Navajo leaders seek help with uranium issues

Members of the Navajo Nation plan to take to Washington, D.C., their grassroots campaign to compensate uranium mine workers' children affected by diseases and birth defects.

[jan]

It is really hard acquiring the proper medical records for a deceased family member. We tried so hard to work with the Government to get compensated for my father's exposure, he worked in the Uranium mines most of his teenage years into his early 20's and died from cancer when he was 23 years old. I am 25 years older than my dad and it's really, really sad that I had to grow up w/out my father and the government not willing to compensate my family for his exposure to uranium. My daughter has a rare kind of disease and she needs care 24/7, I suppose that has nothing to do with my father working around Uranium. I do know that her paternal grandfather worked in the Uranium mines also, and he was compensated. I wonder why if the government can bail out so many companies who carelessly and knowingly misused tax payer monies is having a hard time compensating us, as our fathers didn't know what the cost of supporting and making a living for their families would be. I guess all we have now is our prayers, if we don't have supporting medical records, God does have mysterious ways of working out these for those who live by his laws. God bless those who are trying to help, our prayers go will be w/you.

[WakeUp]

The Navajos were mining Navajo Uranium on Navajo Land; no one made them do it - they did it for profit.
Navajos all get free federal health care.
We are all sorry for the problem, but don't believe suing the US taxpayer, to get rich, is the answer.

[sam]

Some of my family were affected by the mining that was done in the area...

I really don't see any BENEFIT of Uranium POISONING...

so much for "free" healthcare...

THATS why the Navajo DO NOT want any more mining on THEIR LANDS.

Its about time the US Gov't catch up on past debts owed to American Indians...

[chris]

We're not asking to get rich or get free stuff, we're only asking to get help; our lives might have been better if our parent(father)have lived to support us. I'm sorry you were never taught to have compassion. Of course for a person who grew up w/both parents and had everything given to them would object to something like this. Non-native have the privilege to sue each others when one offends the other for the silliest reason. This is almost the same situation if you really think about it. And some Navajos worked off the reservation, like my father did. If he was looking to get rich off the uranium mines, where's the money, he loved his family and supported them? If you pick up a history book and read 'why' navajos get free health care, it might help you. And it's not just Navajos that get free health care, all ethnics, race, even illegals get free health care. I believe we have woke up to a lot of things pertaining to the mistreatment of government toward American Citizens, not only the Navajo people.

[toma]

we don't get free health care, i've had to deal with my own health issues in which i'm trying to pay. nothing is free these days. yes, and no one makes you do the things you do. everything is about survival these last days.

[A Proud Father]

My Father lived to be 82 years old. He passed away in 2002. I remember him suffering each night. I hope this goes all the way to Supreme court. Our voice will be heard.

[hmmm]

WakeUp wrote:

The Navajos were mining Navajo Uranium on Navajo Land; no one made them do it - they did it for profit.
Navajos all get free federal health care.
We are all sorry for the problem, but don't believe suing the US taxpayer, to get rich, is the answer.

"they did it for profit."...so did the companies that were mining the stuff!!

Unless you have lived this nightmare you can make these types of statements.

My father & father-in-law both worked mining this "uranium" when they were younger, now they are in their 80's SUFFERING!!

How dare you sir, if I can call you sir, how dare you say "we are doing it to get rich." ...

[mbnativeverteran]

they should not be allowed to mine the "yellow" cake. UNITY by any means my fellow natives. until we stop harassing each other with petty disputes then we will retrieve what was taken from us through 500+ years of societal genocide. until we stop precipitating hatred towards each other then "they" will continue to take what is left of us. until the lost ideals of community, compassion, honor, and friendship are recovered they will continue to rule us from the ignorant "big box" middle class to the powerful oligarchic corporations. let them know we are strong, we are united, and if they will not live up to the ideals of their sacred peace of paper then maybe we should. if not, then the millions of "true" north americans who gave their lives and way of life without choice to build this country will have been for not. while uranium workers may have worked for salary so did "free" blacks working on farms during the post civil war-no rich folks there. north-eastern immigrants toiled away in putrid mines for salary-no rich folks there. this is not a race issue but rather an issue with "exploitation without just due compensation", peace. p.s. have a heart someday, someone may have one for you someday, to stand with in unity.

[Average Joe]

I am not trying to make a rude remark or anything, so please don't take this the wrong way. I am just trying to understand. What part of the uranium mining was the responsibility of the government? Was this a government mine? Who owned/ownes the mine?

[chris]

Average Joe wrote:

I am not trying to make a rude remark or anything, so please don't take this the wrong way. I am just trying to understand. What part of the uranium mining was the responsibility of the government? Was this a government mine? Who owned/ownes the mine?

It's like this Joe, the government should've given some warning of the dangers of working in the uranium mines, to anyone, how uranium affects your health somewhere in the future. just like you see on a cigarette pack. Maybe they didn't know or perhaps they knew about ALL the dangers but kept it a secret so they get their hands on all the uranium the was being mined by these workers. Some of the mines were on the navajo reservation, but most of the reservation. I suppose they are all the place. It's not the whole tribe that will get compensated, just the ones that got sick from the uranium. I don't believe it's only the native that are seeking compensation, I'm sure it's everywhere. We're all human, made the same and we all bleed red.

[BenwahBalls]

I bet the Navajo Nation is glowing with pride, over this issue.

[Average Joe]

I am curious about whether the operators of the mines are being held accountable or if this is another situation where big business makes a mess that the government cleans up and a bunch of executives get to keep their bonus. The miners and their families should be compensated and helped with their health problems. I just hope that all of the people/entities who profited from all of this get to pitch in and help clean up their mess.