For generations my family has lived in the red rock area east of the Colorado River but south of Navajo Mountain. As Navajos, this place is sacred to us. It’s where my ancestors were born, raised, and buried. Béésh Hagééd (Coppermine in English) is our home. In 1974, the construction of the Navajo Generating Station (NGS), a 2250-megawatt net coal-fired power plant had been completed. NGS is only 25 miles north of Béésh Hagééd and many of my family members have and still are employed by the power plant. The power plant provides not only electrical power to residents across the Southwest but also creates the energy to pump water from the Colorado River to residents across Arizona.
My proposed project for the Mellon Mays Undergraduate Fellowship
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First, investigate the environmental science and effects of the Navajo Generating Station. This mainly concerns air quality- how many pollutants have been emitted from NGS over the past 50 years and what does this mean for the environment that is sacred to my tribe? I’d like to research whether the air quality has changed since NGS has been operating. The next phase of my research would be to research the environmental health of the Navajo people in my community. Has Navajo people’s health been impacted by the Navajo Generating Station? I would need to consider the respiratory health of community members. In addition, I would research the possibility of mercury emissions from the power plant. Lake Powell, is very close to NGS and is a place where people fish, swim, and boat. Has NGS had any impact on Lake Powell. Navajo culture also relies heavily on herbs and plants for traditional foods and ceremonies. Have any traditional plants been affected by NGS? Next, I’d like to research how traditional Navajo culture has been affected by NGS. In Navajo culture, the land is considered our mother and the sky is our father. It is important that Navajos respect the Earth as well as maintain hózhó (peace) in the environment. I’d like to investigate how NGS has affected Navajo spirituality. I would complete this research by interviewing community members including medicine men, NGS workers, and elders. Lastly, I would research the relationship