Superfund: Our Stories

A Series of Conversations with Tribal Environmental Professionals

Superfund: Our Stories (SOS) is a project conceived by ITEP staff and our friends and colleagues at Native Nations across the country during the pandemic. The loss of institutional knowledge is a serious problem for Tribal staff working on Superfund and other contaminated sites. In this series we sit down for casual, one-on-one conversations with people who have often spent decades working on these sites. Each conversation has an overarching theme, but the idea behind SOS is to capture stories and different perspectives.

Phillip Cernera

Lake Management Department Director (Retired), Coeur d'Alene Tribe

In this episode we chat with Phillip Cernera about how relationships and showing up are at the center of effective work.

Dino Chavarria

Director of Environmental Affairs, Santa Clara Pueblo

In this episode we chat with Dino Chavarria about creating and securing a seat at the table across evolving times.

Tim Kent

Environmental Director (Retired), Quapaw Nation

In this episode we chat with Tim Kent about taking the reins on a Superfund cleanup.

Summer King

Environmental Scientist, Quapaw Nation

In this episode we chat with Summer King Cernera about about using the 4 Rs (responsibility, respect, reciprocity and relationships) to foster relationships throughout Superfund research projects

Rebecca Stevens

Restoration Coordinator, Coeur d'Alene Tribe

In this episode we chat with Rebecca Stevens about how the Coeur d’Alene Tribe leveraged the NRDA as a tool in their Superfund toolkit.

Laurie Suter

Mineral Resources Administrator, Tohono O'odham Nation

In this episode we chat with Laurie Suter about lessons she learned from a life on the frontlines of mining.

Superfund Site Visits

Superfund Tribal Case Studies