Dr. Carrie Nuva Joseph grew up in Moenkopi on the Hopi Reservation, seven miles downstream from an inactive uranium mill site. The Hopi villagers living downstream the site use water from the Moenkopi wash for agriculture purposes.
As a young mother, she noticed cancer rates higher than average in the area. To better understand why this was happening, she went back to school to get her doctorate and learn how inactive uranium mill sites, specifically those located close to Native American communities, impact those who live there.
Her research helps assess the knowledge base of Hopi community members concerning the waste site, as well as answering questions about cell covers that are supposed to prevent contamination. It is important for her to bring back her research to her community. As a Hopi woman and an indigenous scientist, she feels very connected to the land and sees the importance of communicating science and informing her community about hazardous waste to protect human health.
There are more than five hundred abandoned uranium mines within the Four Corners Region (where Arizona, Utah, Colorado, and New Mexico meet). Many are located in tribal communities where human health effects due to environmental contamination are evident.
Carrie wants to use environmental science to help prevent further contamination in the area and make sure that information is correctly conveyed to her community and others like it.
This short documentary is made possible in partnership with The Village of Moencopi (Lower) Administration Office, The Hopi Cultural Preservation Office, and the University of Arizona's Department of Environmental Science and Tribal Extension Program.
Producer/Photographer/Editor: Sandra Westdahl
Drone Photographer: Cody Sheehy
Sound Recordist/Mix: Galen McCaw
Communications: Caroline Mosley