Jennifer Olaranna Viereck, Tecopa, CA: an interview by Danielle Endres, 12 November 2009

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Title Jennifer Olaranna Viereck, Tecopa, CA: an interview by Danielle Endres, 12 November 2009
Alternative Title No. 707 Jennifer Viereck
Creator Viereck, Jennifer, 1952-
Contributor Endres, Danielle
Publisher Digitized by J. Willard Marriott Library, University of Utah
Date 2009-11-12
Access Rights I acknowledge and agree that all information I obtain as a result of accessing any oral history provided by the University of Utah's Marriott Library shall be used only for historical or scholarly or academic research purposes, and not for commercial purposes. I understand that any other use of the materials is not authorized by the University of Utah and may exceed the scope of permission granted to the University of Utah by the interviewer or interviewee. I may request permission for other uses, in writing to Special Collections at the Marriott Library, which the University of Utah may choose grant, in its sole discretion. I agree to defend, indemnify and hold the University of Utah and its Marriott Library harmless for and against any actions or claims that relate to my improper use of materials provided by the University of Utah.
Date Digital 2015-07-08
Spatial Coverage Nevada, United States, http://sws.geonames.org/5509151/
Subject Viereck, Jennifer, 1952- --Interviews; Antinuclear movement--Nevada; Radioactive waste disposal in the ground--Nevada--Yucca Mountain--Planning; Yucca Mountain (Nev.); Indians of North America--Nevada; Indigenous peoples--North America
Keywords Native Americans
Description Transcript (38 pages) of an interview by Danielle Endres with Jennifer Olaranna Viereck of Tecopa, California on 12 November 2009. Part of the Nuclear Technology Oral History Project, Everett Cooley Collection tape no. U-3031
Abstract Jennifer Viereck was born in Plymouth, New Hampshire in 1952. Shortly after her birth she moved with her parents to southern Alaska where she spent her early years. Viereck discusses the ethical, moral and cultural impacts that correspondence with her "name father" John Olaranna (same as her middle name) had on her as he taught her to be a "good Inupiat" in his letters. Based on that background she describes her history and general relationship to nuclear issues. Labeling herself as a jack-of-all-trades, specifically an administrative consultant for non-profits and small businesses, Viereck tells how her early work on native sovereignty issues evolved into a position wherein she helped organizations illuminate and overcome cultural barriers between native and non-native communities. Working closely with Shoshone leader and nuclear activist Corbin Harney her focus gravitated to nuclear issues surrounding Yucca Mountain. True to her early Inupiat ties as well as Shoshone spiritual practices, Viereck describes a vision for nuclear waste siting that considers life forms other than humans and focuses on changing people first to eventually change the world (specifically in her work with HOME). She also discusses her focus on scientific data, including water testing near Yucca Mountain. Included are some tips for encouraging young people to become involved in anti-nuclear activism. The interview concludes as Viereck describes how her work is largely turning toward educating people about the potential harm of exposure to radiation in medical tests. Project: Nuclear Technology. Interviewer: Danielle Endres
Type Text
Genre oral histories (literary works)
Format application/pdf
Language eng
Rights Digital Image © 2015 Utah State Historical Society. All Rights Reserved.
Scanning Technician Niko Amaya; Halima Noor
Conversion Specifications Original scanned with Kirtas 2400 and saved as 400 ppi uncompressed TIFF. PDF generated by Adobe Acrobat Pro X for CONTENTdm display.
ARK ark:/87278/s6c26rj5
Topic Antinuclear movement; Radioactive waste disposal in the ground--Planning; Nevada--Yucca Mountain; Indians of North America
Setname uum_elc
ID 837034
Reference URL https://collections.lib.utah.edu/ark:/87278/s6c26rj5
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