Trust relationship a eksploatacja uranu na ziemi Diné – wyzwania suwerenności plemiennej w polityce energetycznej Stanów Zjednoczonych .......... 111

The article analyzes the social, economic, and cultural consequences of uranium mining on Diné lands, located at the intersection of four states: Arizona, New Mexico, Colorado and Utah in the American Southwest. The paper demonstrates how natural resource exploitation became a tool of colonial violence against Indigenous Peoples in the United States throughout the 20th century. Between 1944 and 1986, more than 500 uranium mines operated within the Navajo Nation territory, enabling the extraction of nearly 30 tons of uranium ore. Many of these mines were abandoned without proper reclamation, leaving the Diné exposed to harmful radiation and serious health effects, including cancer. The article emphasizes that mining activities on Navajo Nation territory were marked by systemic negligence on the part of both corporations and the federal government and were conducted without the informed consent of the broader community, thereby undermining the political autonomy of the Diné. It further argues that the energy industry presents a significant challenge to Indigenous sovereignty, which is deeply rooted in the relationship with Mother Earth. The article confirms that uranium exploitation on Diné lands has hindered the realization of tribal sovereignty and independence of the Navajo Nation and has contributed to perpetuating colonial structures of Indigenous subjugation within the framework of U.S. energy policy.