There were times when we were having our lunch sitting on the high-grade ore stock pile. We had lunch sitting in loader buckets to get out of the hot sun. No one warned us that the buckets were contaminated from the ore. . . . Although we had leadmen and formen come to our areas to check on us, we always knew they were coming because of the mine lamps headed towards our area. As soon as they would leave we would go back to our dangerous ways.
Money is the answer.
When the mine terminated we were given physical examinations. But I do not know where those records are. No one has given us miners any other physicals to check on the effects of radiation or cillicosis. I and members of the tribe do not know what the long-term effects are from working in the mines. I feel strongly that we need to educate our people about the effects and destruction of our land, lives and culture.