Posted on Nov 16, 2021
Tribes hope infrastructure law means they'll finally get clean drinking water
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https://www.npr.org/2021/11/15/ [login to see] /tribes-hope-infrastructure-law-means-theyll-finally-get-clean-drinking-water
Louie Pitt Jr. has a clear memory of a day four years ago when a valve broke on the Warm Springs Reservation in Oregon. He was in a meeting with the tribal operations officer when she was interrupted by a phone call.
"The worst situation I was talking about," she told him, "it's happening now."
Pitt is an elder in The Confederated Tribes of Warm Springs. The worst case situation he describes is still happening here. Due to an aging infrastructure system and insufficient funds to fix it, the tribes here have been limping along with inadequate water supply for years. There are frequent notices directing residents to boil water before consumption. Sometimes the water coming out of the tap is brown, and sometimes nothing comes out at all.
Louie Pitt Jr. has a clear memory of a day four years ago when a valve broke on the Warm Springs Reservation in Oregon. He was in a meeting with the tribal operations officer when she was interrupted by a phone call.
"The worst situation I was talking about," she told him, "it's happening now."
Pitt is an elder in The Confederated Tribes of Warm Springs. The worst case situation he describes is still happening here. Due to an aging infrastructure system and insufficient funds to fix it, the tribes here have been limping along with inadequate water supply for years. There are frequent notices directing residents to boil water before consumption. Sometimes the water coming out of the tap is brown, and sometimes nothing comes out at all.
Tribes hope infrastructure law means they'll finally get clean drinking water
Posted from npr.orgPosted in these groups: 
Native Americans
Water
Native Americans Water
Posted >1 y ago
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"lack of clean water is just the latest struggle in a long history of problems the tribes have been forced to endure, including violations from the US government of the original treaty signed with the tribes in 1855."
Over 150 of broken promises. Time to stop.
Over 150 of broken promises. Time to stop.
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PO1 William "Chip" Nagel
..."Louie Pitt Jr. says lack of clean water is just the latest struggle in a long history of problems the tribes have been forced to endure, including violations from the US government of the original treaty signed with the tribes in 1855. Pitt says he's hopeful this funding can heal - a bit - the relationship between the tribes and the government, as it's an opportunity for the government to make good on the promise to share resources, even though it's long overdue.
"It's just helping you folks not make liars out of your great grandpas," says Pitt."
..."Louie Pitt Jr. says lack of clean water is just the latest struggle in a long history of problems the tribes have been forced to endure, including violations from the US government of the original treaty signed with the tribes in 1855. Pitt says he's hopeful this funding can heal - a bit - the relationship between the tribes and the government, as it's an opportunity for the government to make good on the promise to share resources, even though it's long overdue.
"It's just helping you folks not make liars out of your great grandpas," says Pitt."
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Clean water, internet, electricity, fuel for winter warmth. Good stores. Good schools. The list is endless.
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