Steven J. Yazzie - Gold King & Associates

Gold King & Associates takes the form as a real estate sign, giving the appearance the property where signs are installed may be for sale.

If an interested party calls the number on the sign (720.281.9199), they will not hear a vote message about property for sale. Rather, they will hear a poem, quote or excerpt from a story, book or personal writing, addressing environmental concerns around urbanization, land use, over development, colonization, or any range of expressions related to our human impacts and relationships with the land.

At the end of the voice message, the caller may leave a message of their own, which will be archived in the form of an audio file and transcription.

Gold King & Associates project is a means to provoke critical thinking around issues of environmental justice, and it reminds us of the vital role that all individuals and communities play in protecting the planet and its resources.

Gold King refers to the Gold King Mine wastewater spill from 2015 which caused the toxic release of wastewater into the Animas River watershed in. The event was a devastating environmental disaster that highlighted the need for greater accountability and responsibility in resource management. The spill not only polluted the water but also affected the livelihoods of the people who rely on it, such as farmers, ranchers, and indigenous communities. The incident underscored the urgent need for effective environmental regulations, which prioritize the protection of natural resources and public health over the interests of corporations and private property owners.