Conference focuses on Navajo women miners

Monday, April 7, 2008  

The fourth Changing Woman Conference is being held today in Farmington, New Mexico.

The conference aims to educate Navajo women who work in coal mines. Organizer Rosie Foster, a heavy equipment operator at the San Juan Underground Mine, says women need to be aware of their rights.

"I think a lot of men have problems with the fact that you're a woman," Foster told The Farmington Daily Times. "When you stand up and ask questions or something they say, Why did you question me? You're just a woman.'"

Rose said women represent about 20 percent of the local mining work force. There are two major Navajo coal mines in the area.

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Conference focuses on Navajo women: Workshops aimed at informing workers about legal rights (The Farmington Daily Times 4/7)