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Native America Calling: Tribes addressing the ‘forever chemical’ problem
Wednesday, September 25, 2024
Tribes addressing the ‘forever chemical’ problem
Two years after the Environmental Protection Agency found high levels of Perfluoroalkyl and Polyfluoroalkyl Substances (PFAS) contamination in the drinking water at the K-12 tribal school on the Leech Lake Reservation, students and staff are still forced to consume only water brought in from outside the building.
Leech Lake is one place tribes are having to respond to the presence of PFAS, a class of man-made chemicals used in fire suppressing foam, water repellents on textiles, and older nonstick cookware. High PFAS exposure is connected to some health problems including cancer and thyroid disease.
Nearly 100% of Americans have PFAS in their body. Information specific to Native Americans is limited.
Join Native America Calling to talk with some tribes that are trying to address PFAS in their water and explore what can be done.

Guests on Native America Calling
Laurie Harper (Leech Lake Band of Ojibwe), director of education for the Leech Lake Band of Ojibwe, headquartered in Minnesota
Michael Jacobs (Waccamaw Siouan Tribe), Chief of the Waccamaw Siouan Tribe in North Carolina
Fred Corey, natural resources assistant at the Mi’kmaq (Micmac) Environmental Laboratory, owned and operated by the Mi’kmaq Nation in Maine
Dr. Kimberly Garrett, environmental health toxicologist at Northeastern University
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