hodoo niid.
And I'm going to plead with the three of you because the Federal Indian policy is still genocide. It still exists very much today as it did in 1864. Our young people are still being born with health discrepancies.
Our people cannot even rely on IHS for quality health care. These were all entrusted in the Treaty of 1868, but the Federal Government failed us.
T111yis77 nih77n7sh keed d77 kwe4 11d66 t11 go nah7s00 t1n7g77, j0 Federal Indian Policy tah bee adoogh3[ go d00 bee1nihi dool d88h go 1t4. T1h dii t111k0t4 nigh47 d66 Tseeb7 ts1adah d00 biaan h1t33h d00 biaan d99 yihah d33 bee1nihi dool 88d7g77 tah biniy4 sil1 d77j99 di.
Niha1[ch7n7 tah dii doo bits7s t111t4 ha da di[t4eg00 nida ha ch77h ko di. D77 HIS ndi doo ts7d1 ahe[t4ego b0h0 needz33 go azee 22h 7[9i da. D77 Kin1h1gai d66 W11shindoon tseeb7 ts1adah d00 biaan h1t1 diin d00 biaan tseeb7 yohah d33
95 bee bi[ a[gha dii t'3 ndi doo ts7d1 biighadi Kin1h1gai d66 W11shindoon yeeh dil n77sh da Now in this we're asking, recognize our human rights, recognize that we are individuals, and recognize that the Federal Indian policy is grossly inhumane. And you three, along with the other Commissioners, can go in the right direction with that. You can end racism. You can end environmental genocide destruction with your choices, and we're asking you to do that. Please revoke license SUA-1508, protect our people, do what you can to make sure that these plans are going to be functional and that they are going to benefit our people. That's what we're asking for. And look at -- into the eyes and faces of everyone here of the journey that they've been through so far in life, how hard it's been.
Hazh00 B7laasdlaii niidl98 go bee nih1ada haz ti7g77 nih7d0 nih11t4. T11[a7 niit7n7 go nih11t4. D00 d77 Federal Indian Policy woly4h7g77 d0 ts7d1 t0 baaih d00 B7laasdlaii bee binij0lnish 1t4edah, nih7 kwe4 t11go n1h7sts00 t1n7g77, d00 k00h Commissioner danidl7n7g77 y11t44h go 1da doo[77[ go 1t4. D77 racism1[tah Din44 odl1, bijo[ch99d, doo ho[
nil998 da--woly47 ni do[tih go 1t4. &nda K4yah bik11 g00 doo a[he[t4ego
)och99d, Ih naadlo, ajoodl1 bi[ n7ti7g77 a[d0 ni do[tih go 1t4. !k0 do[77[ nihi diin7. T11shood7 naaltsos SUA-1508 n1t33 ha n7 do[tsos d00 Din4 bich33h gi ni dooh kah, ak0 nihi nahata7g77 ni[ dzil nihi Din44 yine a doo kah. D77 nih1 n7 di di doo[44[. K00h B7laasdlaii binii d00 binakeeh g0ne4 d7n0h 99 t11 1yis77 nah d66 d00 kodi k1 naakai go bi[ da h44l zhizh. Ts7d1 sh99h y4ego b1 ni da nit[ah go y4 n1s kai.
You're seeing how our average spring day is her. From February to May this is how it looks. I woke up this morning and said it's a
96 nice spring day. Some of us get accustomed to it. But even the wind is holy, our holy people that's acknowledged, that has its purpose. It's trying to clean out. It's trying to take away the evilness. Maybe they knew you were here. Maybe they're trying to say this is what we want you to do. Get everything out from these communities.
K00h Daan go 1hoot4h7g77 [a wo[ ts3. Ats1 Biy11zh d00 T33tsohj8 k0hoot4e [eh. Ab7b7 d33 ts44nis dzid d00 d0ola do h0zh0n7 da dishn7. J0 [a nisiiz9 bi da neel din. Da N7yol ndi da diyin go 1t4, biniy47 b1 h0l=.
N1ho dishooh nahd00 danichx07g77 ayiitso[. T11 sh99 77d33 nani h0l77h nih7.
K0t10 a doo[77[ sh99h da nih7[n7. D77 kwe4 K44hwiit7n7gi kod00 n7l1h g00 k0da doo[77[
So with that, Commissioners, with respect, I do ask for you to please make the necessary choices and changes that will impact everyone here and their relatives, all the communities in the Eastern Agency (Translation of Native language spoken: Thank you leaders). I thank you again for taking time out today. Thank you.
!k0 n7[tsoh, Commissioner, nihi[ daniidl9, ndi t11shood7 t11 b0h0 n4e dz1 n7g77 bee 1da doo[7[ d00 t11 doo 44 [ah go 1dool n7[ 7g77 hazh00 baa nits4 h1s keez go bee ni da doo[ nish, kwe4 bikeeh ka na aldeeh koj7 ha1aah j8 k44 hwii t7n7g77. (Din4 bizaad kehj7 ata hane. Ah4hee shi naat1anii),
Ah4hee kwe4 noy1h7g77 n11 d7shn7 d77j9. Ah4hee MS. HOOD: Thank you so much, Jonathan.
MS. HOOD: Ts7d1 ah4hee Jonathan I would like to have Chris Shuey come up.
Chris Shuey kodi ni n11n1 MR. SHUEY: (Translation of Native language spoken:
97 Greetings everyone, greetings to our leadership here and thank you.) It's good to see you again.
MR. SHUEY: (Din4 bizaad kehj7 ata hane. Y11t44h t111n0[tsoh, Y11t44h nihi Naat1anii k00h h0l=- n7g77 d00 ah4hee) Y11t44h go n11 daa[ hiilts3.
Members of the Commission, none of us remember (audio interference) Nuclear Regulatory Commission visit this area. Madam Director and my friend and mentor Edith here. I have just a few things to say that will focus on some of the health studies that we have done, but I wanted to take you back a little bit to the history of the tailings site up here.
Commissioner noh [7n7g77, doo [a b4neiniih da (doo hazh00 diitsa da) Nuclear Regulatory Commission [ad kwe4 y7kai go.Naat1anii asdz11n, d00 shikis d00 b7 hosh aahii Edith kwe4. T111[ts77s7 go kwe4 nihi ts7s nida siil k17g77 baa hodeshnih. ![ts4 kwe4 n1t33 d77 [eetsoh [eezh bi[ haageed7g77 baa ho desh n7 kwe4 nah0s agi.
It was the -- Section 2 was acquired by United Nuclear back in 1969 for about $29,000. And the records are in the McKinley County courthouse. In 1974 they prepared the site. There were people, as one of our friends had mentioned, who had been living there because it had been state land that the state leased to BIA, which leased to grazers from the area.
But they were not -- had title to the land, so United Nuclear came in to prepare the site and the people had to leave.
D77---k4yah naaki g0ne4 s81n7g77 47 NUnited Nuclear nei yis nii N1h1t47 ts1adah d00 biaan h1t3diin d00 biaan n1h1t47 yihah d33 Naadiin N1h1t47 di dim77l y1zh7 b33h az l99. McKinley 1[ts7s7 go ha hoodzoh7gi
98 Aadahwiin7t9 bi[ haz1n7gi naaltsos sinil. N1h1st477 ts1ada d00 biaan tsostsid d00 biaan n1h1st47 yihah d33 naanish b1 hashteh hoolyaa akwe3. !k00h Din4 k44hda hat9, [a yaa hoolne kwe4, [a siz9 H0tsaa go hada hasdzo bik4yah BIA yich8 1h n1 1t1a go 1y0sin, 47 [a 1kwii k4yah bil99 b1 ban1 1t1a go chi yo[9.
Doo 477 k4yah binaaltsos y1 da yo[ tsos da ndi, 11d00 United Nuclear 1kwii k4yah naanish y1 hashteh hal44h go Din4 1kwii da bighan n44h nahj8 bi doon77d go ha dah1az n1.
The dam was built in '74 and '75, a clay core facility on the site of the arroyo, which was not an appropriate place for any kind of long-term management and containment of radioactive waste. It would not be permitted today. The tailings spill had multiple causes including differential settlement at that transition zone between the starter dam, which was overladen, both on the bedrock and on the alluvium of the pipeline arroyo.
But operational errors occurred. The south pond was overfilled. It's freeboard was supposed to be limited to five feet; it was two feet. There were cracks in the dam that were photographed a year before the spill. These things all contributed to that.
Nan71 477 Tsostsid d00 biaan d99 d00 h1st33h yihah d33 1lyaa; biy11 di hasht[ish di tsid7 sikaad go t11 47 bikooh gi, doo ni zaad g00 b1 boho n44 dz1a da ndi 1kot4ego alyaa [eetsoh [eezh bi[ hadasgeed y66h bi deezla bi[ t0 bii w0t3 go. D77j98 di 47 doo bee Haz1a da. D7kw77sh99 a[tah 1t4ego biniinaa nan71 desh chxosh; 1t10 1lyah7g77, nan71 biih hegeed 1n7[ d11sgi, d00 bikooh j8 nan71. Nan71 a[d0 nidaazgo b44yis t[in ts4 k11 bidii1h7gi d00 t11 [eezh bi[ nehee[ bidii1h7gi. !ko d77 beeool z77 sil99. Sh1di1ah j7 go t0 bil11h di 1neelte, bid11gi sh99h asdla k4 sil1 1n7zah doo dei ndi naaki k4 sil1 1n7zah die go t0 da hi d4y77h d00 dei go bitsis doo nah gi. Nan71 477 [a n11ahh
99 d33 das ta[ go a[hes kid go b44 h0zin. K0t10 sh99h b22h nan71 deegizh.
It's been alluded to that people were taken aback by the spill and people walked in the river not knowing and they were exposed to that battery acid that Teri Keyanna talked about. It had a pH of one and a half.
That caused burns on the skin. But all the potential and actual health effects were not -- were just ignored and really not even attentive to -- by the federal agencies.
D00 nan71 dee giz d33 t0 bikeh daz dees yiz han7 d00 t0 ch7n7 na go [a bii ni dajis aki go haj11 d00 hak44 dah da d77lid do sh99h ho[ b44 da h0zin g00 n00h Teri K4yanna yaahalne. T0 77[t88h si[kid7gi 47 t11[a7 d00 naa[n77 gi si[kid go y4ego hah1 g7 yi di[ [id.!kondi ats7s gi doo baahwii n7s t98 da, t0 nahj8 go daz d44z 99 d77 W11shindoon d66 nidaalnish7g77 doo yaa n7das t98 da. .
The work that we have done -- and when I say we, I'm talking about my organization, Southwest Research and Information Center in partnership with our colleagues at the University of New Mexico. We started to be able to find the federal money needed to study the health of the people around these areas, but it was probably 20 to 30 years too late. We should have been doing it then.
Naanish 1deil yaa h7g77 47, 1deilyaa h7g77 dishn7n7 g77 47 t11 sh7 shinaanish Southwest Research d00 Information Center woly4 d00 Bi[ ni dash nish7g77 University of New Mexico d66 [a an1jaah. W11shindoon bi b4eso h1da d7 n7i t99 go naalkaahgi [a hazl98 go kwe4 b7l1asdlaii bits77s [eetsoh bideezla 22h dah as12n7gi nidasiil k11, 1kondi naadiin d00 t1diin yihah bee akee sidl00. T11 11j7 naanish haalwod y66h d33 1dei t00h sh99h biigha n7t44.
But what we have seen since then is startling. People ask
100 us -- I'm part of the Navajo Birth Cohort Study staff and people ask us wait a minute, you guys have found uranium in newborn babies? Yes. Before that nobody thought that the heaviest of metals on the face of the earth could go beyond the placenta. It does. And unfortunately those concentrations increase in the first year of the child's life.
Bik7 da nee t327g77 bik7h da heelk117g77Din4 Din4 [a t0 bikeh da deelyiz, Din4 [a nida n7h7 d7[kid---Din4 Birth Cohort naalkahj7 b1 naashnish, nanih7 d7 kid go 1daa n7[eh da t11aan7i go aw44 1niid ni da hazh ch7n7g77 [eetsoh bideezla bii go ni dahaazh ch9h daa n7i [eh. Aoo. Tah doo naalkaah 44h d33 47 d77 [eetsoh ts7d1 y4ego ndaaz go doo awee bii[ 477 biij8 k0 doo n7[ da go baa nits7 h1 kes n7t44. !k0 doo n77[ go 1t4el1. !1d00 d77 [eetsoh bideezla aw44 bits7s bii di yileeh go kee aan noo y44[ go n1hah l1.
We have seen as a result of 1,800 women and children in our study that there is a widespread increase in uranium and other metal concentrations in people's blood and urine throughout the Navajo Nation.
Ts7d1 tseeb77 ts1adahdi neezn1 diin di dim77l y1zh7 biighah go Asd1n7 daa lts32 go d00 1[ch7n7 ni dl98 go n7 da niil88h go bi[ ni da shil nish nideil kah go, j0 [eetsoh d00 t11doole4 b44sh da ni daazii l37 go bi ts77s bidi[
d00 bilizh bii j8 nihaleeh sil99 d33 kwe4 Din4 bik4yah bik11 g00.
It's a cross-sectional study, so we accept anybody who comes in. You don't have to live in a uranium-impacted area. We've had to develop reference levels for metals in biological fluids that exceed that of the national studies that the CDC does every three years. Only about 14 percent of the people in our study live within five kilometers of an abandoned uranium mine. So there's exposure going on all the time out here and that's what makes this history so unbearable.
101 Naiikah7g77 t11 1t4 b1 1t4 biniinaa t11 nihi[ yah ahe kah7g77 neil kah. Doo {eetsoh haag44d bi da77n77sh gi haghan ndi naho diil kah. J0 CDC oonish d00 b44sh ndaazii bil1adi si[kid go ha nii t1 ako h11 d00 477 bil1h 7g7 1dii dzoh go b44 halizh d00 hat00 1daat4h7g77 naalkah doo. T11 d99ts1adah Din4 nitsiilk11g77 t11 tsin sitx3 biighah go [eetsoh hadas geed b77 ghah g00 da bi ghan la. Ako t11 ah33h [eetsoh bideezla t11 1[ahj8 b44 j7gh11h go haz3 d77 biniinaa t111yisii baa hasti go hoolzhish.
In this particular area as a result of doing a cross-sectional study called the Dine Project in which we surveyed 1,304 people; one of the largest studies ever attempted on Navajo, and we got -- collected blood and urine from 267 of them as volunteers, we've essentially found that the closer that you live to mine waste, the higher your risk of hypertension, kidney disease, especially during the mining period, and autoimmunity. And we're finding that theres this combination of metabolic chronic disease that is pervasive among people who live within these mining districts.
Kwe4 na siil k17g77 t11 nihi[ yah a he kah7g77 binaj8 neikah go biniinaa t11 ts1adah d00 biaan d99 di neen1 diin dam77l yazh7 ni siil k11, ndtsaa go Din4 bik4yah gi naask11 l1. Naaki di neezn1 diin d00 biaan hast1 diin d00 biaan n1h1st47 go bi di[ d00 bilizh ni siil k11 naakahgi t11b7 77n7dzin go naask11. B7 niik11g77 477 t111h1n7 g00 [eetsoh naag4d7gi haghan go 477 y4ego w0dah di hadi[ naa[kid doo d00 ha chx3 1sh k1zh7 d00 hatah di t11a[tsohn7 doo yich8 ha0ln7i da doo l1. &nda naiilkah go [ah go Metabolic chronic disease yi[n7 y4ego 22h da has 32 go 1t4el1; ha di[ w0dah di naa[kid, d00 1sh88h [ikan hadi[ bitah7g77 w0 dah g, d00 hatadi akah t0 daa t[ish7g77 l37 go b44 hach8 nahwiidoo na[. haag44d bigh1h gi haghan go.
We don't necessarily follow cancer; not that it's not
102 important, but it's absolutely critical to understand that the mines are contributing to the extensive health disparities that already exist in marginalized communities like these.
{00 doo n1dzih77 477 doo nisiil k1a da, t11 y4ego i di[ 1a ndi, j0 d77 [eetsoh bi deezla nihitah di l1 heit4ego y22h da has 23 l1 j7 hazh00 d7 nool 88[ biniy4 nasiil k11. T11 y4ego 47 nihits77s tah di y4ego bee nihi ch8 1n1 hwiit44h k00h [eetsoh haa geed bighah g00 k44h da hwit98 go.
It's important to know that -- and part of this exposure is from the -- we believe from the redeposition of materials off these waste sites.
These sites have sat around for several decades. They have weathered and they have developed a thin layer of super fine sub-micron particles on the top.
And sub-micron -- a micron is a million of a meter and it's very small. But you can inhale these things deep into your lungs, into the breathing sacs of the lungs. They don't get caught up here in the upper respiratory tract. And they can lead to cardiopulmonary toxicity that we've observed now in laboratory animal studies.
T11 1yis77 nihi[ b44 h0zin--- [ah d00 y4n1y1h7g77 kod66---
47 nag g00 [ah go nin11n1 jaa7g77. D77 [eetsoh [eezh bi[ hada as geed7g77 t0 t11 1k00h naazhjaa go dikw77 sh99h n11hai. T11 1k00h naazjaago nin1 h1hah go bik11 gi a[t32 ago ni n7 k33z - sub-micron yi[n7. D77 sub-micron yi[n7n7g77 47 dim77l tsoh a[ts7s7 go w0lta7g77meter yi[n7, bee n4l98 go naaltsos nidt[iz go bee nidaiiniih 77 d44t37 gi 1ni[ tsoh, 1[ts77s7 yee doo. 1[ts77s7 yee7g77 biniinaa bi[ az doo dzih go b77ghah n7l477 haj47l z0l7 bits00z bii nida nes dizi bii g0yaa. Doo t11 kodi w0dah di haj47l z0lii di bi[ az doo dzih da, 11d00 ha j47l z0lii bi[ hon7ti j7 y22h da hwii do[ a[, j0 kot10 naiilkah go nihi[ b44 hozin.
This is why it's absolutely critical, as Jonathan Perry and
103 others were noting, to figure out how to speed up the process of cleaning up these 500-and-some-odd mines. And as one of the gentleman said, it makes a lot more sense to try to consolidate mine waste into a few sites because they need to be monitored forever, right, rather than piecemealing each of these places that -- it's going to take 100 years -- our great-grandchildren are going to be -- maybe sitting here in 100 years talking about the same thing if we don't come up with a comprehensive plan that the Federal Government gets in back of.
T'111yis77 baahasti naazjaa. D77 biniinaa Jonathan Perry d00 koj8 hada has dzi7g77 1ko daa n7. T11 tsx7[7go k4yah asdla di neezn1 diin d00 n7woshj8 nihi k4yah bikl11 g00 naazh jaa7g77 nida dool zho[ han7. D00 ko d00 1j7n7 d7kw7ida a[hii j8 bi[ yaa ni daasnil go b0h0 n44 dz3 jin7.J0 [eetsoh [eezh bi[
ha das geed y66 nah g00 ko daal yaa go t11a h33h bikih n7 d4 t88h doo hool11 g00 a[d0. T0 d7kw77 dah a[aan naazjaa go d0 doo y11 n11n1sh shoo da doo a[d00 n1 n4l88h gi. Neezn1 diin n11h1ai g00 ab7 n11 nei dool k11[. Naaki di n1 tsoi d00 n1l7 daats7 ko d00 nin11 h1zt32 doo yaa y1 n11 da[ti go neezn1 diin ni n11n1 hai di, d77 doo hash teel yaa g00 W11shind00n yok44 ni doo gh1[7g77..
Let me remind you that uranium was located on the Navajo Nation and in the southwest and the Colorado Plateau as a result of the government's need for fissile material for the Manhattan Project, later for the Nuclear Weapons Program. All of this came from that point.
D77 [eetsoh Din4 Bik4yah d00 k00h Shadi11h d00 Eeaah j8 d00 Dib4 Ndtsaa Haadzoh7g77 bik11 g00 naazh jaa7g77 bee ni h44n1sh n77h, j0 477 Kin1h1gai d66 go Manhattan Project dik3 dil don nii dei n7 zin go Nuclear Weapons Programanaa bee 1ho doo n77[ gi chii doo i[ biniy4 b1 hadaasd geed.
D77 t11at4 anaa bikih j8 bee 1ho doo n7[ biniy4.
104 This mine, the Northeast Church Rock Mine, was actually an early contract between UNC and the Atomic Energy Commission in '65 and was part of an agreement between Santa Fe Pacific Railway and the Navajo Nation that allowed uranium development on odd numbered sections back in 1959. And that was signed off on by BIA. And so we have federal responsibility that has never really been acknowledged and accepted.
Haageed, d77 Northeast Church Rock gi haageed7g77 47 H1st3 diin d00 biaan asdla yihah d33 UNC d00 Atomic Energy Commission d00 Santa Fe Pacific Rail way d00 Din4 Bi W11shi doon a[gha da des t32 go k4yah bi numbo doo a[hee[ t4 h7g77odd numberg00 hada ag44d go ha das wod, nigh47 Asdla diin d00 biaan n1h1t47 yihjah d33. %77 1aj7 BIA naaltsos yee l3 as [99.
D77 yee Kin1h1gai d66 k00h [eetsoh [eezh bi[ ha das geed go naazh jaa7g77 b7 go1t4, ndi t0 yil1a g00 deez99.
We have lots of folks that we've collaborated with, with the Navajo Nation, with U.S. EPA, NRC, DOE, and largely good people. But it's really at the highest level of the Federal Government that action needs to be taken to give the justice that people in these communities need. And this is just one of many that we've worked with.
Ts7d1 l37 a[a a[ y007 d66 naanish bi[ da da7n44h d66 bi[
nida shiil nish, Din4 Biw11shin doon, Kin1h1 gai d66 EPA, NRC, DOE Din4 y11 daa t44hii danil98 go k00h k44h da ha t7n7g77 bitah g00 ni da shiil nish, ako a[hee[
t4ego k4 ni dool zhoo[ g7justice, b7laas dlaii ti da hooznii 7g77 b1 hash t44[
[44h. D77 da bi ni dash shiil nish [ah d00.
You know, I'll just leave with a comment that -- I've been out here for 40 years. That picture of the dam break that my colleague Paul Robinson took the day after the tailings spill is the only one you can find. If
105 somebody else can come up with a ground level picture of the breach, we'd like to see it. But during that time I always felt as kind of an environmental assister to these communities guilt going back home to Albuquerque, my little comfortable home. And I didn't have a tailings pile or a couple of mine waste out in the back yard.
D77 d0 bee nihi[ ho desh nihK00h nash nish ho d9zdiin shi n11hai. Nan71 desh chx0sh y66h d33 [aaj9 azl98 go shikis Paul Robinson nan7ah desh chx0sh d33 1y77[ kid, 47 t47y1 eelkid, doo [a nan7 1h [a 1n11yi[kid yish 89 da, [a naoh tin go 77sh j11n 1doo[77[. !ko h00 tiid33 t00 y0 baa sh7 ni [eh Beeld77l Sinil g00 shighan g00 n11sh 11[ go j0 shighan 47 doo
[eetsoh [eezh bi[ hadas geed7g77 doo [a shighan b77ghah g00 ya n111a da, biniinaa 1k0 ts0s sin.
So out of that adversity comes opportunity, and that opportunity for you folks is to bring this message back to the Federal Government, to your own staff and back in the scoping meeting in March of 2019 that the staff was at in Gallup. I said to them get out of the Twin Towers of Mordor -- that's your building -- and come out here and walk the arroyo.
See the force of Mother Nature and the water that comes through here. We have a very serious problem of guaranteeing that that repository will not fail if this plan goes through.
Kot10 kodi haz1n7g77 sh99 nihi Kin1h1gai di W11shindoon 11j7 ni daal nish7g77 bee bi[ n7da ho do[ nih, t11 sh99h bi[ ni daa[ nish [a, d00 d77 Nan7zhoozh7 di W00zhch77d naadiin d00 biaan n1h1st477 ts1a dah d33 1[ah ni da so [99 y66h d33 a[hi[ ni da hosii[ ne ne. &7d33 1d77niid, t1adoo t0 h11 dish99h t0 kin bii ni da[ nish7g77 bii nah 7soo t32d d1ah7, kodi B7laasdlaii k44h da ha t7n7 di bikooh g00 da ni dao kai go nihi[ ni b44ho yoo zih dishn7. D77
106 yee Niasdaan t11 b7 be adzii[ yee naalnish k00h t0 ni da di goh g00 ndi. D77 baa ni daoh t7n7g77plan doo joo k1a da d77niid ne 1adi.
And so I stand with the community to recommend that you withdraw the EIS and commit to a multi-agency, multi-jurisdiction process to find solutions to this uranium mine waste problem with people from the communities at the table. Otherwise, like I said, we're going to be talking about this -- our grandkids are going to be talking about this 100 years from now. Yea.
Sh7 kwe4 k44hat7n7g77 bi k44 s4z9 d77 1[ts4 k4yah bik11 gi naask17g77 1[ts4 nahj8 ni no[tsos, d00 kwe4 W11shin doonii t11 a[ah1j8 a[ch8 d7 nii b88[ go d77 [eetsoh bi deezla bee1n1hwiit4h7g77 kwe4 k44hat98nii d0 [ah d00 dasi d10, baa y1 n11 da diil tih d00 1t10 1dooln7[7g77 bee ha doo dzih. Doo 1dzaa g00 47 nihi tsoo k4 d00 nihi n1l7 k4 neezn1 diin n7n11 n1 hai di tah dii yaa y1 da[ ti doo.
MS. HOOD: Thank you, Chris. Next one.
MS HOOD: Ah4hee Chris. N11n1 [a.
MS HOOD: MS. H. NEZ: (Translation of Native language spoken: Yes, greetings to all of you here. We came to this meeting. We came here a long time ago and many areas where theres impact of the same type of - of various type of hazard to human health risks that weve, we maybe unprivileged peoples (audio interference).
MS HOOD: MS H. Nez, MS H. NEZ: (Din4 bizaad kehj7 ata hane. Aoo. Y11t44h kwe4 1[ah noh [9n7g77. Kwe4 1[1ah 7l98 go [ah niikai ne. Dikw77 sh99h n11hai d33, 7nda t11 k0t10 Dinb4 bik4yah [eetsoh bi deezla bee ni da haazh chxo7g77 d0 bi[ 1[ah ni dei dle, t11 1yis77 [eetsoh bi deezla bee nihi ts77s bee bich8 1n7
107 da hwii t44h go 1t4, doo daats7 b7laasdlaii 7h l98 nii dl88d da 7y22h [Doo hazh00 diitsa da kwe4] )
Let me introduce myself first, I am from Black Mesa, Blue Gap Tachee is where I'm from. A plateau mesa like This table -- like mesa
-- Black Mesa is like this table. With valleys stretching in different direction among other mesas. There are many, many people in that area. Different ethnic groups of people, there for work, or hold business, some people dont seem to care too much about the environment any more therefore its difficult.
We are in an area where it's difficult -- has difficulty because people act and think differently as well and impacts from this area.is hard to deal with the issues without being educated on it.
![ts4 nihich8 1d44hosiih, Dzi[ Yijiin d66 naash1, Bis Doot[izh --T1chii d00. D77 bik11 ad1n7 nahaloo dzi[ da si t1h d77 Dzi[ Y7jiin 1k0t4e go da si t1. Dzi[ bitah g00 ada dzis gai go.. Din4 t11 l37 1adi da bighan 1ko, a[tah Din4 nihitah h0l=, ni daal nish, [a naanish yi[ da bighan. {a Din4 doo ts7d1 k00h k4yah bik11g00 1hoot4h7g77 bi dii[ 1a da nahalin, ako nanit[ah go1t4.
Bee nanit[ah7g7 477 Din4 a[tah 1t4 go nits4 kees d00 a[tah 1t4ego beeool9 nei l4h. D77 [eetsoh bideezla bee 1n1 hwiit4h7g77 d0 b0hooaah go t47 hazh00 hol ni b4e ho yooz88h go bikizh diit99h go h1y11t44h d77 biniinaa b11 y1 ti doo gi d0 nanit[ah.
I am thankful that you are here. You are my children's and including people that are from the Federal Government. You finally thought of us down here. Please listen to those people that are speaking. From there you're able to take this information and do something and assist us in the cleanup of the uranium waste risks and impacts. And thank you.
Sh7 baa ah4 nisin k00h ho noh [0n7g7. Sha1[ch7n7 sh99h da
108 noh [9 d00 t11 b00l t2 go W11shindoon d66 nihaa7l d447g77 d0sha1[ch7n7 da j7l9. T11 shooh kodi nihaa nits7 noo k44z la. T11shood7 ko d00 Din4 ihi ch8 ha da ha dziihii dei y7 tsin0[ ts33 doo. !1d00 sh99h d77 hadais dzi7g77 n7di dooh
[ee[ go aad00 bi di doo[ nish go bee 1k1 adii jaah go nihi k4yah ni da diil zh-[, d00 bideezla d0 baa ni da diil nish, d00 ah4hee doo.
My son Jonathan, the president, is here. We are -- your last name is -- your last name make you our son. Thank you for being here.
We have been impacted by the environmental injustice that is occurring at this time. You are here. I am Helen Nez. This is my daughter and this is my son. I have a son that lives out of the Reservation. I have one sister. We are -- we have had a lot of shortcomings. And many of my children are gone, them they passed away, who were past the age of fifty years. This is the only children that I have right now that are living. The others have been -- have deceased. It's very hard for me.
D77sh shiy11zh Jonathan at9 Nihi naanit17, k00h naa ghah.
Ah4hee kwe4 nihaa y7 n7 y1. D77 nih7 k4yah bik11 g00 ni daanish7g77 doo a[hee[ t4egoo bee nihi oo nish d77sh j98 di. !kondi k00h nih47 y7n7y1. Sh747 Helen Nez !sht9. D77 shich44 d00 d77 47 shiy11zh at4. Shi y11zh [a nil1adi nihi k4yah t[00di bighan. Sh1d7 t11[17. D77 ts7d1 t00 ahay077 t11dool44 a[oh ni da haazti go bee nihi ch8 ni da hwis n1a. Sha1[ch7n7 dikw77 sh99h shaa n11 diil y1. Shi t3 adaadin daazl99 [a asdla diin d00 niwoshj8 b44 d11 ahi go. D77 t47 sha 1[ch7n7 j7l9 kad. !ko 1y00 naii[n1a go 1t4.
It really moves me when -- it's emotional when I hear people speak about the impacts from the uranium mine. But all these concerns are very emotional, the very aspects of hazards in the body. I want to see this happen. That the meeting does have a positive outcome. I want to see that
109 you are able to help us from the Federal Government. You have to sit and listen and turn this into something that is useful for the people that you are listening to.
T111yis77 shii n1 ho di11h d77 gi 1t10 {eetsoh bi deezla Din4 yaay1[ti go. D77 [eetsoh bi deezla bee 1 n1hwiit4h7g77 y4ego bikeh kahnaaldeeh go nai[na, bideezla a[tah 1daat4ego nihi tahdi bii di nih7 dash jah7g77 doo y11t44h da. D77 1[ah siidl9 7g77 nih1 n7 di dool y44[ nisin. A[ah sidl97g77 nih1 yidoo tsooh go k4yah nih1 nidoolzhoo[. Nih7 Kin1h1gai d66 W11shindoon [ah d00 nih7 k11 dooh jaah.aad00 n1h7so0 t1ago da77 s7n0[ts33 d00 kwe4 ha dais dzi7g77 binaj8 hazh00 dooh k2s go beeado[wo[ kodi.
Where is it that you will be able to contribute? Just like this Black Mesa that I'm talking about, these the Navajo people, the other Native Americans that we live with beyond. We live with the Hopi Tribe and we have the White people as well as the White Mountain Apache that we live with and we're intertwined. We are the Navajo people. We want to be able to see this cleanup, because we have compassion for life, the -- compassion and reverence for both people and the earth. Why can't we come together for to work together and see a result-- in the prior years we have come together to really sit down and see how we can contribute to create a plan that will be used to initiate cleanup of the mess.
Ha17l1 [ah d00 adesh wo[ l1 noh sin. D77 Dzi[ Y7jiin di d0 t11 k0t4, nihi Din44 d00 koj8 1tah Din44 bi[ k44hwiit7h, d00 bil11h g00 da [a kodaat4. Kis1anii bi[ k44hwiit9 7nda Bil1g1anaa da d00 Dzi[ {igai Di4 da t111t4 a[kih des diz ak0. Nih7 47 Din4 niidl9. K4yah nidadoolzho[ gi yi diil ts44[ niidzin, j0 baa y7n7, hin1anii bich8 nida hwiin1ago jin4[98 go, y4ego baaha joob17 d00 nihi[ nil9. Nih7 Niasdz11n d00 Niasdz11n bik11 gi hin1anii t111yis77 nihi[ nil9
110 d00 da di yin go 1daat4. Ha1t77sh biniinaa doo a[hi[ diil nish da, hat77sh t33 koni hosin. Nahd66 a[ch8 n7di nii b88h ndi tah doo bee1ho doo n7lii [a bikI diil n7i da kwe4 k4yah [eetsoh bideezla bee bi doonish7gi, t0 nihi[ da ho di chxosh go doo44h0zin da.
The Blue Gap area has some uranium mines as well.
We've made some mistakes in the past. We don't know how to carry out a cleanup, those of us that live out there. It's very emotional for me because a lot of my children have passed on. I remember them during their birthdays.
I just cry because it's emotional for me.
Bis Doot[;izh di t11 k0t10 [44tsoh bideezla t0 bikih hoh noodzood go h1nidaazh nish y66 h11 g00 sh99h da dzizl99. Nahd66 sh99h t111n77 00lzii 1deilyaa go 1t4, bee l3 nidaiizl99 gi. Kodi k4yah nidoolzhoo[ gi doo nihi[ b44 h0zin da, 11di ]eetsoh bideezla bitah di da nihi ghan7g77. T0 b11 h1 dzid go baa y7n7 a[d0, j0 shaa[ch7n7 shaa n47 dii nil dish n7. D77sh j98 di daazh ch7n n44j8 1n7 da hwiil zhish go haa dash cha [eh.
What kind of impact are out there, and we are just we sitting around and waiting. You federal government didn't tell us that this was risky.
We didn't get the safety aspects of uranium mines. Nobody told us this. It was so -- it was the Federal Government that took the resources and paid others for money. We feel -- I feel people are more empathic I know we Din4 are that we're more compassionate than that.
Ha1t77sh 1yis77 [eetsoh biudeezla nihitah di y47n7t7h, t0 k00h nida hiil tsaad go t0 biba 1niit4 nahwin77dlin. Nih7 Kin1h1gai d66 W11shin doon noh [98nii t1adoo d77 b11 h1dzidgo 1t4 nihi doo niid da, bee22h33h asin 7gi naanish bi[ dan7ti gi t1adoo bikeh g00 1o[a1 da. Doo ndi bee nihi[ h00ne da a[d0. D77 Kin1h1gai d00 [eetsoh nisin n7igo k00h [eetsoh hadas geed ndi t0 b1 ni
111 daazhnish gi t47 b4eso 1daalyaa d00 n7l11h g00 daazl99. Y0 w44 go, t11 siih dinidzin [eh, nih7 1k0 niit4, siih di niidzin go jiinii ba hin1anii bich8.
I think all of us in the prior years when the exploration was happening -that we should have ask questions about what is it that they want that brings them here? We should have sat down with them to determine what they were looking for. We want to know the miners historical past -- we want to go back and find the historical issues that would have been a problem, but we didn't. We have educated people here that will see to these issues because they're educated.
Sh7 baa n7ts4skees go, 77sinisin T11 n7l47di t0 nidaa[kaah y66h d33 ha1t77sh yiniy4 k00h nidaakai, ha1t77sh h1 dei deeez99 da dii n7i go daats7 nih1 ash jaiilaa n7t44 nisin. &7d33 bi[ dah di neebin go h1 dei d44z97g77 kwe4 baa y1 deil ti n7t44 sha shin. H47t4ego nahd66 haageed j7 naanish gi h1nidaazh nish7g77 da, b7na da77 d7 diil ki[ n7t44 1ko 477 bee1n7dahwiit4e doo gi da b44 da hozin doo nendi t1adoo da sil99. Kad 477 k00h nida asta7g77 ihitah j0 11j7 bii dahojoo9go d77 nidaji[ kaah go doo k0 n11 doon7i[ da.
Now we're at the table. We are now sitting with an overwhelming problem. So we need to come together to do this together so we can create a successful program, projects that will clean up our land. We went to Fort Sumner on the Long Walk because the federal government alleged that we were infringing on others.
Kad k00h atah [ah d00 siida. Ndi ts7d1 ndtsaa go 1n1 hwiit;44h nihi d11h s83 k00h. Hazh00 a[h77 dii kah go kwe4 [eetsoh bi deezla d00 k4yah ni da dool zho[ gi b44 baa ni diil nish7g77 hashteh diil n77[ go nih7 k4yah hasht44h da doon77[. N5l477 Hw44l di go n ani hi di nees dzood,Tah nah d66 Kin1h1gai d66 B44 Na hz1a nii doo bikeh da hono[ 98d da n00h Hw44l di g00 nah nihi di
112 nees kaad.
Our medicinal medicine are disappearing, we were not able to get the medicine. Some herbs are very far to find; we went to the ocean for herbs. We were told that we were marauding tribes. We were able to come together with other Indian tribes to be able to save our own people. These are some issues that we live through. It was overwhelming at that time.
Nihe az4 k00h ni da ha dleeh y66 1 da bi nii diid, doo baa da haztI da g00 t47 da h0l=, N7l477 T0 niteel bighah di [a bin7y4 t1dii kai nih7. {a n11 D7ne baa t88h n1 k1h d00 bee danoh 88h da nihi di n7i go nahash zhizh.
Din4 [ah d66 n11n1 kahii bi[ a[ah n7dei dleeh go yis d1 yii kai.K0t10 nihi[ nahash zhiizh nah d66, Y4ego ndtsaa d00 tI7l11 ne hwii ni dzin go nahash zhiizh.
I am 80-plus years old. Maybe 12 years -- maybe this meeting will be lost to my mind because Im getting older, we better record all this. I don't know if this meeting is even being recorded. I would like to see this be -- to be recorded. I think many of you are in support of this idea.
D77 tseeb7 diin d00 niwoshj8 shi n11hai. Naaki ts1adah daats7---d77 1[ah nii dl7n7g77 daats7 doo shi[ b44 hodoo dzi[ da, n11s yish [ee[
go, saad daats7 bik11 yini[. Bik11 daats7 bik11 yoh n7[ go 1t4. T111yis77 saad bik11 ni doh i[. L37 sh99h a[d0 1kw77 noh sin.
We are Native people of different tribes who have lived through some of the horrendous injustice weve lived through here. There's people living all the way from the beaches of Western Pacific Ocean and more people up this way. We are compassionate peoples. We are a people of reverence. We believe in the sacredness of the natural resources.
Bik1g7 Yisht[izhii nii dl98 nii a[tah 1niid t4enii dool1 d0 sh99
113 atI ni hi dool 88d da nah d66 hoolzhish d33 doo B7l1asdlaii niidl98 g00 doo a[hee[t4ego nihaa n7ts7h1 kees go. Ts7d1 [37 Bik1g7 Yisht[izhii dani l98 nii 44ahh d66 t0 niteel d00 dei go dabik4yah go ak00h dabi ghan. Da jii niiba go 1niit4. T11 a[tsoh nihi[ da ni l9i go k44h da hwiit7 k00h. Niasd11n bik11 gi h0l=-
niihin1anii ts7d1 diyin go nihi[ nil7.
Maybe that is why we are talking about it and you don't understand what we mean. You don't understand us, but if you can pick it up so we both can pick up what we each mean, you and I want to understand each other's -- we have to talk. That's the only way that we will all understand each other.
D77 kot10 baa y47lti go daats7 doo biki dooh tiih da go baa y47l ti. Doo biki dooh t88h g00, 47 heit4ego da ni di doo[44[ 1k0 t11 a[chish d66 a[ki dii t1a go nih1 y11t44h doo, t11 1yis77 baa y47lti go t47 1doon77[,
j0 kot10 t47 nih1 kih doo doo[go a[ ki dii t1a do.
Our children, our future generation, that is a big, big issue that I want you to take home with you. Our children. No matter how much you've cried about it, you can never overstep these issues that I feel they will live with if nothing becomes of this meeting. It will always remain, whatever mistake you've made or leaving something incomplete. These leaders are presenting to you what they believe will assist in the cleanup.
Niha 1[ch7n7, kod66 n11 nohts44lii, ts7d1 ndtsaah go bi[ shi zh00d 1kwe4, 47 sh1 ni di doo[44[ go baa ni do[nish. Niha1[ch7n7 sil1a gi. Ts7d1 l37di baa j77 cha ndi doo bitsis nizh di dool ta[ da. D77 kwe4 a[ah nii dl7n7g77 doo yitsoi g00 b7 yii ni n11n1 kai doo. T11 1j7l44h sh99h doo t11 a[tsohj8 hashteeh n44h da ndi t1adoo t0 b7ni 1k0 t4h7 go baa nijilnish. K00h nihi Naat1anii nihi ch8 saad ni da yiin77[ k0t10 sh2 daan7i go sh99h nihik4yah n7dool z0[ han7i go.
114 My father although he was not educated went to work.
There are times when you feel like you're just defeated and there are things that are not done the way you want it done. These are -- you should take care of these things that are in our way. Now we've got uranium. When it first came how come we didn't get any paper? And they all moved away without letting us know. Why did they leave in such a hurry? So from my point of view that is a real concern for me. How come? Where is those papers that show us why they left and how -- and what their names were?
Shizh44 doo 7[ta da ndi nash nish. {ahda t0 t11 dool44 hade4 t88h d00 doo 1dool n7ljin7 Ako d77---bich33h da h0l=- n7g77 nahj8 k0 daalyaa go ch8ho n7ti go1dooln77[. zin7gi 1t10gi dah 1[88h. kad kwii [eetsoh bideezla nihi dei 1dzaah. T0 1[ts4edi y66h d33 sh2 heit4ego naaltsos [a nihi[
77shj11n 1daalyaa da. D00 b1 nidaazhnish y66 t0 n7 diin1, t1adoo nihi[ hane4.
T0 tsx77[ go nah g00 ko daa dzah. D77 sh7 y4ego shi di[1a go n4sh9. Ha1t77sh biniy4? Naaltsos sh2 h11di h11t77h b22h t0 nizh diin1 kod00, haat77sh da jooly4 d77 h1nidaazhnish7g77.
They should redo -- do things to correct things for us. They should make it -- some changes for us so that our lives are much better, somebody that can speak to us in a good way and our children and my grandkids and my relatives and my leaders, people from all distance you're coming from. It is hard. It is difficult.
Kodi nih1 hash t4eda hozh doo dl77[ go---haszh00 k4yah n7 dazh doo sh0[. Hazh00---[ah go 1t44go ako nihe iina t11y11t44h doo y66h.
Saad y11t4hii bee, nihaa[ch7n7 t11 nih00lt2 go nihi ts00k4 /nihi n1l7 k4 d00 nihi k47 da d00nihi naat1anii d0 7nda B7laasdlaii a[tsoh bi[ k44hwiit98 nii da a[heeh da n7zah d66. Nih1 na nit[ah. Y4ego nani t[ah go 1t4.
115 We don't do things like that. When we do stuff -- when we're going to go for yucca to wash our hair, we know how to do that. And we know how to weave and to make rugs. That's all we dig for. We don't go -- to go dig down into the ground and we don't do those things. That's why it's difficult for us to understand these things from here.
Doo 1iil7n7gi 1t4ego adaji[98 da l47 doo b4honiilzin da, nih7 koj7 t11dool44 77ln44h go ---tsaaz9 hei t88h go bee nihi tssit1adigis go doo k0hon7[t44go bik1 naiigeed da. D00 bt11dool44 bee adoo t[0[ go hazh00 go heit77h. ![ts7s7 go hei go. Doo n7zaad g00 bik1 iigo da, doo 1kwii t98 da.
Kod00 niil98 go doo bikI dii tiih da kot100 1aj7 nizaad00 naoh geed gi.
I feel like I could talk for another -- and so my throat -- and for me to talk from a distance so it does affect me. So that's all I want to say.
Thank you, my children. Thank you.)
Nizaad g00 niy1zh doo[ t44h ndishid1yid00 niz11d 66 n7y1 go kwe4 hasdz77, y4ego sh1 ni[dzi[ d00 nashi[n1. T11 k0n7[tsoh go haasdz77 doo, ah3hee sha1[ch7n7. Ah4hee)
MS. HOOD: Thank you. Grace. (Translation of Native language spoken: Your comments will close at 5PM according to our agenda keeper, so make your talk shorter.)
MS. HOOD: Ah4hee. Grace. (Din4 bizaad kehj7 ata hane.
Hada hodzih7g77 asdladi j8 a[ch8 k0dooln77[ go bik11 naaltsos bikeh go hoogh11[7g77, 1ko t11a[ts77s7 go hada hodziih.)
MR. HOOD: (Translation of Native language spoken:
Greetings my people/relatives.) I'd like to say hello, my relatives and all my young fellows and young women and all of you that have come. Tony is my name.
116 MR. HOOD: (Din4 bizaad kehj7 ata hane. Y11t44h shi Din44 d00 shik47). Y11t44h nihi dishn7id doo shik477 d00 nohts4[8 d00 chih k47 d00 7nda kwe4 nihiso kai h7g77.
Singer of songs, before the Bureau of Indian Affairs threatened my parents with jail time for me to go to school. So English is my second language so bear with me. Sometimes I get tongue twisted.
Hat1[7g77, BIA shim1 d00 shi 1w1alyah bee b7di ts7h d33 doo )lta j8 77sh 1ago b22h. D77 biniinaa Bilag1anaa bizaad doo hazh00 bee y1shti da [ah da shizaad t0 a[ kih ni dei[ gis n1dleeh. $77 sh1 baa1ko nohsin.
I am a Vietnam-era veteran. I have two older brothers that went to Vietnam. They are still in the battle from Agent Orange. There is a list of our veterans right there. Take time to look at it. (Translation of Native language spoken: Thank you for being here.) Today, I was scheduled to go in for surgery.
Sh7 477 Vietnamdi da7h7 joogh33d33 nis4baa 1adi. Shilah naaki go d0 Vietnam g00 naazh 11zh, Tagdii B11dahadzidii Agent Orange woly4ego yi[ ahi gh3.Bee b22h da hooa. K00h sil10[its0777 bizhi da bik11 da d7 no[88[. (Din4 bizaad kehj7 ata hane. Ah4hee k00h nihiso kai) D77j9 naalgizh biniy4 azee22h 1l98 di yah iish1ah n7t44.
They found some polyps in my kidney and a crystalized object in my kidney. It might be uranium or gold. So it's a good thing they postponed my appointment and I have another day to fight.
Shi chx21shk1zh7 b22h han7sh32 l1 hanooh d00 bii di ha1t77sh99h ts4k- nahalingoo sil1. {eetsoh daats7 bideezla 1t4 d00da 47 )olaa.
Shi[ y11t44h sh1 n11s dest1n7g77 [aaj9 bi[ naaahish gh3.
I work in the uranium (inaudible) for 11 years and I work on
117 the surface and down in the mine. I was involved in a rock fall. Some rocks came down and pinned me in a squatting position like this.
{ats1adah shi n11hai {eetsoh h11g44d bii nashnish go Ni bik11gi d00 nit[1adi nishis nish ([ago doo diitsa da). {ah da ts4 shikii[ daaz, d7igi 1t10 dashishj7i go ts4 shikii[ d11z.
I don't know how long, but when I came to I had a 2x3x2 boulder sitting on my back and my coworker was a fresh recruit and I told him to take a lag, and it's a 3x12x6-foot piece of lumber, I told him to put that lumber under the rock and try to pry it up, but was to no avail.
Shi[ 4n1hoosdzin go t1h n7t44 ts4 ndtsxaah l47 ah77gh33 d66 bikih das83 d00 bi[ ni dash nish7g77 1aj7 tsineehesh j77 sit1n7g77 d77 ts4 bit1tah 00h ts44h go nahj8 1b0h77[ dishn00h t1adoo 1dz1a da.
So he went to the lunchroom and brought back some people. Four guys had to push that rock over and they dug me out. So it's true, what doesn't kill you makes you stronger.
!ad00 1kw77 daad3 bi[ haz3 n7 d66 d98 go Din4 y7kai go h11 da siz99z. Ak0 d77 t1adoo shish h8i da go t0 bee shidziil 1shii laa.
When I was small in the late early '50s, some geologists came around and back then, way back, our elders used to bury people in rock crevices and fill it with rocks and sticks, apparently that archeologist, geologist, found that body and he dug it out and he brought it back and it really made my grandma mad.
Tah nes ts4[ h66h d33 asdladiin t0 h11hai d33, ts4 nidei[kaah7g77 [a yi kai, 77d33 B7laasdlaii 1din go t0 ts4 kiz g0ne4 adajiin7[
n7t44 ts4 d00 tsin bi[ ni da jii n7i[ go. !ko sh99h 1dtsool yinidaalnish7 d00 ts4 nidei[ kah7 sh99h [a Din4 y00 1lyaa go h11 des t98 l1 d00 n7dest9 7nda shima
118 s1n7 yikeh bi[ hazh chiih.
She said get that son of a bitch out of here. But that's mild compared to what she said in Navajo. So we have been exposed to that desecration of burials, desecration of archeological sites, desecration of our shrines. I have witnessed it.
$7 nahg00 k0n1[dl44h sh99 d77 niid! Din4 bizaad kehj7 go y4ego yikeeh b1h00ch88d. !ko h00t88d7g77 bee siikai [h0chx01j8], t11a[tsoh anaaz17j7, doo nihe4 ool88[ y7chxogi. $77 bee baaako niiz99.
I used to herd sheep here. My parents, they live right here near the mine. My dad had COPD and my mom had a piece of her ascending colon removed. There were some polyps.
K00h na;nish kaad n7t44. Shinm1 d00 shizhe4 t11 k00h haag4d7 biighah g00 k44hat7i n7t44 Shi zh44 biyol b44 b22h da haz1an7t44 d00 shim1 47 bichii diil nosh n1aj7 go dei go n7ti7g77 [ah b1 haa gizh. Bi chx77h diil bitsa ni n7s65 go biniinaa.
So it's true, (Translation of Native language spoken: its dangerous,), it's dangerous. (Translation of Native language spoken: Its a very aggressive serious and chronic ailment), very dangerous. So thank you for coming out here, the Commissioners, and everybody.
T11an77, (Din4 bizaad kehj7 ata hane. b1h1dzid) B1h1dzid.
(Din4 bizaad kehj7 ata hane. D77 bee 22h dahaz32 go tsx7[ go nooh ts44[ d00 y4ego bikeh ka ni jigh1a[ [eh) Y4ego b11h1dzid. !ko 1h4hee kwe4 nihaanoy1h7g77, Commissioner noh[7n7g77 d00 t111mo[tsoh.
We need to get rid of this, not prolong it. I live up here and my children used to walk to the bus stop and that's a contaminated area over here now.
119
{eetsoh tsx77[ go nahg00 k0yaago t47 t1adoo baa na1hodiil ziid7. K00h shighan sha1[ch7n7 k00h n7d7kaah go 0lta g00 chid7 yiih n1hjaah d77
[eetsoh bideezla bi[ atxiin g00.
(Translation of Native language spoken: Its true its a health hazard and its here within our community.) I would like to thank my mom, Shima. (Translation of Native language spoken: You gave a very illuminating well prepared comment here; very thankful for it.) and then all the other people that spoke before me. So I just wanted to take this time out to say a few words. Thank you.
(Din4 bizaad kehj7 ata hane. D77 t11an77d ats77s y33h dahas3 k00h k44hwiit7n7g00 naazhjaa 7g77 ) Shim1 ah4hee shim1,( Din4 bizaad kehj7 ata ahne. Ts;7d1 nizh0n7 go saad hashteel yaa go nikizh doo t7[gi1t10 nihi ch8 h47n7dz77 kwe4 Doola do shi[ y11t44h da ) d00 1ad66 shil32j8 haadzi7g77 d0---k0n7[ts0h7go haasdz77 doo. Ah4hee.
MS. HOOD: Go ahead. Thompson.
MS. HOOD: Wohj8.Thompson.
MR. BELL: (Translation of Native language spoken:
Greetings). Thank you for putting me on the list. My name is Thompson Bell. That's my brother, Peterson, and my wife there, Rose. She deals with a lot of stuff that I deal with.
MR. BELL: (Din4 bizaad kehj7 ata hane. Y11t44h )
Ah4hee kwe4 shizhi bik11 0[aah7g77Thompson Bell yinishy4Nighei shi[ah 1t4 Peterson, d00 she;4sdz11n Rose kwe4. H0d0 t11 bee sh22h dahaz1n7g77 b44 h22h dahaz1 go bikeh kanei taash.
One of the things that a lot of my family don't talk about is the health issues, because mine is different. I don't know if it's the same as
120 theirs, but mine is a skin issue.
Sh7 shighan bi[ haz1a d00 doo nihi ts7s nihitadi bee b22h dahaz1n7g77 doo ts7d1 baa y47ti da,Sh7 h7g77 [ah go1t4. {a daats7 k0n0t4 a[d0, shik1g7 bik11 g00 bee sh22h da haz1.
Even IHS or RMCH, they don't recognize my issues. Why it's always lung disease? But I was going to make it a word picture, but there is a museum in Grants about what a uranium mine looks like.
Azee 22h 1l9 RMCH d00 IHS bee sh22h da haz1n7g77 doo bi[
b44 da. Ha1t77sh biniinaa t111ko aj47 yiz0lii han7i [eh? K0d00 nih1 ni desh ch22h nisin n7t44, ndi n7l477 Grants di dan4l9 bi[ haz3 1adi d77 [eetsoh k0t4 n7i go yaahalne.
One time I took my family over there and, here, I told them this is too clean. But I have been in the mine for five years. I worked with my brother there and Tony would be working up there in the slopes and I will be down here fixing things, because I was a mechanic, but my brother he stood right there where the wind was.
{ah da danel98 g00 sha1[ch7n7 nish sh4 eezh, d77 yee doo b22h chin da dishn7Sh7 47 asdla shin11 hai [eetsoh haa g44d g00 yaa nash nish go. Shilah bi[ nish sh shish nish d00 Tony d0 477 koj7 slopes j7 ni jilnish [eh sh4 477 t11dole4 hash t44h nash 99h go -Mechanic nish l98 go b22h, shilah 477 ts7d1 n7yol7gi dah ni ji gh1a[ [eh.
The wind was constantly like this where they called it a station where the shaft comes down and they'll be the, the cage, which is the elevator, and you'd be standing right there taking all the supplies in and I'll take the stuff back in the back to the mechanic shop, but he stood there and that's what I think his health issues are.
121 Ts;7d1 t11 n7yol7 [eh, 1kwe4 station bidin00h, 1kwe4 bigha 1daiilch33l 1t4, akw77 da s83cage; deigo d00 yaago n7d7l woelevator, ts7d1 1kw77 jizh98 go t11dol4e dad11 hani[. 1ad00 hasht4eh daal88h binej7 go, 11d00 jiz99h [eh ne 477 daats7d1 bee h22hda haz1 nisin.
You know, my sister couldn't talk much because the allergies is getting to her right now. Her name is Jackie, way in the back in the brown. That's my sister.
D00 shilah d0 t1a doo haadz77 da y4ego ha allergi4s h47 n7t8 kad, Jackie woly4 n7l477 d66 h0niid d66 sid1 47 shilah 1t4.
She can't really talk right now because her asthma is kicking in. A lot of the things that happened to her could be the results of what this uranium has done to our bodies.
Haz doo dzih7gi doo y11 sh00d da hayol doo b1 y11t44h.
D77sh99 a[d0 d77 [eetsoh bideezla 1h1[9 bee nihi tah di y22h dah nahas3.
Right now, she adopted six children, six. Many times we'd never think about other children because we are busy doing our life, working, but she had an opportunity to affect six lives, but my, myself, my wife and I, we adopted four boys, and then my daughter and the other daughter, she adopted one, Teri, and then my other daughter adopted two.
1ko h1st33 1[ch7n7 ji nees3, h1st33h [a nisii z9 doo kot10 a[ch7n7 d7 n7i zee[ da, j0 neilnish, d00 niheiin1 yiiltih niidzin, 1kondi b7 47 h1t33h 1[ch7n7 yines3. Sh7 d00 sheesdz11n 477 d99 ashiik4 nel z3 shitsi Teri d0
[ayines3 d00 [a n11 shitsi 477 naaki 1]ch7n7 yines 3.
So why can't we take an opportunity to allocate some money to help get all of these stupid uranium mines cleaned up?
!ko sh2 heit4ego nihi 47 doo b4eso b1 ch7 dinooh aah da d77
122
[eetsoh bideezla naazhjaa7g77 nahg00 bee k0 dool n77[ gi.
A lot of times you talk to a family that says how did manage to budget for your family? We just did it. That's what they say. They don't say we have this much money for him and her.
{ah da t11 h47 da nab7zh d7[ ki haash2 yidt4ego naa[ch7n7 b4eso b1 nanidzoh ni[ haz1 bi ji niih go t0 7ioyaa dani[ [eh. Doo 47 ba1[ch7n7 b4eso bitas dzoh g00 yaahalne dah [eh.
No, families are made right there and the money comes when you make it, and you make it happen. So if the NRC is the one that is making EPA not help us, then it's time that we opened that door.
Nidaga, 1[ch7n7 haleeh t11 1k00h, d00 b4eso b1aj7[7n7g77 bee biyaa hojo[aah. Da NRC 7sh EPA doo hazh00 yi[ dil n77sh da j0 1ko 477 kaad B122 1zh dool77[ go bi[ ji doolnish.
We, as a family, know that generally will not hold because me, my brother, know how this water can come down. See, the three mesas.
When they get rain the perky here fills up and it tears up everything down the road.
Sh7 d00 shilah d00 sha 1[ch7n7 nihi[ b44 h0zin d77 k00h t0 ni dadi[ ha[7g77, doo t33 k0j0 l44h 1t44 g00 bi dzxiil go jo[ ha[ [eeh.
Ha1t77sh99h bid11h sil47 1yii j11h. D77 nihi[ b44h0zin. N7l477 Dzil da naazk1n7g77 t11 go sinil, 11d66 bikoohPerky, nah[tx99h go, 11d66 t0 ch4h goh d00 k0yaa t11 dool44 yoozi[ go 77goh. .
It buried a 16-foot pipe that the mine put in for a bridge. At first the pipe builders only burial place and then the whole weight of it just shoved it right into the ground and here is only four feet sticking out. That's how powerful the water is.
123 Kwe4 [ah da hast33 ts1adah k4 sil1 1ni[ neez go b44sh naa nii na n7 1h biniy4 ts4 naa nii t3. T0 bikih oo g44d d00 nida has tx33 go t0 ch7[ haal d00 b44sh t11 b7 bee ni ndaaz 7g77 yeeh n47s baal d00 [eeyi g00 yaa 77go d00 t11 d99 k4 sil1h1 go h111 kad. Ak0t10 t0 bi dzxiil.
On top of that, if you see this little trailer out here, that's considered a 1,250 pound trailer. Why are we putting an elephant on there and trying to drive it around when we do the same thing with that tailing and put on that mineral site that's already covered and now we're going to uncover it so we can put some more stuff on it.
T11 bil11h di, d77 ak44 naadziz7 nahdi siz9 n7g77 47 naaki ts1adah d00 biaan asdla diin 1n7[d11s go 1t4, Ha1t77sh biniy4 47 bik11gi [a ay00 n11n7 daaz go bikih dan11 doo jiihgo noo 1dooln77[. J0 d77 nigh47j7 [eetsoh daa k1a n7t47gi d0 1k0t4 [a noo 47 22 1dool n7[ go [a bik11 di ni n11 doo jiih don7.
We know what's gotten underneath there. We know what that line is going happen, what's going to happen to it. We don't have to be educated. We know what weight does.
Nihi[ b44 h0zin d77 1kwe4 noo7g77 biyaadi 1hoot4h7g77.
D00 bi[ 1ho doon7[7g77 d0 b44 h0z7n7 yee, doo 1j7i[ta da ndi d77 ho[ b44 h0zin
[eh. J0 y4ego ndaaz, ndaaz7g77 bee n4l98 go.
If you guys look at things like the Hoover Dam, the Grand Canyon Dam, those weights of the water causes earthquakes. People don't realize that. That's probably what will happen to that thing, too.
D77 da n0[9 Hoover Dam Grand Canyon Dam doaly4h7g77 Nan71 1daal yaa go t0 1n7[ d1sgo dah7d4 y98 go bee k4ayh n11 h1naa. D77 doo baa1ko dazn7 dzin da. D77 1k0 doo n77[ kwe4 1k0t10 1dool n77[ do n7n7g77.
124 We do not know what the weight of things do. We're not under there. So when we take time to try to tell people something, like grandma here was talking, why do we get taken to the Fort Sumner.
D77 t11 doole4 1da n7[ d1 s7 g77 [ahj8 77 dool77 [ii doo b11 1k0 nii dzin da. Doo 1adi sii tx98 d a[d0. T11 doo le4 koj8 baa hwiil ne go, d77 k0t4 dii n7i go k00h nhim1 s1n7 d77 biniinaa H44ldi g00 niz1z7 ni das kai n7 n7 gi 1t10.
It was the government that did it to us. Why are we waiting for the government to help us again? Please help us by the sense of (audio interference). Why, is it the color of our skin? Are they just something that we can throw away?
J0 W11shindoon 1nihi[9. 1ko t0 W11shindoon n11 biba 1niit4 ha1t77sh biniy4? T11 shood7 k0t10 (doo hazh00 diitsa da), Haash yidt4ego biniinaa, da nihik1g77sh biniinaa? T00sh tsxiil z47 naha lin go t0 nah g00 1[ hel t[iid h7g77 1nii t4?
No, let them all die off and maybe we can be quiet then. Is that where this kind of situation is going to lead to? I remember Mr. Ben Shelly standing, sitting at an office down in Gallup, he said get this tailing out of Navajo Nation.
Dooda, b7ni a[tsoxoh da nin4, 1ko sh99h doo 77tsa1 doo, sh99h nohsin. Da [eetsoh bideezla baay1 deilti7g77sh 1k00 deezti 7g77 1t4? Ben Shelly binaj8 hashne d77 b4 n1sh niih, Nan7zhoozh7 di naa nish b1 haz30 di sid1, d77 [eetsoh bideezla Din4 Bi k4yah d00 n7woshj8 k0[44h d77 niid ne.
Oh, okay, we'll move it right across. And that's what happened. That's what they are wanting to do now. I know Tony Tom lives down the road there and all that dust is going to hit him again.
125 H1g00sh99h, t0 ts4naaj8 k0 dooln7[. !k0 da jiilaah. T11 1ko n11 da diil n77[ n11 hwii ni dzin d77 kad.Shi[ b44 h0zin Tony Tom ts7d1 1kwii bighan d77 [eetsoh bideezla bi [eezh nikih j8 go n11n7 tsaa doo n11n1.
This is not far enough for us. I'm sorry to say it's not only one pile; there is a second pile. What are you going to do with the second pile? We haven't talked to you about that.
!k00[aah go 47 tadii yee t11 nihi nii gi shijaa. Doo t11[17 da [a n11 h0l=. $7ish 477 haa n11 do[ dl77[? {a n11 n1sh jaa7g77 tah doo baa y1 deil ti da.
This is the first pile. Nobody is looking at things in the sense of future. They are waiting for us, like I said, to slowly die off.
D77 al32j8 [eetsoh [eezh bi[ hadasgeed7g77 1t4. Hash yidt4ego doo t11 doo le4 nee nij8 no[98 da. T0 nihi ba, b7ni a[tsoh ni n4 sh99h da nih0 n7. Dishn7.
In 2012 my mom died, lung complications. Guess what?
She said this thing will never be resolved and she died. I can still smell her tortillas cooking in their kitchen. That was my mom.
Naadiin d00 biaan naaki ts1adah yihah d33 shim1 1din, bi j47 yil z0lii neez t[ah go. &7d33 1j7n7, D77 ts7d1 doo [a doo n77[ da ji d77 niid 1ad00 1jidin. Tah dii n1 nes kaad7 ho chih y11n al7n7 gone4 n1sh ch77h. D77 shim1 n7t44.
So I am just telling you people what are we waiting for? We are waiting for them, because I hear EPA saying what is NRC going to say first. That's what I hear. I don't see them saying, oh, we're EPA, we can do this. No. Let's see what NRC says first.
Ha1t77sh biniy4 t0 bi ba 1niit4? T0 a[tsohj8 bi ba, j0 EPA
126 1n7 77shj11n NRC haat77h n7i doo. K0t10 diis tsa. Doo 47 nihi EPA niidl9, k0t10 1 da diil n77[ daan7i da. Nidah. NRC ha1t77h n7i doo daan7.
That's where a lot of things are being held up but they, we're regulated by certain things. Mr. Joe Biden can make a lot of money to do with a lot of things, why don't we start making that money so we can have a bigger inflation so we can help our mines get cleaned up.
!kwe4 dah yis t[=h d00 bee Nahaz1anii yeeh ni deil0 a[d0.
Kin1h1gai di Joe Biden b4eso sh99h l37 go 1desh [77[ jin7zin, !ad00 t11 doo le4 da7l98 go b4eso [37 1dool7[ ako k00h [eetsoh hadasgeed g00 k4yah ni da dool zh00[.
Maybe it's a political stunt that they are here. I don't know.
But I'm just saying what my heart says, okay. This is me. You can say things about me, but I am just saying that these are in my mind what Im thinking.
T0 daa ts7 ko di ni haa haho di doo dlaa[ nosin go kwe4 noh kai. t0 bee 1 daz doo t98 go. Doo b44 h0zin da. T0 shi j47 biidi yaa halne7g77 11 dish n7. T11sh7. J0 1kw77 nisin 7g77 bee y1sh ti.
So, please, like my daughter, Teri, here, she gave you a mine tour. I really appreciate you young people, educating themselves so we can talk to these people. I thank you for that.
!ko t11shood7, k00h shitsi ha daas geed g00 nani hizh eezh.
!niid na[ deeh7g77 t111yis77 nihaa1h4 nisin, &h da ho[ aah go, binaj8 k00h Din4 nihaa y7 kai h7g77 bi[ a[hi[ nida hwiil ne. Ah4hee nihi dish n7.
Back then when I was growing up, we didn't know what these words were. We didn't know what the -- see, even when we tried to tell them we got exposed, the land is exposed, oh, that's no problem, that's
127 okay, and here the right word we are supposed to use was contaminated.
Nah d66, nih7 tah niil z4[ d33 d77 saad 7g77 ndi doo nihi[ b44 da h0zin da n7t44. D77 saad a[tah 1t4--- j0 akoh, ch44h baa hwiilne d77 bideedz1h7g7, k4yah b7 dee ch8h b22h sil99 goexposed yi[n7. Doo sh99h 1t4h4 da t0 hwii ni dzin. Kad sh2 y4ego y7 chx- go, biih da deez chaal go, bi da dii chxaal go da, biih daazh chaalcontaminated sh99h lei saad doo nihi[ b44 h0zin da..
Even that they were on a scale to a one to ten you guys are only a one because you're just exposed. We didn't know we were up there, eight, and nine, ten.
T0 b44 so y1exposed, w0lta go 47 w0yah di naal kid, d00 w0dah di naal kid da nihi di n7 1ko, ndi y4ego w0 dah di naal kid go doo saad b1 b44 ho niil zin7g77 b33h doo1t4 h7 da naha lin.
See, even that. We don't use the right words then we are just a by-something, you know, just get out of the way, you don't matter. So that's all I have to say, because, why. What else can we say?
Akwii n0[9. Saad doo b1 b44 h0zin g00 t0 nahj8 doo 1t4h7 da hwiini dzin, t111k0 n7[ tsoh go haasdzih, ha1t77sh d0 n11 dii n7id doo.
Maybe you could have came three years ago, four years ago, ten years ago, but why now, you know. So help us. Thank you.
N7l477 t11 d99, neezn1 da n11 hai d33 da kwe4 doo h11[
n7t44, kad 7nda ha1t77sh b33h a[t33h? Nih7 ka adoo[ wo[. Ah4hee.
DIRECTOR SHIRLEY: Ladies and gentlemen, (Translation of Native language spoken: my relatives), just so you know that we are going to be wrapping up here at 5:00, so (Translation of Native language spoken: its getting to five almost).
128 DIRECTOR SHIRLEY: Shooh, (Din4 bizaad kehj7 ata hane.
Shi k47, ) t0 nihi[ b44 h0zin doo asdla] di ool ki[ go kwe4 a[ah nii dl7n7g77 a[ch8 1ln44h doo. (Din4 bi zaad keh j7 ata ne. Kad66h aaj8 iilkeed )
So we have a few more speakers and then the speakers, you can kick me later, but two minutes and on topic would be appreciated.
Thank you.
T11 d7kw77sh99h tah doo haadzih da, tah sh99h shi dooh ta[
d77 naaki dah alzhin 1n7[tsoh go haiidziih doo k0 d00. Baa1h4 niidzin d00 ah4hee.
MS. HENIO: Hi. Good afternoon, Commissioners and Navajo Nation. My name is Grace Henio. I live here for the lifetime that I have been here put on this earth.
MS.HENIO: Y11 t44h, y11t44h a[n7n73 Commissioners d00 shi Din44. Shi 47 Grace Henio yinishy4. T11 ko d00 naash1 kwii shi yaa hazl99.
Commissioners, all I want to say is, please, listen to us.
Listen to my family. We have so many health issues on this because of the uranium pile that we live in.
Commissioners, t111yis77 da ni h77s7 no[ ts33 t11 shoo d7, shi47 d00 sha1[ch7n7 da k00h. ts7d1 t00 aha y077 ni hi ts77s bee b22h da nahaz3 go 1t4 kwe4 k44hwiit7n7g77 [eetsoh bi deezla bii da nihi ghan go.
Do we want to leave? No, we don't want to leave this beautiful land that we came to. We were born and raised here and we love this land and we are not about to leave.
Da kod00 7sh nah j8 ha da hii dii n4[? Dooda, doo n1h g00 ha da hi dii n44[ da d77 kwe4 k4yah ts7d1 ay00 1 nool nin go bik11 danihi ghan go doo 77 nii dzin da.
129 Some of our families have left already, but we want to stay here and we are asking for help. We want you guys to clean up this toxic waste and get it off our land, please.
{a t11 77d33 nah g00 ada haazn1, ndi nih7 477 t11 k00h niidzin, 1ko nih7 k1 oh jeeh. D77 [eetsoh be deezla nah g00 nihi k4yah bik11 d00 nah g00 ko[44h, t11shood7.
I have grandkids who have asthma. I've got brothers and sisters who have health issues. I've got my mom who died of cancer. This is not a laughing matter. Clean our air. Clean our plants. Clean everything around here. That's all I ask.
Shi ts00k4 / shi n1l7 k4 biyol bee bi ch8 ni da hwiin1. Bi[ h47 j44 d0 bits77s a[tah 1t4e go b22h da na haz3. Shim1 [00d doo n1d zihii biis h9h.
Doo t0 baaoodloh 1t4e da. N7[ ch7 ni dool zhoo[. Nihi n ani se ni da dool zhoo[.
T11a[tsoh ni da dool zhoo[ k00h. T11 47 dei y7 n7sh keed.
The other thing I also would like to say is, you know, toxic waste does not belong here on the Indian Reservation. It's toxic to our health, air, animals, plants, and our water.
[ah go d0 baa ha n11n1sh dziih, d77 [eetsoh bi deezla doo Bik1g7 Yisht[izhii bik4yah bik11 g00 naazh jaa da die y7n7 zin da. [eetsoh bi deezla nih7 ts77s y22h dahas3, nihi n7[ch7 da, nihi l99 da nihi nanise da d00 nihi t0 d0 t111t4 y22h da has3.
So listen, please, remove it. From God's ears to my heart I am begging you, please, remove it. Just like my brother said, Thomas, Mother Earth will find a way to destroy what you guys want to put in our backyard.
Ak0 da77s7no[ ts33 t11 shood7 nah g00 k0[44h. Diyin bi jaa
130 d00 n7l47 sjhi j47 j8, baa n1 ni hosh k33h nah g00 k0 [44h. Shi lah Thomas, 1n7 nihi m1 Niasd11n t11 b7 haash99h yid t4ego d77 [eetsoh nideezla nihi n77 gi noo 0[44h 7g77 yid o[
chx-[.
You are talking about a contamination repeat again. The floods here are very drastic. They are going to demolish what you guys are going to put in our backyard.
Naaki di bee n11 ho doo chx-[ go biniy4 baa y1[ ti. T0 ch44h da dzi[ ha[ go 1y00 bidziil. Kot10 t0 ch44h da dzi[ ha[ go t0 ni hi n77 j8 ch7 n11 nei doo zi[.
You guys are going to have a repeat, not only that, we've got, the first time when this mine, I mean the waste broke, what has happened, it went down the ditch all the way down to Puerco.
!k0 n11 doo n7[, j0 t1177d33 1ko dzaa, nan71 [eetsoh bi deezla bitah go t0 bi[ desh chxosh d33. N7l47 g0 yaa Puerco bikooh g00yaa 77na.
I have friends and family that live in Arizona whose family have passed away because of cancer. We have got people that actually go into the ditches taking a tractor, loading up dirt, and placing it into people's backyards, playgrounds, baseball fields.
Shi kis d00 shi k47 nah di Arizona di da bi ghan, [a [00d doo nadzihii yid ts32 d00 an1 has kai. N7l477 da bi kooh g00 da naa na yeeh [eezh ha da yii kaah go Din4 da bighan g00 yeeh hash t4 da hale, 1[ch7n7 bi daa ne bi[
nahz1a g00 ya da yii yeeh go hashte da hale, jo[ bee ni daa n4e g00 da.
We're not going to be the only one that's, you know, contaminate. Gallup is probably contaminated. The sports field, everywhere. Just like now, everything is blowing. Look at our shirts.
131 Doo t11 nih7 t47 da, nihi da he deez chxaal da. Nan7 zhoozh7 sh99 bi din7 chaal a[d0. Ni n1 daa neeh g00 d00 t11a[tsoh g00. D77 gi1t10 ni[
ni daa yoil go, nihi 44 no[9.
Look at everything. We are all dusty. So, please, have a heart. Thank you very much for listening to me.
K00h ni dao hal. {eezh bee ni s77 d1. Ako t11 shoo d7, nihi j47 sh99h h0l=. Ah4hee sh77 sh7n0[ ts33.
MS. HOOD: Mr. Martin?
MS. HOOD: Mr. Martin?
MR. MARTIN: If I may, Madam. (Translation of Native language spoken: This one?). Okay. (Translation of Native language spoken: Greetings gentlemen, greetings. Hello, all of you men and women.
I am from Pinedale.)
MR. MARTIN: kod00 sh99h. ( Din4 bizaad keh j7 ata hane.
Dad77?) H1g00sh99h. ( Din4 bizaad keh j7 ata hane. Y11t44h sha hast077 y11t44h, Y11t44h kooh hono [0n7g77, shi 477 T0 b44 hwis ghan7 d66 naash1.
)
Larry, we stand with you brother. That's all it is.
Larry, ni[ nisiiz9 shilah, t111k0t4.
Now we have been involved with this since 1979, July 16th, when it broke. The first meeting we were told, we were promised, hey, brother, don't worry about it, we're going to get you done in five years.
D77 baa ni di nii kai, n7l477 N1h1t47 t1adah d00 biaan tsostsidiin d00 biaan n1h1t477 yi hah d33 baa t88h yiil dee nan71 desh chxosh d33.1 ts4edi 1[ah sii dl99 go, asdla n11hai j8 a[tsoh bini doo nish da nihizh d77
132 niid.
What the hell happened the next five years? Nothing.
What happened? Tonight you are going to say we are going to kick this can ten more years down the road.
Haash h00t99d asdla n11hai da doo niid ne? !din. 1din t1adoo baa nidaazhnish da. D77 a77 3n7g77sh 47 d77 neezn1a ni n11n1 hai g00 bi[ an11 ho dool zhish n11 da di dooh n7[.
That's what you are here for, right? Hopefully you are educated enough today with all of the comments that if you pack them take it back, take it back to your office and get to work.
$77sh biniy4 k00h no[ deeh y1 ? K00h hada77s dz77 l37 da, 477 y44[ ad doo[77[ d00 ni dao[ nish di ni doh y44[ d00 ni di do[ nish 1adi.
Environmental Protection Agency. (Translation of Native language spoken: You too,) Superfund. Navajo Nation Superfund. Let's get to work on it. All we hear is people fighting, fighting, fighting and nothing gets done while we lose people here and my relatives from over the hill.
Kin1h1gai K4yah Biki Ad4st99 nih7 d0 -Environmental Protection Agency. (Din4 bizaad keh j7 ata hane. Nih7 d0) Superfund. Din4 Bi w11shindoon Superfund. Bini daa[ nish 11di T0 da 7hogh3, t0 daaho gh32 t47 agh1, d00 n11n1 da da aho gh32 g0 baa naah kai d00 ndi ni da[nish da. Kodi 47 B7la asdlaii nihi d7n7 d44h go haz3 d00 nigh47 shi[ haz1n7 j7.
There is more water, underwater contamination issues down in Pinedale. Brother Chris Shuey knows all about it, been serving the chapter officially for 30 plus years and this place is going on 40 plus years.
T0 haz32 gi, nigh47 T0 B44 hwisghan7 j7 nit[1adi t0 h8g88 t11ayis77 b22h da haz32 go t1diin n11 hai, kad d7zdiin biih yih11h, Chris Shuey
133 bi[ b44 h0zin bi[ nideil nish go t1diin n11hai.
Let's get it done, folks. Are we trustworthy? Are we trustworthy? Are we trustworthy? Well, if you are, if you think you are, show us, get this damn thing done.
Tsx77[ go a[tso 0[44h. Niha0dl77h yish? Niha0dl77h yish?
Niha0dl77h yish? Ak0t4ego 47 ts77[ go bi do[n77sh d00 0[44h.
MS. HOOD: Thank you. Mr. Robinson?
MS. HOOD: Ah4hee Mr. Robinson?
MR. ROBINSON: Thank you very much. (Translation of Native language spoken: Greetings.) I appreciate the opportunity to talk to you. Don't think we're talking about an engineered dam here.
Ah4hee ndtsaago. (Din4 bizaad keh j7 ata hane. Y11t44h)
This is just a pile of sand on a starter dam. No ground penetrating radar. No concrete core. It's just a pile of sand on a pile of sand and that is what GE is proposing as the best method.
D77 kwe4 nan71 n7t47gi [eezh t47 a[kih da shi jaa. Doo ni bi yaa t11 doole4 b1 yaa go y0t2 da. Doo ts4 n11 dl44[7 b1 aageed da, d77 G$ yaaha niih go b0h0 n44h dz1 yi[n7.
No wonder people have trouble trusting the NRC who says prime option, below grade, not on a flood plain, doesn't pass the test. There is an operating uranium mill and disposal site in Utah on Federal land, Crescent Junction, plenty of room for all of the tailings and the mine waste.
D77 ko da han7n7 g77 daats7 biniinaa NRC doo ba0h dl77h da, t0 ak44d siz9, bee al32j8 nahodil t4 go, neel 33h do gi ba1sdzoh, t0 nidaal22h g00 47 dooda, doo boh0 n4edz1a das t0 yee ak44 siz9. {eetsoh daak1 [a bi[ haz1 nigh477 Utah di t11 Kin1h1 gia w11shindoon bikl7yah bik11 gi bi[ haz3 Crescent
134 Junction woly4, 1afdi d77 k00h [eetsoh [eezh bi[ da das g44d7g77 b77ghah go b1 haz3.
You don't like that, try Segundo Coal Mine north of the Grants Mineral Belt, also 75-foot deep trench still being built, plenty of cover.
!1j7 doo nidzin g00, 477 Grants j7 n1hook-s j8 go [a Segundo Coal Mine woly4, tsostsid iin d00 biaan asdla k4 sil1 1n7z11d g00 ahoodz3 b1 oo go[ t1adii 1ln44h, bi kiih doo go[7g77 t00 aha y077.
You can consolidate all of the monitoring costs at one site.
These operating costs are going to eat you up. This wind and this sun are energy sources. We can pay for the cleanup by generating energy at the sites where the cleanup is needed.
T11[1h7j8 a[hiih j8 noo 1daalyaa gosh99h n1 n4l88h go doo t001h1y077 b4eso 1t89 da. N7ypl d00 j0honaa47 be eh dziil beeoonish go, t11 1kwe4 adziil 1l98 go bee n4eso 1l98 go, k4yah n1l zh-h doo.
No sense buying gas. My car is a hybrid plug-in. You can get the trucks to haul this stuff without burning gas.
Chid7 atsin nit[isjh yee nidaajeeh7g77 bee [eetsoh [eezh bi[
hadasgeed y66 1[hegeeh go, d00 chid7 bitoo dilidg00. Sh7 [a d77 chid7 nas b22s.t0 baa1n1ltiih.
One last thought, the EPA has refused to put a grade separation in for the road that is going to carry the mine waste to the tailings all under their plan. Thirty thousand trucks, 30 tons a piece, that's a million tons and that's before you even find the bottom.
T11[ah1 go n11n1, EPA d77 grade separation yi[n7 atxiin bik11 g00 [eetsoh [eezh bi[ haadas geed7g77 doo yin7zin da atxiin g00 b1 a[ts1 da astxiin 1l n44h go; j0 t1diin di dim77l yazh7 chid7 tsoh t1diin di ndtsaa go 1n7[ d1sh7g77 -
135 ton, chid7 tsoh bikeh 1n7[ d11s go 47 t11[a7 dim77l tsoh da hi d4 dlo doo [eetsoh leeszh bi[ ha das geed 7g77.
So that's a road that the kids that Tony Hood was talking about take to school every day. Can't put a grade separation in, not innovative technology.
J0 477 d77 Tony Hood kwe;4 yaa hoolne atxiin b11[ch7n7 yik11 g00 )lta g00 yik11 a[n11 n1 kai n7n7 g77. D00 a[ts1 daaztiin da doo n7, bee 1dayiis k3 nooh.
Come on, we can try harder. We can set a higher standard. People don't trust the uranium industry because they don't act like good Boy Scouts. They won't put things away better than they were before.
H11l47t4, t11 y4ego bi naanish go sh99h boh0 n44dz3. T11 w0dah di bee nits0h k ees. B7laasdlaii doo [eetsoh haa geed j7 b1 ni daanish7g77 yaaayo da hoolih j0 doo ts7d1 y11t44h go bi naanish a[tsoh gi y7ts32 j8 hi di k11h da. Doo k4yah ni deishooh da t0 yikih hini ch44h.
You can help them. Again, thank you very much, appreciate your time.
B7k1ooh jeeh. D00 n11 1h4hee, oolki[ h7gi baaah4 nisin.
MS. HOOD: Thank you. Linda?
MS. HOOD: Ah4hee Linda?
MS. WILLIAMS: (Translation of Native language spoken:
Greeting, Im Linda Williams.) I just live like down the road along the wash about 11 miles west.
MS. WILLIAMS: (Din4 bizaad keh j7 ata hane. Y11t44h sh7 477 Linda Williams yinish y4) Sh7; 477 d77 1txiin7g77 d00 bi kooh7g77 b22h g00 [ats1adah tsin si 3 44aah j8 go shighan.
136 So I just am thankful for giving me this time. The Commissioners, please, I am just here to plead with you guys to help the community, my people. We have been pleading with you for years and it's far too, gone too far pleading with you guys.
Kwe4 sh1 ho[ a7g77 baa ah4 nisin. Commissioners, t11shood7 kwe44 shi Din44 k44h at7n7g77 b7 k11 doo[ wo[. T11 n7 daii nii k22h g0 dikw77 sh99h n11 hai t11 n7 zaad g00 ni daiinii k22h.
It seems like it's just the cost is holding up. So there was a guy that said about allocation and stuff like that, I know that is going to be done, that can be done.
B4eso bee1ho doo n7[ii t47 t33 y0 ta nahalin. Kwe4 [a b4eso naa dzoh gi y11 haa dz77 ak0t10 sh99 1lyaa go b0h0 n44 dz3.
So we are, my people are really emotionally, mentally, and physically affected by this and to this day I was just wondering now and every day almost, we are still nervous.
Shi Dine4 t111yis77 bitahdi ni da bii[ n1, bini d0 dasdi[, 7nda bitah di d0 b22h da nahaz32 g00 yikeh k1 naa kai d77j98 ji, t1hdii bikeh t0 baa siiti ko di baa nit77 kes go.
Is it safe to cross the ditch, which we do every day. We live down there. We use the wash every day, especially like now it has blown into our areas. So, you know, you just wonder what do we tell our kids, it's okay to play?
Da bikooh y77sh nih1 y11t44h nii dzin t11 d7kw77 j9, chii diil88[ y7sh nii dzooh. Ak0ndi t11 d7kw77 j9 ak00h hi dii d11h. D77 kad n7yol n7l47 nihi ghan di bi[ ni daa yol. Ako sh2 niha1[ch7n7 hat77 bi dii n7id doo t[00 di ni daa n4, daatsi?
137 Like we used to play in the ditch when we were growing up and I'm telling my kids, my grandkids, to stay out of the ditch. So we're just waiting for the day for you guys to say it's safe, the waste is taken far away from you guys.
Nih7 477 da bikooh g00 yaa nidein4e[ [eh ne a[ch7n7 da nii dl98 d33 kodi 477 sha 1[ch7n7, shits00k4 / shin1l7 t1a doo bikooh g00 ni daa nehe bidish n7. Ako t0 nihi ba kad nihi k4yah ni d11l zhood di doh n7i[ gi baa yin7[ k32 doo nii dzin. N7zaad g00 k0 do[77[.
So we are pleading with you, we are eager, and going to answer. Please, I beg you, so my people, my community, will be whole again and the land will be beautiful again.
N1ni hoshk33h, b7k1 d7niit99, d00 nih1 ni di doo[44[ go k4yah nih1 ni dool zhoo[. T11shood7, shi Din4 b1, kwii k44hwiit7n7g77 nih1, nahd66 1daat4h44h gi 1n11nii t4edoo nihi k4yah nizh0n7 n1sdl88 go.
We should be having a party, birthday party or something, instead of having this issue here. So we -- It's about time we put a stop somehow. Let's work together and find a way, find a solution.
N7l1adi nihi naanish da h0l=, a[ch7n7 da bi n7 d11hai g00 da, ndi koj7 d77 k00 1hoo t4h7g77 da baa y1 deil ti. Kodi hoolzhish go dooda, dazh d0ne 7gi 1t4 a[d0. A[hi[ nida diil nish go 1dooln7[7 g77 bik7h da diilki[.
And just like grandma, she has been at it for years and her years are, she is up in her years, she wants an answer, too. So I thank you, Commissioners and Mr. Nez, President Nez, thank you very much.
K00h nihi m1s1n7 d0 kwe4 yaahalne ni n1h1 h1ah bi dish kaal go kod7 y4ego hastxih go sh7 d0 k4yah ni daal zhooh yid44s4[ n7zin. Ako Ah4hee Commissioners d00 Mr. Nez, nihi nanit17, ndtsaa go baa ah4 niidzin.
138 (Translation of Native language spoken: Every one of you who are present, I thank you. I appreciate you. Stand strong. We stand together and reunite. That's the only way it will happen and so thank you again.)
(Din4 bizaad keh j7 ata hane. T111no[ tsoh kwe4 nooy1h7g77, ah4hee ni hi dish n7. Nihaa ah4 nisin. Y4ego bee ni tsooz9. T11 a[ahj8 bee ni siiz9 go nihi dziil.Kot10 t477 1doo n77[ d00 ah4hee n11n1. )
MS. HOOD: (Translation of Native language spoken:
Everyone of you who are present, I thank you very much. Okay. A big thank you. So we saved the best for last, Jonathan.)
MS. HOOD: (Din4 bizaad keh j7 ata hane. T111no[ tsoh kwe4 nooy1h7g77, ah4hee ni hi dish n7. Nihaa ah4 nisin. H1 g0osh99h. Ndtsxaah go Ah4hee. Nihi naat1anii Jonathan, 1k4edi n1hwiil a.)
PRESIDENT NEZ: (Translation of Native language spoken:
Greetings to you Edith, and greetings to you, my relatives and people. Yes, thank you, to our relatives and those of you that have gathered here and Edith and you stand here and your relatives, you stand for your relatives.
Din4 Bi Naat1anii Nez: (Din4 bizaad keh j7 ata hane.
Y11t44h Edith, d00 1ad66, shik47 d00 shi Dine4. Aoo ah4hee nihi k477 d00 kwe4 nihisookai h7g77 d00 Edith k00h s7n7 z9 d00 aaj7 nihi k47 bi[ ni tsoo z9n7g77.
That's how this was brought together, Mr. Keyanna, and those of you that live here, Red Water Pond Road community. You have shown us all the information and all the proof here today.
J0 1k0t10 d77 kwe4 a[ah azl99, Mr Keyanna d00 kwe4 k44hot7n7g77. Red Water Pond Road gi K44hat7n7g77. Ts7d1 l37 a[tah
139 1daat4ego kwe4 77shj11n nihi ch8 o[aah d77j9 binaj8 1do n7n7g77 bee ni[ dzil doh7g77 da.
You have shown us what your concerns are by speaking to the federal government. Shown them what the proofs are. So you guys are all working at the grassroots level to let us know what is going on.
Nihi dadi[ 1hag77 kwe4 Kin1h1gai d66 W11shindoon bee bi[
ho[ne. Yidt98nii bi[ 77shj11n o[aah. D77 kodi k44hot7n7g77 t11 [ahj8 k00h nihi[ 1da hot4h7g77 bee nihi[ holne.
Mr. Perry, thank you for giving us the information and speaking up to represent your people here in the Eastern Agency and the Commissioners for being here.
Mr. Perry, ah4hee kod00 nihi[ na hos7nilne7g77 d00 kwe4 ni Dine4 Haaaah j7 k44hat7n7g77 b1 d00 bikih y1 ni[ti go ni h47 y7n7 y1 d00 nih7 d0 Commissioners k00h tsood1.
I don't know, and I apologize for being late. Many of us say something about being late, which is just an excuse, however, there is a fire-wild fire blazing near Flagstaff, AZ, which you know about. I was in Flagstaff.
There is a big fire going and we are also working on some highway, that there was an accident on the highway as well.
Ak4edi n7y1h7g77 baa sh7 ni ndi, l37 1k4edi yii d11h go baa hei dzih, t0 bee bi ne iil wo go. !kondi, nigh47 Kin[1n7 na h0s aj7 nihi[ sh99h b44 h0zin, 11j7 ho doo k3[. 1adi Kin[1n7 di naash1a n7t44. K- doo k3[7g77 baa nideilnish go d00 atxiin y7 dl44z g00 d0 [a ch7d7 a[h7 da d7 n44z dah go 1kmwii d0 baa ni dashiil nish.
So we're doing a good job. This is your day to speak and
140 talk about your concern. The Nuclear Regulatory Commission is here to listen to you and you spoke to them and thank you for all of this.
Y11t44h go baa naakai. D77j9 ni1 ha773h kwe4 nihi dii[
1h7g77 kooh Nuclear regulatory Commissioners bee bi[ da ho[ne kwii da nih7sts32 go, 1ko ah4hee kot10 1da o[ aah.
We are very thankful and supportive of you. This is the President and he is the Chair and he was appointed recently by Joe Biden, the President of the United States. He was appointed by President Biden.
That is why he is here.
Nihaaah4 niidzin d00 nihi k44 sii z9. D77 al32 j8 jiz d1 d00 Naat1anii j7l9 1niid Joe Biden, Kin1h1gai di Al32 j8 Naat1anii sid1 h7g77, hakih diil nii go kwe4 das neez d1, biniinaa kwe4 j7 kai.
That is why we met here. You have asked for it. You were able to get these people down here and now that you have spoke to them the whole day, you have pleaded with them, and they will meet again tonight and you will also be, there is another meeting this evening where I will represent you again.
D77 biniinaa kwe4 a[ah nii dl9 nih7 1da doh n7i go kot4. D77 biniinaa kwe4 nihaa7l dee d00 bi[ a[ hi[ ni da holne go i77 3h, bich8 n7da oh k33h go da, d00 I7732 go 1[ah n11n1 dleeh 1adi nih1 n11 s4 d1ad doo.
I will also present your concerns. There are so many health problems related to this uranium mine and the pandemic caused the virus and we are also taking some steps to bring those numbers down.
Nihi dadii[ 1h7g77 d0 binaj8 nih1 y1shti doo, t11 aniih ts7d1 t00 ahay077 ats77s b22h dahaz3 bee an7da hwii t44h, d00 1niid na[nih d0 nihitahj8 77[nii 11j7 d0 tahdii baa ni deil nish.
141 Also, the cancer-related issues. There are so many people that passed away. So we talk about those issues and you are still working to abate the problems.
D00 koj7 [00d doo n1dzihii bi[ 22h da nahaz32 gi da. Ts7d1 t00aha y077 nihi Din44 nihi ts33 1daadin sil99. D77 da baa y1 diel ti d00 koj7 47 nih7 kwe4 [eetsoh bi deezla baa y1[ti hashteh doo n77[ gi baa ni deil nish.
Work with your leadership. They will know. They will know what your concerns are.)
Nihi n11t1anii bi[ ni daa[ nish. B7ni yaa 1daho nii dziih, ako bee nihi ch8 an7dahwiit4h7g77 d0 1t4egi yaa ako nizin.)
I didn't want to take too much time, I just wanted to express thank you to our Navajo citizens, again, in our own language.
Ool ki[7g77 biniinaa doo n7zaad g00 has dz7i da, t0 ah4hee t47 agh1 an7[ tsdoh go bee hach8 has dz77, t11 nih7 nihi zaad bee Shi Din44 bich8 saad ni n7 3.
I think Jonathan Perry mentioned, you know, the Navajo nation, and I probably have some time later on at the Commission meeting, so I won't be too lengthy here, but there is two ways the Navajo people helped keep democracy here in this globe on Mother Earth.
Jonathan Perry, yee haadz77 kwe4 d77 k4yah s832 n7g77 bich33h l37 nihi Din44 ni daaz baa go t1adi k4yah h0l=. Ako n7l1ah di sh99h 77732 go Commission 1[ah n11n1 dleeh go saad [a bee han11 des dzih hazh00 ho desh ni, kwe4 nihi Din4 naaki go b44 h0z7n7 go nihi ch33h naaz baa gi.
One is through our language through the Navajo Code Talkers and you saw many of our veterans sitting here today as well. Who honors that sacred document, that sacred agreement, the Treaty of 1868,
142 where we all agreed, right.
J0 [a 477 nihi zaad bee nih7 ch33h 77 kai, k00h nihi sil10[tsoi7 nihi tah dah nah11z t32 go ahool zhish d77j9. Tahdii y4ego bi[ da ni l9 d00 kwe4 naaltsos s1n7 d0 bee a[ gha da des t3 Treaty of 1868, yiln7 We said, hey, U.S. if you are ever in trouble the Navajo people got your back, and it's supposed to be reciprocal, right, and that's what you heard today.
Kod00 tahdii nihi k44 siiz9 koj7 k4yah asdla diin a[hii sinil7g77 ako a[ hi di n7[ 1ago 1[ k1 an7 j7l wo go sh99h n7t44. D77 1ah yi[n7 k00h shi Din44 d77 si doo ts33 d77 j9.
Chairman, Commissioners, there is a lot of, yes, frustration, and maybe there is some harsh words that were here, but it's also about healing. Many of them have been living with this frustration and this anger for many years.
Naat1anii, Commissioners, aoo y4ego bitah di doo daa ts7id da, saad da [a doo ts77d g00 bee ha da77s dz77, j0 ni da dii dzih a[d0 biniy4 kwe4 saad b1 hooa. l37 da t0 bi[ nin1h1h11h go nil47d66 bi[ hoolzhish kod7 bikeh doo daa ts7id da d00 bikeh 1h1chx- bii di daaz l99.
Today was an opportunity to let it all out and let this dust just sweep it away, and that's all a part of healing. (Translation of Native language spoken: Harmony/Balance restore our kin relationship with everyone, thats our teaching). That's balance and restoration, and so I applaud the community for their resilience.
D77j9, saad b1 hooa7g77 b22h hadaiis dzii d00 n7l1 g00 bi[
ada haaz yol bee neidziih. (Din4 bizaad keh j7 ata hane. K4 t11a[tsoh bi[ ke aj0sin go bee na 1dzih, d77 bee na nitxin n7l1h d66 )
143 You know, we've been in an era in Indian Country called self-determination for, what, Jon, over, almost 50 years? Self-determination.
If it's true self-determination, then let's fulfill those promises that were made.
Shoh, d77 koj7 Indian Country gi d77 Seklf Determination yi[ n7i go bee oonish go kad 66h asdla diin n1h11h ish Jon? B7laasdflaii [a bi[ haz32 gi t11 b7 akih hoo11[ go, 1k0t10 bee oonish go sh99h, 47 n7l1h d66 bee hada 77s dzi n44h bi[ bee oonish y11t44h But I am hopeful, Chairman, I am hopeful, Commissioners, with the new Chairman here, you know, President Biden put you in that -
position, the Navajo people came out in large numbers, as you know, to put that President in the White House.
Shi[ chi ho9 shinanit17, nihi[ chi hoo9 Commissioners, k00h nihi Nanit17 nii l9, Naat1anii Biden 1kone da ni nes d1. K00h d00 ts7d1 nii dl37 b1 adasii yeeni[ go honeezn1, d00 Kin1h1gai d00 N11t1anii 1daahwiil yaah.
And you know what, ladies and gentlemen, today, as was mentioned earlier by Chris, we have never seen the NRC here on Navajo land and we thank you and we know there is a brighter future for us and the people who live here.
D00 Chris 1n7, d77j9i di kodi Din4 Bik4yah di ts7d1 doo NRC nihi[ yah iigh1ada n7t44 doo yii t98 da kad 7nda nihi[ yah 77y1, baaah44h niidzin, t00 yo nee ni j8 t11 adzoo ba sil99 kodi Din4 k44hat7n7g77 b1.
Now this is just one of many more areas on the Navajo Nation. Twenty-seven thousand square miles of land, over 500 open uranium mines. As a matter of fact, Congressman Tom O'Halloran is on the
144 other side of the Navajo Nation today to tour some mine sites.
Din4 bik4yah bik11 g00 l37 k0t10nahaz3, doo d7i t477 k0hoot4eda kwe4 nihi k4yah gi. Naadiin d00 biaan tsostsid di dim77l dik33d goaz32 go 1n7[t44l d00 asdla di neezn1 diin d00 n7woshj8 [eetsoh [eezh bi[ haa geed y66 bideezla tadii nihik4yah bik11 g00 naaz jaa kadD77j98 d0 nihi nanit17 Tom OHalloran eeaahj7 go [a [eetsoh [eezh bi[ ha das geed go t11 1k00h naazh jaa7g77 yid tah d44z99.
And so we are vast but we are strong and we are resilient and we are proud and we appreciate you all coming here on a beautiful spring day, is that what we heard, and this is what our Navajo people live through.
Ndtsaago nihik4yah sikaad ndi nihi dziil d00 nih7 ni, nihe oodl2 d00 nih44 ool88[ bee ha77n77ln7, d00 ni hi[ ni l98 go bee siiz9, 7nda kwe;4 nihaa noh y1 h7g77 baa ah4hasin d77 daan j9, baa da hosi doo ts32 kot10 l1 nihi Din4 yii dei y7 kai 11d66.
Just imagine, with 500 open uranium mines on a windy day a lot of that is probably in the atmosphere going eastward and it's no wonder we need to re-authorize and put some amendments to the Radiation Exposure Compensation Act as well.
T0 baa ni ts0 kees asdl di neezn1 diin d00 niwoshj8 [eetsoh [eezh bi[ hadas geed7g77 ak00h naazjaa go kot10 jii go n7yol go nigh47 haaaah j8 go sh99 bi[ n7yol kad, 7nda d77 Radiation Exposure Compensation Bi Bee Haz1a nii biij8 saad ni da doo k2s d00 [ah g00 b44 da di doo tsih a[d0.
But that's another fight that we have to do in Congress as well. But there shouldn't be no reason, it shouldn't be a money-saying that, oh, it's going to cost way too much to ship it elsewhere.
$77 sh99 a[d0Kin1h1gai Naat1anii Yah an1d11h7g77 bee bi[
145 n11 daahi dii gh22[. !kondi ha1t77sh biniy4 1k0t4ed doo. !aj7 sh99 a[d0 d00 b4eso h7g77 bi k7 h1 t1ah da doo, k0 neel 33 b22h ha dool44[ go nah g00 adoo gee[ t1ad oo han77 bini doo nish.
The Navajo people in this area have lived with this, lived with this for a very long time. And so we plead with you, I plead with you as well, Chairman and Commissions, let's get this waste and get it way far away from the Navajo Nation. Am I right, everyone?
!adi d0 nihi Din44 nin1 h1 h11h bii hoolzhish go yii da bi ghan go bee bich8 na dahwii n1 11j7. D77 b22h sh7 d0 n1 nosh k3h, shi naat1anii, Commissioners, D77 [eetsoh [eezh bi[ hadas geed7g77 Din4 bik4yah bik11 d00 n7zaad g00 k0 doo[ 77[. T1sh 1k0t4 y1 11d66?
All right. Well, thank you again and we'll look forward to speaking with you all again this evening at the Commission meeting.
(Translation of Native language spoken: Thank you.).
H1 g00sh99h. Ah4hee 777 30 sh99h a[hi[ ni n11 da ho diil nih nil47 Commission 1[ah n11 n1s dl99 di. (Din4 bizaad keh j7 ata hane.
Ah4hee)
I will turn the time over to you, Chairman. I appreciate you.
Kad 477 Shi n11 t1anii, ni kwe4 saad bee n1n11 hosh aah.
Naaah4h sisin.
CHAIRMAN HANSON: Thank you. Thank you, President Nez, and, you know, thank you all for being here today. I am deeply affected by what we heard today.
CHAIRMAN HANSON: Ah4hee. Ah4hee Naat1anii Nez, d00
146 d77j9 k00h noo y1 h7g77 a[d0. Sh7 tah di t111yis77 nashi[ n1a go da hoo ne d77j9.
I think someone started off, maybe it was Mr. Yazzie, it was certainly Mr. Shuey over here who mentioned the historic nature of the NRC Commissioners, you know, venturing out of Washington or Rockville or, you know, the Two Towers of Mordor, I think somebody mentioned that, and I regret that very much on behalf of past Commissions.
Hai sh99 47y1 1n7 ko d00 Mr. Yazzie daats7, Mr. Shuey 47 d0 1n7 ts7d1 7nda 1[ts4edi NRC Commissioners, kwe4 y7kai go yiil ts3 n7, ts7d1 W11shin doon Rockville di Kin agh1 daaz 1ah d66 Twin Towers of Mordor yi[n7 adaa kai go kodi y7kai, 47 1k0 ho doo niid7g77 y4ego baa sh7 ni koj7 n7l1d66 Commissioners n7 d11 dlee[ go bi[ hool zhish7g77.
I am sorry that this is a historic occasion. It shouldn't be a historic occasion for leaders of a federal agency who have the sacred trust of the American people, all of the American people, to protect people and the environment, to come out of our offices in Washington and hear directly from people in their home.
Baash7ni d77 7nda kwe4 k0t10 ni ha ani kai h7g77. Doosh99h kot10 Kin1h1gai di W11shin doon ni l98 nii diyin go B7laasdlaii yi ch22h naa gh1a go b7l1 keh doo t30 n7l11d t0 sid10 t0 11j7 shi naanish n7zin go da n7t44.
Ts7d1 koj7 k4yah nihi[ das83n7g77 b1 nei nish, h47 sh99h bee bich8 d00 bik4yah chi yo[7n7g77 da bi ch8 an7 da hwiit4eh ii bee bi ch22h n47 d1a go hash t4h neil ni[ go nihi naa nish. W11shin doon d66 kodi b1 nei dao d00 yii ts7nii ts32 go bi[ neinish go nizh0n7.
I am deeply grateful and I appreciate, President Nez, the comments of your mother asking us what we can contribute, because I think that is part of our responsibility as public servants to ask ourselves that every
147 day and to ensure that we are fulfilling our mission to protect people and the environment.
Ts7d1 baa ahe niz99 d00 shil ni l9 nim1 haadz77 d33 ha1t77l1 bee o[ yeed hash yid t4ego [ah d00 o[ yeed n7, t11 aaanih j0 47 [ah d00 ni hi naa nish bi[ n7ti B7laasdlaii bi[ neil nish go 1k0t4e[ [eh. Bee 1 daa 1koz ni dzin go t11[a aj9. Din4 bich33h ni ji gh1a go Inda bik4yah d0.
I would regret very much if someone came away with the impression that the three of us being here was a political stunt. I think we recognize the magnitude of the issue and the decision in front of us and we take it seriously and that's why we wanted to come today.
Doo [a tsooz9 kod00 nah g00 dah dooh y1ago, d77 t0 ni hee ni di ghash gopolitical stunt, 1t4 no sin go sh7 baa sh7 ni doo. H1al1 ts7d1 Ndtsaago bee1n1hwiit44hii ni hi d11h nii t3 na bi k7h y1 n11 doo tih7gi n11 hast3, doo t0 nahj8 ni n11 doo t1a[ g00 naanish, d77 biniinaa kwe4 niikai.
Again, I just want to thank everyone for sharing your time, the tremendous amount of effort that has gone in. I know there was new construction associated with this meeting so we could get more people in and we deeply appreciate that and this opportunity for you all and for us to hear your stories and to learn.
Nihaa ah4 nisin t111n0[tsoh kwe4 ndtsaa go hash teeh doo dzaa h7g77 l37 g00 baa nish sho[ nish go baa1ko nii dzii d00 baaah4 niidzin. &nda d77 bii a[ah aleeh7g77 da b44 da des tiih go t11 l37 go kwe4 nihi[ d7 noo b88[
biniy4, d77 da baa ah4 niidzin, d00 kwe4 nih1 hooa7g77 da kod00 nih77 dil ts7[
gi nihi[ da ho[ne go b0 hwii diil 1[.
You know, the other comment Mrs. Nez had for us was that we don't understand, and I thought, you know, she's right, I don't. As
148 someone said we're here for a day and you all live with this every day and I think we have to recognize the magnitude and the importance of that.
N11na kwe4 Mrs. Nez 1n11 d7 n7, doo a[ chsih d66 a[ ki dii tiih dah 477sh 1t4 n7, j0 t11an77 nisin sh7, sh7 doo hazh00 bikI dish tiih kwe 4 nihi[ 1hoot4h7g77 doo kwe4 shi ghan da go doob4 n1sh1a da d77 [eetsoh bideezla, ts7d1 ndtsaa go bikeh k1oo d11[ gi t111y7s77 bee 1n1hootI gi da.
But we want to understand and that's why we are here and I look forward to hearing more tonight at the meeting. We are going to hear more from you, Mr. President, more from you, Director Shirley and Ms. Hood, among a number of others, our partners at the Environmental Protection Agency and the Department of Energy.
Ts7d1 bikI di dii t99[ nii dzin, 47 biniy4 kwe4 nii kai, d00 d77 I773n7g77 bii sh99 nihi ch8 ha n11 da doh dzih, Naat1anii Nez d00 nih7, d00 Naat1anii Shirley d00 Ms. Hood nid0 1adi nihi ch8 ha n11 da dooh dzih.D00 [a bi[ ni deil nish EPA d00 da7n77sh j7 d00 Department of Energy da ha n11 da hi do dzih.
I look forward to continuing our discussion. So thank you very, very much again.
B7ni t11 n11s g00 baa y1 deil ti. Ah4hee ndtsaa go.
DIRECTOR SHIRLEY: Okay.
(Off-microphone comments.) ([a y1zh di[ ti kwe4)
DIRECTOR SHIRLEY: H1g00sh99h.
DIRECTOR SHIRLEY: Yes, we do. (Translation of Native language spoken: That is the length of our meeting here my relatives and people here, we are very thankful for your participation as well.) I am very thankful that you are all here and we will see you again this evening.
149 Maybe she is getting ready for the meeting.
DIRECTOR SHIRLEY: Aoo, t11 1k0t4. (Din4 bizaad keh j7 1ta hane. Ak0 n7[tsoph go 1[ ah sii dl99 doo ah4hee shi Din44 d00 kooh ni hi sokai h7g77, nihaa ah4 niidzin kwe4 1d7 d77n o[ ti go atah soo d1a go koj8 a[tsoh)
MS. HOOD: Okay, guests, so when you are driving out when you are leaving please drive very slowly because you don't want all that dust in our face. Thank you.
MS. HOOD: H1 g00sh99, a[tah 1tsii[ g00, kod00 nihi[ da da di yii jeeh go t11 hazh0o 1go nihi[ ch7 da di yoo jaah, leezh t00 aha y007 n7 di doo jo[ nihi kI j8 go. Ah4hee (Whereupon, the above-entitled matter went off the record at 5:04 p.m.)
Kod00 d77 w0dah go saad bik11gi nii nil7g77 asdladi d00 d99 bee bil1 oskid go a[chI 1lyaa.