This is a good example of successful activist media. As the uranium mining debate heats up again, this film becomes even more pertinent. Watch the webisodes to get an idea of what this Navajo family, and the Navajo Nation, is dealing with. This film got a lot of people involved in this issue and shows that independent media and community members together can make a difference. The film is available from the Groundswell Educational Films website (see link below), as is more information on this project.

From: Groundswell Educational Films:

What happened after we released our award-winning documentary, The Return of Navajo Boy about uranium contamination on native lands? The short answer is, quite a bit.

In advance of the film’s ten year anniversary, Groundswell Educational Films is releasing a series of webisodes showing the effect that the documentary has had on the lives of its participants, and how the film is still being used today to affect change. You can watch them here in chronological order, and order the film on DVD which contains our epilogue.

Navajo Boy Webisode #1: EPA Uranium Investigation

The story of Elsie Mae Begay is featured prominently in our documentary; her home was partially constructed out of uranium rocks from an abandoned mine nearby. Around the same time our film was making its premiere, the EPA investigated her home to see how dangerous it might be. The following is from an official EPA videotape of the investigation, obtained by Groundswell through the Freedom of Information Act (FOIA).

Navajo Boy Webisode #2: Contaminated Home Removal

A year and a half after the initial investigation, the EPA finally removed Elsie's highly contaminated home. The uranium waste piles in her backyard have not removed and are not even fenced off from the public.

Navajo Boy Webisode #3: Elsie Visits Washington, DC

In 2008, Elsie went to Capitol Hill to screen our documentary, The Return of Navajo Boy. Stay tuned for more videos. For more information, please visit: http://navajoboy.com

Navajo Boy Webisode #4: Rough Rock Screening

Groundswell presents a community screening of, "The Return of Navajo Boy" in Navajo Nation.

Navajo Boy Webisode #5: Mary's Gift Shop

The Begay family gift shop has moved to a new location in Monument Valley, AZ.

More information about the film they're selling and can be seen in is available at http://navajoboy.com.

Navajo Boy Webisode # 6: It's not just Elsie's Backyard

After watching Navajo Boy Webisodes, Paul Robinson of the Southwest Research and Information Center relates Elsie's story to the rest of Navajo Nation. Paul is from the Southwest Research and Information Center and focuses on Uranium mining contamination in the Church Rock and Window Rock area among other issues.

Navajo Boy Webisode #7: A Navajo Report from Elsie's Backyard

We gave Mary Helen Begay (Elsie's daughter in law) a flip video camera to document the uranium cleanup on Navajo Nation. Here's her first on the ground report with an EPA contractor.

For more information about uranium contamination of native lands and our documentary film, visit the website:http://navajoboy.com

The Return of Navajo Boy Webisode # 8

To watch more webisodes from our award winning documentary "The Return of Navajo Boy," visit our website: http://navajoboy.com/webisodes

Introducing The Navajo Nation Water Quality Project: http://navajowater.org/