Lessons from the Navajo: Assistance with Environmental Data Collection Ensures Cultural Humility and Data Relevance

Background: The Navajo Nation suffers from a legacy of environmental pollution from historical uranium mining activities, resulting in adverse public health outcomes and continuous exposure.

Objective: Partner with a Navajo graduate student and community members in a field campaign to characterize the spatial distribution and geochemistry of uranium for a multipathway uranium exposure assessment under development by the Diné Network for Environmental Health (DiNEH) project.

Methods: Attend community meetings, acquire Navajo language skills, and integrate local knowledge into sampling approach of sediment, water, and vegetation.

Results: Navajo participation (1) helped to foster trust in research efforts during community interactions, (2) taught aspects of Navajo culture and language to maintain positive and respectful relations, and (3) conveyed information on Navajo culture that would impact sampling strategies.

Conclusions: Community engagement helps to sustain equitable partnerships and aids in culturally appropriate, relevant data collection.