Indigenous Resilience Center director talks Diné water access at Colorado River conference
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The Colorado River Water Users Association annual conference in Nevada wraps up Friday. The Navajo Nation is part of the Colorado River Basin Tribes Partnership, an organization formed by 10 federally recognized tribes with reserved water rights.
One Diné hydrologist has been educating attendees there about the uniquely Navajo challenges of accessing water on her tribal homelands through a panel: “Evaluating Urban Best Practices: Science & Innovation in M&I.”
Karletta Chief serves as director of the Indigenous Resilience Center at the University of Arizona. She expressed that “food, energy and water insecurities were amplified on the Navajo Nation during the pandemic,” which are still affecting those still living on more than 27,000 square miles of reservation lands sprawling across three states.
In a recent survey of water haulers on the Navajo Nation, the center found the majority range in age from 56 to 60 and travel between 5 to 10 miles. Half of respondents said they’re trekking out at least two or three times a week.
“Imagine how much wear and tear that is on your truck as well as how much time it takes to go out and just simply get water,” said Chief. “It’s a heavy financial burden for the Navajo people.”
Thirty percent of Navajo homes lack running water, and yet, Chief added, “This is home, they want to stay where they are.”
Her university students and staff at the Indigenous Resilience Center have teamed up with the nonprofit DIGDEEP Right to Water Project with installing sink systems to help their relatives stay within these remote residences.
“Central water systems do not work for many Navajo communities. There’s a need to have innovative solutions that’s available now, and that will address water insecurity in real time,” said Chief. “And off-grid rural tribal water users have very different needs and perceptions that need to be considered.”
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