#213- AEMA: LeRoy Shingoitewa

What happens when a Hopi tribal member steps into one of mining's most complex spaces — not to fight it blindly, not to defend it blindly — but to bridge it? We sit down with LeRoy Shingoitewa of WestLand Resources at the AEMA Annual Meeting for one of the most powerful and perspective-shifting conversations we've had to date. Raised in Moenkopi, Arizona — where some villages still live without running water or electricity by choice — LeRoy shares what it means to carry ancestral responsibility into modern industry. From hauling water at his grandmother's home to biology, to cultural resource consultant, LeRoy explains how traditional ecological knowledge and Western science can coexist — and why both are critical in today's mining landscape. We dive into tribal sovereignty, legacy uranium impacts, water rights, permitting reform, trust-building, consultation breakdowns, NGO pressure, and what real partnership between tribes and mining companies actually looks like. This isn't a surface-level conversation. It's about preservation, accountability, education, and long-term relationship building. It's about starting with respect instead of checking a box. And it's about one man choosing to stand in the middle — not for money, not for politics — but to make sure his people have a voice at the table. Please help us welcome LeRoy Shingoitewa to the Face. Big thanks to the American Exploration and Mining Association (AEMA) for having Mining Minds out at the event. We truly appreciate the opportunity and the work you continue to do to support and elevate the voices across our mining industry. Episode Sponsors: Safety First Training and Consulting Motor Mission Machine & Radiator JSR Fleet Performance PC-Reps   Chapters:  04:12 Growing Up Hopi: Tradition by Choice 14:48 Tribal Monitors & Entering Mining 20:03 Building Trust After Broken Promises 26:40 Why Early Consultation Matters 32:18 Economic Benefits vs. Cultural Preservation 38:12 Bloodlines, Identity & Sovereignty 45:03 Water, Coal & Hard Lessons 51:00 Western Degrees & Tribal Responsibility 57:42 NGOs, Money & Accountability 01:04:50 Mining 101 & Changing the Narrative 01:10:05 Preserving Culture While Engaging Industry