McKinley Community Collaborative for Health Equity

Mission Statement

Using a health equity lens, the McKinley Community Collaborative for Health Equity team seeks to change systems that perpetuate environmental health disparities related to the impacts of institutional racism and multi-generational trauma, by empowering participating communities within the county to impact equitable policy change.

In 1979 at the United Nuclear Corporations’ uranium processing mill in Northwest New Mexico, a dam broke releasing more than 1,100 tons of uranium miming wastes-tailings along with 100 million gallons of radioactive water into the Pipeline Arroyo and went downstream along the Rio Puerco. The “Church Rock Tailings Spill” is the second largest accident in the United States that released radioactive materials.

There has been minimal attention to the health risks associated with mining and environmental contamination in the Northwest Region. There are proposed uranium mining sites in McKinley County and we want to ensure that people are aware of the health risks associated to either working in the mines or secondary exposure from family members bringing home contaminated clothes, air pollutants, etc. Also, there has been inadequate clean up of currently contaminated areas.

Health Impact Assessment (HIA)

Our HIA looks at a proposed moratorium that brings together a diverse group of people committed to conducting this assessment in order to benefit the local community members. It will address health broadly and be culturally sensitive instead of focusing solely on physical or disease related issues. It is an opportunity to offer recommendations to decision makers to enhance the positive health impacts of policy-making and economic development projects.  We will be looking at the following health impacts:

• Environmental exposures/contamination
• Displacement and relocation
• Cultural relevance of the land to holistic health
• Community Efficacy

McKinley Community Collaborative for Health Equity Links & Updates

• MCHA Housing HIA Overview & Timeline
• Gallup Independent- Uranium: That’s the danger
• The International Uranium Film Festival focuses on nuclear power and weapons and isn’t running out of entries any time soon
• Article from the Gallup Independent, “Celebrating King’s legacy”, 01/16/18
• letter in the Gallup Independent – I support task force and moratorium on uranium mining
• Locals impacted by uranium mining tell their stories,  July 26, 2017
• Backpedal or misunderstanding: Group says McKinley County broke promise to spearhead uranium task force, Jul 15, 2017
• 38th Annual Uranium Tailings Spill Commemoration letter 
• Press Release – INTERMOUNTAIN WEST URANIUM SUMMIT
• Truth Telling Project – Shared Experiences, Shared Vision
  • Recommendations at the Truth Telling Project Event – June 21, 2017 at the NM Cancer Center-
  • Indigenous people in this country face many issues including: uranium mines/leaks, worker justice, domestic violence, child abuse, sexual abuse, school systems (unjust, racist, and discriminatory treatment), gun violence, police brutality, environmental justice, and many more.
  • Need free, safe and sacred spaces for people to tell and share their stories. Examples of public spaces in Gallup:
    -UNM Northside campus, Library, Rehoboth Solarium, Gallup Community Center
  • Finding one common issue is challenging because there are so many
    – One suggested common ground for these issues is youth
    – Youth intersect with many different issues
  • Need to find what interests the youth so they become involved and help lead to make changes
    – Use what directly and personally affects youth
    – Find key youth who are leaders that are genuinely interested in helping to address these issues and stand up/rise up
    – Work with organizations that work with youth and encourage other organizations to work with youth
  • Make the narrative of including, utilizing and organizing with the youth known
    – Record so it can be shared and be shared around the world

Red Water Pond Road Community Members, Gallup Somos Unidas Pueblos Members, McKinley Workers Justice Coalition Members, McKinley Community Health Alliance Members, McKinley Collaborative for Health Equity Members, Gallup Behavioral Health Office, McKinley Juvenile Justice Office, KNIZ 90.1 Greater Gallup Community Radio, Available Media Inc. (video taped session), New Mexico Social Justice Equity Institute

• Somos un Pueblo Unido in Gallup, discussing worker rights and U.S. immigration policies 6/7/17 at KGLP
• DINÉ FOOD SOVEREIGNTY/DINÉ POLICY INSTITUTE, April 2014, A Report on the Navajo Nation Food System and the Case to Rebuild a Self-Sufficient Food System for the Diné People
• Community-Based Participatory Research for Health 3rd Edition
• A Year in Review 2014 – 2015
• KUNM Interview link – The Lingering Legacy of Mining
• Uranium Workers’ Day, article in the Gallup Independent