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Questions for Further Exploration

This page was written by Erin Klauk as part of the DLESE Community Services Project: Integrating Research in Education.

Open-ended questions allow students to explore scientifically significant questions while focusing on their own interests. Here are a few questions that are important to understanding the story of uranium mining on the Navajo Nation.

Questions Include:

  • How has uranium mining affected the culture of the Navajo people?


Logan Pete of Mitten Rock New Mexico
Image 1
This is a self-guided exercise for high school or undergraduate students, and could be applied in any environmental class or in Native American studies. This question can be further explored beginning with the resources found on the Cultural Heritage webpage.

  • Why did uranium mining begin, and why did it take place on the Navajo Nation?


Mary Louise Johnson of Mitten Rock New Mexico
Image 2
This is a self-guided exercise for high school or undergraduate students, and could be applied in any environmental class or in Native American studies. This question can be further explored within the resources found on the Uranium Deposits webpage and the Exploration and Development History webpage.

  • What impacts could occur as a result of uranium mining?


Taylor Dixon of Two Grey Hills New Mexico
Image 3
This is a self-guided exercise for undergraduate students, and could be applied in any environmental class. This question can be further explored within the resources found on the Environmental Impacts webpage and the Human Health webpage.

  • What policies have been put into effect to aid the people of the Navajo Nation, and what policies could aid in the future?


Mae John of Cove Arizona
Image 4
This is a self-guided exercise for undergraduate students, and could be applied in any environmental class or in Native American studies. This question can be further explored within the resources found on the Policy webpage.

  • What effects could the newly proposed coal mining have on the Navajo Nation?


Boyde Tsosie of Sweetwater Arizona
Image 5
This is a self-guided exercise for high school or undergraduate students, and could be applied in any environmental class or in Native American studies. This question can be further explored within the resources found on the What's Next webpage.

Image 1 - Logan Pete of Mitten Rock, New Mexico. Image 2 - Mary Louise Johnson of Mitten Rock, New Mexico. Image 3 - Taylor Dixon of Two Grey Hills, New Mexico. Image 4 - Mae John of Cove, Arizona. Image 5 - Boyde Tsosie of Sweetwater, Arizona. Images courtesy of Doug Brugge/Memories Come To Us In the Rain and the Wind.