SHAWL Community Uranium Radiation Education
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SHAWL (Sovereignty, Health, Air, Water & Land) Society is a grassroots advocacy group, based on the Spokane Indian Reservation in Eastern Washington. The major focus of this effort involves developing community education and strategies to address impacts of radiation exposure due to 50 plus years of uranium mining and milling on this reservation.
https://www.spokesman.com/stories/2019/dec/01/deb-abrahamson-blames-mining-pollution-for-her-can/
The organization was created to address an attempt in the mid 90s to ship radioactive waste across the country to an unlined defunct uranium mill site adjacent to the Spokane Indian Reservation. Founder, Deb Abrahamson was instrumental in organizing not only the local community but surrounding towns, schools and organizations to declare “Nuclear Free Zones,” bringing awareness to the permit decision being made by the Army Corps of Engineers. Our voices were heard, community members testified and participated in gathering evidence in a case against the company who was eventually denied the permit.
Dawn Mill Story from 1998
https://www.hcn.org/issues/122/3886
Dawn Mill Story from 2005
https://www.spokesman.com/stories/2005/sep/06/cleanup-under-way-at-old-mill-site/
Dawn Mill Story from 2009
https://www.spokesman.com/stories/2009/apr/23/health-department-oks-sludge-disposal/
We created CURE (Community Uranium & Radiation Education) and facilitated monthly educational meetings that included Tribal Leadership and Program Managers, Indian Health Service representatives, EPA representatives and members of the community. Training programs were developed to prepare the community for meaningful involvement in key decisions related to the proposed cleanup of the Midnite Mine Superfund Site. We would like to revitalize this program to educate a new generation who are interested and active in learning more about how uranium mining is still impacting our people.
The latest threat to our community is an attempt by an international mining giant to lobby to relax previously agreed upon cleanup standards at the Dawn Uranium Millsite in Ford, Washington. There are several locations at this site leaking radioactive pollutants directly into surface and groundwater. This site is adjacent to the Spokane Tribe's only salmon hatchery and a high concentration of Tribal housing. We cannot afford this company to continue harming a main source of clean water for our Reservation without the community understanding what is at stake.
Newmont attempted a similar action at the Midnite Mine Superfund Site and after review and a large showing of community interest and attendance at meetings, the proposal was denied by the EPA. The Dawn Millsite however is overseen by the Washington State Department of Health who have not been nearly as transparent as EPA with the community. We need immediate technical assistance resources to inform the community about this proposed action and again prepare for meaningful involvement in the decision making process.
https://www.spokesman.com/stories/2019/mar/09/newmont-mining-co-asks-to-relax-radiation-cleanup-/
Funds raised will be used for this specific campaign. We normally have the ability to donate our own time and resources to organizing these meetings and getting the community there, but this time we could use your help. Thank you for sharing and thank you for donating.
Contract Independent Technical Review and Project Support - $3,000
Internet & 2 Phone lines for 3 months - $360
Poster & Information Printing - $100
Gas for Outreach (posting fliers & community visits for those who are not online) - $120
Transportation Assistance for community members attending 4 community meetings - $300
Food & Supplies for 4 community meetings - $400
--Lemlmts' --
Deb and Twa-le Abrahamson
https://www.spokesman.com/stories/2019/dec/01/deb-abrahamson-blames-mining-pollution-for-her-can/
The organization was created to address an attempt in the mid 90s to ship radioactive waste across the country to an unlined defunct uranium mill site adjacent to the Spokane Indian Reservation. Founder, Deb Abrahamson was instrumental in organizing not only the local community but surrounding towns, schools and organizations to declare “Nuclear Free Zones,” bringing awareness to the permit decision being made by the Army Corps of Engineers. Our voices were heard, community members testified and participated in gathering evidence in a case against the company who was eventually denied the permit.
Dawn Mill Story from 1998
https://www.hcn.org/issues/122/3886
Dawn Mill Story from 2005
https://www.spokesman.com/stories/2005/sep/06/cleanup-under-way-at-old-mill-site/
Dawn Mill Story from 2009
https://www.spokesman.com/stories/2009/apr/23/health-department-oks-sludge-disposal/
We created CURE (Community Uranium & Radiation Education) and facilitated monthly educational meetings that included Tribal Leadership and Program Managers, Indian Health Service representatives, EPA representatives and members of the community. Training programs were developed to prepare the community for meaningful involvement in key decisions related to the proposed cleanup of the Midnite Mine Superfund Site. We would like to revitalize this program to educate a new generation who are interested and active in learning more about how uranium mining is still impacting our people.
The latest threat to our community is an attempt by an international mining giant to lobby to relax previously agreed upon cleanup standards at the Dawn Uranium Millsite in Ford, Washington. There are several locations at this site leaking radioactive pollutants directly into surface and groundwater. This site is adjacent to the Spokane Tribe's only salmon hatchery and a high concentration of Tribal housing. We cannot afford this company to continue harming a main source of clean water for our Reservation without the community understanding what is at stake.
Newmont attempted a similar action at the Midnite Mine Superfund Site and after review and a large showing of community interest and attendance at meetings, the proposal was denied by the EPA. The Dawn Millsite however is overseen by the Washington State Department of Health who have not been nearly as transparent as EPA with the community. We need immediate technical assistance resources to inform the community about this proposed action and again prepare for meaningful involvement in the decision making process.
https://www.spokesman.com/stories/2019/mar/09/newmont-mining-co-asks-to-relax-radiation-cleanup-/
Funds raised will be used for this specific campaign. We normally have the ability to donate our own time and resources to organizing these meetings and getting the community there, but this time we could use your help. Thank you for sharing and thank you for donating.
Contract Independent Technical Review and Project Support - $3,000
Internet & 2 Phone lines for 3 months - $360
Poster & Information Printing - $100
Gas for Outreach (posting fliers & community visits for those who are not online) - $120
Transportation Assistance for community members attending 4 community meetings - $300
Food & Supplies for 4 community meetings - $400
--Lemlmts' --
Deb and Twa-le Abrahamson
Organizer
Twa-le Abrahamson-Swan
Organizer
Spokane, WA