Development of a Culturally Anchored Qualitative Approach to Conduct and Analyze Focus Group Narratives Collected in Diné (Navajo) Communities to Understand the Impacts of the Gold King Mine Spill of 2015

Abstract

The Gold King Mine Spill (Spill) occurred in August 2015 upstream from Silverton, Colorado and released three million gallons of contaminated water into the Animas River, a tributary to the San Juan River that flows across the Navajo Nation. Using principles of community-engaged research, the Gold King Mine Spill Diné Exposure Project co-developed a culturally anchored approach to conduct focus groups and analyze narratives collected in three Diné (Navajo) communities along the San Juan River within 9 months of the Spill. Focus group questions were designed to document the socio-cultural impacts of the Spill. This paper: (1) outlines the partnerships and approvals; (2) describes focus group design, training, data collection and analysis; and (3) reflects on the use of a culturally anchored approach in Indigenous, specifically Diné-centered research. Diné social and cultural etiquette and concepts of relationality were used to adapt standard (non-Indigenous) qualitative methods. Findings describe community perceptions of short-term impacts of the disaster, as well as past and present injustices, communication related to the Spill, and concerns of persistent threats to Diné lifeways. The culturally anchored approach was critical in fostering trust with Diné participants and aligned with the candor of the discussions.

Contaminated Sites and Indigenous Peoples in Canada and the United States: A Scoping Review

“…Four of these articles were focused on the Mohawk community of Akwesasne (Table S6), and they documented a range of chronic and developmental outcomes associated with exposure to chemical stressors (primarily lead and PCBs), including early menarche, heart disease, kidney disease, diabetes, and hypertension. In four qualitative peer-reviewed studies, culture, spirituality, language, and community were found to be adversely influenced by contaminated site exposure (Cassady, 2007;Hoover, 2013;Smith et al, 2010;Teufel-Shone et al, 2021), and these are social and environmental determinants of Indigenous Peoples' health (Reading & Wien, 2009). There was evidence that many Indigenous communities face long-term site-related challenges including a changing relationship to the earth, fear related to contamination, and cultural loss (Moore-Nall, 2015; John Sandlos & Arn Keeling, 2016;Smith et al, 2010;Teufel-Shone et al, 2021).…”

“…Furthermore, four peer-reviewed articles explored the impacts of contaminated sites on Indigenous peoples using qualitative interviews (Table S7) (Cassady, 2007;Hoover, 2013;Smith et al, 2010;Teufel-Shone et al, 2021). In the case of the Aamjiwnaang First Nation (Ontario), semi-structured interviews of 18 community members were conducted, with interviewees reporting fear related to contamination, unknown long-term health effects, and a changing relationship to the earth resulting from a large contaminated site nearby ("Chemical Valley") (Smith et al, 2010).…”

“…Loss of culture, language, and social connection was reported as an implication of Superfund sites affecting fishing activities in semi-structured interviews with 65 Akwesasne Mohawk community members (Hoover, 2013). Navajo Nation members in 12 at-home focus group interviews described that the Gold King Mine Spill (San Juan River, Northwestern US) was a continuation of colonial violence on Indigenous peoples which removed the community's agency and voice and forced their relocation (Teufel-Shone et al, 2021). An ethnographic article that involved informal interviews with Inupiak Inuit members (Alaska) described that the discovery of a contaminated site created suspicions about health effects such as cancer amongst the community (Cassady, 2007).…”

“…Long-term health impacts were also described in the context of the Los Alamos National Laboratory Superfund Site and the Tribes of the Southwestern US (Moore-Nall, 2015). The Gold King Mine spill was described in one review article as contributing to a history of relocation and lack of agency and voice for the Navajo (Dine) Nation, with lasting impacts on the community (Teufel-Shone et al, 2021).…”

“…Of the included peer-reviewed literature, 20 articles described a collaboration between academic researchers and Indigenous people or communities (Arquette et al, 2002;Blake et al, 2015;Denham et al, 2005;Fitzgerald et al, 1996;Fitzgerald et al, 2004;Flett et al, 2021;Goncharov et al, 2008;Harper et al, 2012;Hoover, 2013Hoover, , 2016Kegler & Malcoe, 2004;Michelle C Kegler et al, 2010;Michelle C. Kegler et al, 2010;Meltzer et al, 2020;Middleton et al, 2019;Rock et al, 2019;Sarkar et al, 2019;Smith et al, 2010;Teufel-Shone et al, 2021).…”