The Potential of Toxic Tours: Indigenous Perspectives on Crises, Relationships, Justice and Resurgence in Oklahoma Indian Country

This article examines Indigenous perspectives on crises, empowerment, justice and resurgence through a case study of Indigenous-led Toxic Tours in the state of Oklahoma, US across both Native and non-Native lands that have been severely polluted. The Tar Creek Superfund Site and Grand Lake watershed comprise an interconnected water and land ecosystem that has been severely contaminated as a result of 20(th) century lead and zinc mining in the region. This mining legacy has resulted in extreme toxic assaults to water, soil, air, animal and plant life, as well as to human health, cultural lifeways, livelihoods and wellbeing. Through the vehicle of Tar Creek and Grand Lake/Downstream Impacts Toxic Tours led by the community-based organization, LEAD Agency, numerous visitors have been able to witness and engage with these impacted lands, waterscapes, communities, Tribal Nations and non-human living beings over decades. Using an autoethnographic approach to bring forward the perspectives of LEAD co-founders and Toxic Tour guides, Rebecca Jim and Earl Hatley, this research critically explores the ways in which these tours engage with empowerment, justice and resurgence discourses, while centering Indigenous perspectives on the crisis. While the insights and perspectives offered by Rebecca and Earl point to a strong connection between Toxic Tours and their capacity for engaging with empowerment, justice and Indigenous-led resurgence, the analysis of these reflections also point to differences between these discourses and their approach to crises, with resurgence discourses offering unique Indigenous conceptualizations of crisis, priorities and the ways forward.