The community of Owyhee, Nevada, recently gathered to honor the legacy of Marvin Cota, the beloved tribal chairman known for mentoring young boxers and sharing joyful moments with his grandchildren. However, the family grapples with an unspoken sorrow—Cota’s life was tragically cut short by cancer, a fate that echoes the grim reality faced by many in the Duck Valley Indian Reservation.
Despite being in good health for most of his life, Cota’s cancer was diagnosed too late. The reservation suffers from significant environmental health hazards, including toxins in the soil and petroleum in the groundwater, complicating the quest for answers concerning rising illnesses. A recently unearthed document suggests that the government’s past actions, particularly the storage and use of hazardous chemicals like Agent Orange, could be tied to the contamination.
“I am filled with both anger and sadness,” said Terri Ann Cota, reflecting on her father’s service. “This tragedy has robbed us of many good men.”
Owyhee, the reservation’s only settlement, sits against a backdrop of snow-capped mountains and rolling ranchlands, nearly 100 miles from urban conveniences. The Shoshone-Paiute tribes have long relied on cattle ranching and traditional practices, preserving their heritage alongside modern challenges.
For years, the U.S. Bureau of Indian Affairs (BIA) managed critical infrastructure in the region, including a now-demolished maintenance building where Cota once worked. In a recent disclosure, the BIA revealed the existence of a 1997 document indicating the potential use of chemicals associated with Agent Orange in the area, contributing to ongoing concerns regarding public health.
Tribal leaders are alarmed that the irrigation canals, previously considered safe, may have greater environmental impacts than understood. Many tribal members, who rely on these canals for daily activities, now fear for their health.
Although federal agencies have committed to investigating the situation, details remain limited. Many documents have been redacted, preventing a clear understanding of the past contamination and its effects on the community’s health.
The BIA has not given interviews but acknowledges the need to evaluate the historical use of Agent Orange components in the reservation’s lands. Tribal members express urgency, fearing historical negligence may lead to further health crises.
As calls for action escalate, tribal officials are advocating for annual medical examinations and digging into historical records for further insight into health impacts. “People are dying,” tribal Chairman Brian Mason stated. “The government needs to act.”
The legacy of contamination affecting Native communities across the U.S. is extensive and well-documented. In Owyhee, much of the pollution has roots in outdated practices linked to two BIA buildings, with prior incidents resulting in significant chemical spills.
Residents of Owyhee have always expressed skepticism about the safety of their environment, particularly those whose loved ones worked with chemicals, unaware of the associated risks. Many attribute the rise in cancer cases and other health issues directly to the decades of environmental neglect.
The BIA has stated that any remaining pollutants in the environment are safe; however, a deep mistrust persists among community members. Ongoing concerns about damaged ecosystems have prompted calls for protective measures and new infrastructure to ensure the well-being of future generations.
Currently, tribal health services are working to catalog instances of illness, citing more than 500 potential cases of cancer over the years. As they shift to electronic records, the hope is to establish concrete data to support their claims for urgent remediation efforts.
Amidst these struggles, the community remains resilient. Chairman Mason advocates for comprehensive studies that could illuminate the extent of contamination and potentially secure reparations from the federal government.
With a rich history forged through generations on this ancestral land, the Shoshone-Paiute tribes continue to face modern challenges while striving to protect their heritage and health for the future.
As the community confronts these crises, Mason’s leadership seeks to peel back the layers of past injustices and promises to fight for accountability and transparency. “Our people are here, and they will remain with their ancestors,” he affirmed.
