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.

Nicolette I Teufel-Shone,Rebecca J Clausen,Jennifer R Richards,Nathan Lothrop,Manley A Begay,Janene Yazzie,Andria B Begay,Paloma I Beamer,Karletta Chief,Alfred Yazzie,Carmenlita Chief

doi:10.3390/ijerph18179402

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.

Highlights

The university–tribal partnership designed GKMS-DEP to document environmental health and socio-cultural impacts on Diné communities from the release of three million gallons of acid mine drainage on 5 August 2015, from the Gold King Mine into the Animas River, a tributary of the San Juan River that flows across the northern border of the Navajo Nation [12]
With the guidance of Diné cultural experts who served as mentors for the researchers, these Diné philosophies were the foundation of efforts to develop a culturally anchored qualitative approach to conduct focus groups and analyze narratives from Diné communities after the Gold King Mine Spill (GKMS or Spill) of 2015
The GKMS Diné Exposure Project developed a culturally anchored and multi-disciplinary approach to the planning, collection and analysis of the narratives shared by the Diné citizens living in select communities along the San Juan River contaminated by the 2015

Summary

Introduction

The university–tribal partnership designed GKMS-DEP to document environmental health and socio-cultural impacts on Diné communities from the release of three million gallons of acid mine drainage on 5 August 2015, from the Gold King Mine (located upstream from Silverton, CO, USA) into the Animas River, a tributary of the San Juan River that flows across the northern border of the Navajo Nation [12]. These rivers are important to Diné people, many of whom depend on the water for irrigated farming and raising livestock for food and income. The outcome was intended to inform emergency planning, communication, and steps for community healing

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Discussion

Conclusion