Havasupai Tribe Deeply Disappointed in Navajo Nation for Failing to Consult Havasupai on Radioactive Hauling

Havasupai Tribe Deeply Disappointed in Navajo Nation for Failing to Consult Havasupai on Radioactive Hauling

Photo courtesy Grand Canyon Trust

"Shame on Energy Fuels Resources and those who were not brave enough to do what is right and necessary." -- Havasupai Tribe.

By Brenda Norrell, Censored News, Feb. 14, 2025

The Havasupai Tribe said the Navajo Nation has disregarded the aboriginal people who live on the land, and failed to consult them before entering into a dangerous agreement for radioactive uranium hauling. There are two trucks now each weekday, traveling at high rates of speed, each carrying 24 tons of radioactive matter that is only covered with tie-down tarps from the Grand Canyon to the uranium mill in Utah.

Havsuw' Baaja, Havasupai, are Guardians of the Grand Canyon and have opposed uranium mining since time immemorial to protect their land and water for future generations, the Havasupai Tribe said today.

"We are deeply disappointed in Energy Fuels Resources, Inc., and the Navajo Nation for not including us in their discussions that ultimately led to the dangerous decision to allow hauling of radioactive material across our aboriginal lands," the Havasupai Tribe said.

"The Navajo Tribe is not the only tribe or community affected by this activity."

"Our culture and traditions originate here and are knit together with who we are as individual tribal members and as a tribe."

"Shame on Energy Fuels Resources and those who were not brave enough to do what is right and necessary."

The Havasupai Tribe said Energy Fuels clearly has no regard for others, and is acting out of their own self interest.

"Energy Fuels Resources, Inc. trucks, covered with tie-down tarps, traveling at 65 miles per hour, are making their way across our aboriginal lands -- the State of Arizona and the Navajo Nation, once again disregarding the health risk and dangerous implications of uranium mining."

Pointing out the health risks of radioactive contamination and damage to the land, the Havasupai Tribe said their aboriginal lands are being degraded by Energy Fuels Pinyon Plain uranium mine.

"The U.S. Forest Service confirmed on February 12, 2025 that Energy Fuels Resources, Inc, is once again hauling uranium ore through areas where humans visit, hike, hunt, travel and live."

"Since Energy Fuels Resources, Inc., began mining uranium in December 2023, the Havasupai Tribe has been forced to witness the degradation of our aboriginal lands that include the mining site and surrounding areas. Despite Energy Fuels Resources, Inc. promises that mining is safe, our Tribe remains well-versed on the health risks associated with radioactive contamination."

"We will not give up, we owe that to our ancestors, our children and the generations to come. We will fight on."

Read the full statement below:

Statement from the Havasupai Tribe Regarding Energy Fuels Resources Once Again Hauling Uranium Ore 

 

(Below) The deadly haul route begins at the Pinyon Plain uranium mine in the Grand Canyon and passes by homes of Havasupai, Hualapai, Paiute, Dine' and Hopi before the trucks dump their loads on White Mesa Ute in Utah. The radioactive trucks pass through the City of Flagstaff. Map courtesy Grand Canyon Trust.