Nibi-Clear

Nibi-Clear

Nibi-Clear

Utilizing neutron activation analysis to provide full elemental profiles of Indigenous water sources and reveal contaminants federal testing overlooks

Minneapolis, MN, USA

United States

Hybrid of for-profit and nonprofit

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There are 574 federally recognized tribes in the U.S. and 634 in Canada, with hundreds more unrecognized Indigenous nations across Turtle Island. While each has distinct practices, all are united by a vital relationship with water. Yet pipelines, uranium mining, and industrial pollution have contaminated water sources across regions often without oversight or recourse. Treaty obligated federal water testing screens for a limited range of contaminants and omits elements like phosphorus, cobalt, and uranium. For example, phosphorus levels above 40 ppm may contribute to neurological disease, yet this is not typically reported. Without full-spectrum testing, tribal governments lack the data needed to pursue infrastructure improvements or remediation. Attempts by tribes to set their own water standards often meet legal resistance. In the U.S., the Clean Water Act’s “Treatment as a State” process requires tribes to prove regulatory authority, often ending in litigation or denial due to jurisdictional ambiguity (Sanders, 2009). In Canada, overlapping provincial and federal roles create similar conflicts (Anderson, 2015). Community-Based Monitoring helps tribes generate their own data, but turning it into legal leverage remains challenging due to limited capacity and regulatory barriers (Wilson et al., 2018; White et al., 2012).

Nibi-Clear uses neutron activation analysis (NAA) to detect and measure the elemental composition of water. A small water sample (around 5 mL) is irradiated inside a research nuclear reactor, where stable isotopes in the sample become radioactive for a short time. As these isotopes decay, they emit gamma rays and beta particles, which are measured using a high-purity germanium detector. The energy and intensity of this radiation uniquely identify the elements and their concentrations. A metaphor: imagine a flat balloon (a stable atom) being inflated with helium (neutron activation). Once inflated, the balloon rises (becomes radioactive), and as it loses air (decays), it releases energy in a measurable way. When it settles, it is stable again. NAA is extremely sensitive and comprehensive as it can detect dozens of elements that are invisible to conventional tests. The final report includes a full spectrum of elements found, their concentrations in ppm or ppb, and cross-references to public health literature. This testing empowers tribes to make informed decisions about water safety and infrastructure investments.

Indigenous peoples across North America are the focus of Nibi-Clear’s mission. Historically, colonial infrastructure projects have degraded water systems and ignored Indigenous consultation. The Dakota Access Pipeline protest drew attention to these injustices, but little coverage followed the rupture that leaked thousands of gallons of oil into the water supplies of over seven Plains tribes. In the Southwest, uranium mining on Navajo lands was done without consent and left behind toxic legacies in the water table, resulting in cancer clusters and poisoned wells. These are not isolated incidents. Many tribes lack access to testing that can reveal long-term elemental contamination. Nibi-Clear equips tribal governments with independent, high-resolution water data to pursue federal grants, develop filtration systems, and engage in land and water reclamation. Community members, especially elders, benefit when water sources are protected. This service is not only scientific but also a step toward reclaiming sovereignty and upholding traditional relationships to nibi (water).