Uranium extraction and perpetuation of internal colonialism in New Mexico

The history of uranium in New Mexico started in the 1950's. Following the discovery of a large deposit near the small town of Grants in the north-western part of the state, the local economy was dramatically transformed by the arrival of prospectors and extractive companies. The ups and downs of the mining industry during and after the Cold War have profoundly impacted the landscape and the local population who is still trying to alleviate the effects of the past while addressing the economic concerns of the future. This article focuses on the cyclic aspect of mining in one of the poorest states of the American West. It raises questions as to the transition from the rush for natural resources to its post-exploitation situation in the particular context of the nuclear industry. The economic and socio-environmental issues of the last few years, as well as the new role played by the local population (Navajo and Laguna Nations in particular) through their strong but disconnected activism, set this industry apart from previous migratory waves connected to the development of one mining sector. Nonetheless, certain neo-colonial characteristics show that, despite these new issues, some patterns have remained the same and perpetuate a legacy of dependence and inequality. (author)