Reflections on the Uranium Film Festival in Window Rock, AZ

The International Uranium Film Festival (IUFF) in Window Rock this November brought together filmmakers, environmental organizations, and community members to explore stories related to uranium. Dr. Andee Lister, Brooke Marie Damon, and Torran Anderson participated in the Film Festival and set up a table to share resources from the University of Arizona Superfund Research Center and Indigenous Resilience Center (IRes).

IUFF was conceived in 2006 during the Indigenous World Uranium Summit, where Indigenous communities from around the world shared testimonies about the harms of uranium mining and the nuclear fuel chain. Rooted in the Summit’s declaration calling for a global ban on uranium-related activities and the protection of Indigenous lands and rights, the festival was launched in Rio de Janeiro in 2011 and later brought to the Navajo Nation, where it continues to return annually. In 2025, the IUFF marks 80 years since the first atomic explosion and the bombings of Hiroshima and Nagasaki, offering a platform for those affected by nuclear activities to share their stories and inspire action. Below are reflections from the team that attended the Uranium Film Festival.

“I attended the IUFF in November 2025 in Window Rock, AZ. I watched a short film titled The River that Harms, which covers the largest radioactive waste spill in U.S. history, an environmental disaster that received almost no media attention. In 1979, 94 million gallons of water contaminated with uranium milling waste broke through a United Nuclear Corporation (UNC) dam in Church Rock, NM. The wastewater entered the Puerco River near Gallup, NM, and flowed into Arizona, exposing the small communities living along the river. The concerns raised in 1987 are still the concerns communities face today. Livestock remains a central part of Navajo life, and questions about the safety of animals grazing near historic uranium sites are just as relevant now as they were decades ago. However, the question has evolved. At a community meeting I attended last month, people were asking whether livestock mineral or salt blocks could act as a form of chelation therapy to help livestock pass uranium through their bodies. This growing interest reflects resilience and a shift from simply asking about exposure to exploring practical ways to reduce uranium accumulation in livestock.” – Dr. Andee Lister

“I was very fortunate to attend the IUFF in Window Rock alongside Dr. Andee Lister and Torran Anderson. I was only able to partake in the event on Friday, but it left a meaningful impact on myself, my mother and brother who traveled with me. The opening prayer included a round dance, which I found myself being one of the first few to be pulled in. Though I usually find myself shying away from moments like this, the group was not only welcoming but provided comfort to me. As I held hands with those beside me, I watched the dance evolve from the few of us to it almost filling the entire space of the Navajo Nation Museum. I saw the smiles of everyone and heard the cheers of the group to kick off the second day. I was able to talk to different community members while at the table and it was amazing to see the response to the work that IRes is doing. I had a wonderful time while at the IUFF although my little brother was more excited to head to the flea market, my mom also shared my positive experience and took away from the films.” - Brooke Damon, UA Master’s Student 

“The Uranium Film Festival in Window Rock (capital city of Navajo Nation) began with prayer, a welcome from Anna Rondon, and Swiftbird Drum from Taos, NM. One of the first films, “The River That Harms,” shared the impact of the largest radioactive waste spill in the United States, which poured into the Puerco River and impacted many people on Navajo Nation. While tabling, I met community members whose families are still impacted by this contaminated water. The stories of participants who had personal experiences with uranium, mining, and site cleanup drove home the films' powerful message. As the film “Half-Life of Memory: America’s Forgotten Atomic Bomb Factory” pointed out, the environmental impact of uranium far outlasts our collective memory. Events like the Uranium Film Festival bring these pressing issues to the forefront. I was inspired by the dedication of the festival organizers and community members to protect the health of their families.” –Torran Anderson, Community Outreach Manager, Indigenous Resilience Center (IRes), Community Engagement Core UA Superfund Research Center

Norman Brown speaking to the Uranium Film Festival attendees:

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