Elim Community Fights Back Against Uranium Mining Threat
Elim, Alaska — The close-knit Iñupiat community of Elim, with a rich tradition of subsistence fishing and hunting, is raising alarm over plans for uranium mining that threaten their health and environment. Nestled near the productive Norton Sound, the community relies on the land, referring to it as Munaaquestevut, meaning “the one who cares for us.”
This summer, Canadian mining company Panther Minerals is poised to begin exploration for a uranium mine at the headwaters of the Tubuktulik River, adjacent to Elim’s lands. Residents fear that contamination could devastate their water and fishery, reminiscent of health crises following uranium mining on Navajo land decades ago.
The community has opposed the mine since Panther Minerals announced its exploration plans last May, citing concerns over cancer and pollution. Local activists recently protested during the iconic Iditarod sled dog race, holding signs demanding the protection of their future.
Despite issuing over a hundred public comments against the mine, the Alaska Department of Natural Resources (DNR) has largely disregarded Elim’s concerns. Last October, it granted Panther a four-year exploration permit, allowing drilling to commence this June. Elim has appealed but is running out of time.
The mining initiative aligns with a broader national push for resource extraction, encouraged by the Trump administration’s executive orders favoring Alaska’s mining industry. This has created a precarious situation for Native communities like Elim, often caught between corporate interests and their cultural heritage.
Activists assert that the proposed mining methods threaten to disrupt their vital ecosystem. “The time to act is now,” cautioned community elder Johnny Jemewouk. As resource competition intensifies, the battle for Elim’s rights to their ancestral lands and health continues to unfold amidst growing tension with state authorities.
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