Today we’d like to introduce you to Shaina Oliver.
Hi Shaina, we’d love for you to start by introducing yourself.
My son had half day preschool, and I wanted to utilize our time together meaningfully. One day while, listening to KGNU public radio, I heard about an event at the State Capitol and that there was food. It was lunch time, and we had time before his brothers got out of school so we decided to stop by. When we arrived, an elderly woman was giving a speech while holding a toy baby. She raised it up and asked, “why do we do this?” From that day forward, I haven’t been able to turn away from the responsibility to speak up for children’s right to a safe environment, and to stand united with parents against harmful air pollution and climate change. Through this work I have found and strengthened my voice as a mom, a parent, and as an Indigenous Peoples Rights Advocate.
As an Indigenous tribal affiliate of the Navajo Nation of Shiprock, NM (San Juan County region), I grew up living between multiple communities. My grandparents on my dad’s side moved the family to Denver, CO after the Relocation Act, which allowed Native American people to freely relocate off the reservation. I grew up traveling between the city and the reservation.
My grandfather was one of the Navajo men and women who worked in the uranium mines without protective gear. He also worked at the coal power plant, which had a great impact on his health. He was forced into early retirement because of his frequent asthma attacks on the job. I grew up watching my grandmother care for her parents and our family’s ancestral lands – tending to the sheep, cattle, and horses. She would make my grandfather’s breakfast and lunch before he left for work, and sometimes he hitchhiked as it was common on the reservation to come across a relative or friend willing to help. There were many times when he was rushed to the ER for asthma attacks.
Joining Moms Clean Air Force helped me find my voice and connect the dots between my family’s health and the environmental injustice we experienced. Growing up in communities affected by pollution, we often see our health impacts as “normal”. I never connected my own asthma to air pollution, nor did I consider that the neighborhood I lived in might be part of the issue. I also never questioned whether my grandfather’s asthma was linked to his worksite.
It wasn’t until I began my advocacy with Moms Clean Air Force (reading their factsheets on air pollution, oil and gas, coal plants and mercury), that everything clicked. Much of what I read echoed by family’s experiences. Once I connected the dots, my voice could no longer be silenced. I will speak up for future generations, even those not yet born. Moms Clean Air Force showed up to my doors, asked me to share my story, and that eventually led me from volunteer to organizer for the Colorado chapter.
I’m sure it wasn’t obstacle-free, but would you say the journey has been fairly smooth so far?
No, the journey hasn’t been smooth, and I never expected it to be. Speaking truth about pollution and injustice, especially as an Indigenous woman and a mother, often means walking into rooms where our stories haven’t been heard or valued before. But those challenges have given me strength. Every time I speak, I am carrying my grandfather’s story, my community’s story, and my children’s future. By using my voice, I’ve seen hearts change, policies shift, and communities become more empowered. I’ve been able to influence communities, companies, organizations, government offices, and schools. There will always be challenges, but through those challenges, we grow. And through growth, we build the will to create change.
Alright, so let’s switch gears a bit and talk business. What should we know about your work?
I am a field organizer for the Moms Clean Air Force-EcoMadres Colorado chapter, and we also have another mom organizer in Broomfield. Through storytelling, we can change the minds and hearts of decision makers. Our work has helped influence policy change in Colorado — from how the state handles oil and gas to air toxics and protections for environmental injustice communities. We’re especially proud of Colorado’s climate laws that address air pollution from oil and gas, including air toxics like hydrogen sulfide, benzene, formaldehyde, and hexavalent chromium. Our advocacy for public health protections has strengthened policies that center community input, especially from cumulatively impacted communities. What sets Moms Clean Air Force apart is our passion as moms, parents, and caregivers united for every child’s right to live, play, learn, and breathe clean air in a healthy environment.
What sort of changes are you expecting over the next 5-10 years?
With the current political landscape, Moms Clean Air Force has a long road ahead as we continue fighting for public health protections — especially children’s rights to a safe environment where they can play, live, learn, and breathe clean air. With my voice, I will continue advocating for Indigenous Peoples Rights, Tribal Sovereignty, and for the inclusion of Tribal Nations through government-to-government consultation.
Contact Info:
- Website: https://www.momscleanairforce.org/
Image Credits
Moms Clean Air Force
