Tribal Response to a Superfund Site: Leviathan Mine Superfund Site
The Washoe Tribe of Nevada & California is currently a Trustee involving the Leviathan Mine Superfund site located in Alpine County, CA around 5 miles from the Nevada border. This Superfund site is located in the Washoe Tribe’s nuclear boundary with contamination of heavy metals running into the local watershed, through the heart of Washoe Tribal lands. The Washoe Tribe was successful in petitioning to get Leviathan listed as a Superfund site on the National Priorities List (NPL) in May of 2000. Learn about how the Washoe Tribe has been involved in the Superfund process working alongside EPA, BIA, as well as other federal, state and local agencies. Tribes dealing with a Superfund site encouraged to attend and participate! Presenter: Cale Pete, Washoe Tribe of NV and CA
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Integrating the Havasupai Perspective into a Conceptual Risk Model for Uranium Mining in Grand Canyon Watershed
Indigenous Havasupai knowledge and western science represent different yet equally important ways of knowing. Yet, much of the quantitative western science fails to consider the role of indigenous Havasupai knowledge. For example, classic human health and ecological risk assessment approaches do not include traditional or ceremonial collection or uses of resources that represent different exposure and risk scenarios to Tribes in Northern Arizona. For this presentation, we will describe a conceptual risk model for uranium mining in the Grand Canyon watershed from the perspective of the Havasuw baja (“People of the Blue Green Water”) that includes indigenous knowledge components. As descendants of the original peoples who have lived in the Grand Canyon for centuries, the Havasupai have long and deep connections to water, plants, animals, and geology throughout the Colorado Plateau. The model will include connections to the sacred Wi’i Jgwal Gwa (“Lungs of Mother Earth” also known as Red Butte), the site of the Tribe’s creation stories. Plants and animals important to the Havasupai for subsistence, ceremonial, and medicinal practices and how mining affects these practices will be described. The final model will include Havasupai nomenclature to help preserve the language and historical cultural practices for future generations. Presenters: Carletta Tilousi, Havasupai Tribe and Jo Ellen Hinck, USGS
This presentation was delivered as part of the Tribal Lands and Environment Forum in August 2022.
