Posted on Apr 27, 2023
Tribal nations were once excluded from Colorado River talks. Now they're key players
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https://www.npr.org/2023/04/27/ [login to see] /tribal-nations-were-once-excluded-from-colorado-river-talks-now-theyre-key-playe
This Spring, a high level delegation met inside the Arizona Governor's office to announce a huge water conservation deal.
The crowd was a who's who of the western water world, including top Biden administration officials, the head of Arizona's powerful water department, the state's Governor Katie Hobbs, and its senior Senator Kyrsten Sinema.
But the man at the center of the announcement was someone who probably wouldn't have even been invited to this type of event not too long ago: Governor Stephen Roe Lewis of the Gila River Indian Community.
In a blue suit, bolo tie and white Nike shoes, Lewis beamed when it was his turn to step to the microphone. After saying hello in his native language, he called the moment historic: "In the worst drought in over 1,200 years, we're trying to make this moment into a movement, a movement of water conservation," Lewis said to applause.
This Spring, a high level delegation met inside the Arizona Governor's office to announce a huge water conservation deal.
The crowd was a who's who of the western water world, including top Biden administration officials, the head of Arizona's powerful water department, the state's Governor Katie Hobbs, and its senior Senator Kyrsten Sinema.
But the man at the center of the announcement was someone who probably wouldn't have even been invited to this type of event not too long ago: Governor Stephen Roe Lewis of the Gila River Indian Community.
In a blue suit, bolo tie and white Nike shoes, Lewis beamed when it was his turn to step to the microphone. After saying hello in his native language, he called the moment historic: "In the worst drought in over 1,200 years, we're trying to make this moment into a movement, a movement of water conservation," Lewis said to applause.
Tribal nations were once excluded from Colorado River talks. Now they're key players
Posted from npr.org
Water
Native Americans
Conservation
Supreme Court
Posted 1 y ago
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PO1 William "Chip" Nagel
..."Tribes now control upwards of 25% of the river
Still, of the 30 tribes in the Colorado basin, 22 now have completed or partially completed settlements with the U.S. government. That means they technically now control more than a quarter of the average flow of the Colorado.
Heather Tanana at the University of Utah says that gives them a lot of bargaining power, as the river continues to shrink."...
..."Tribes now control upwards of 25% of the river
Still, of the 30 tribes in the Colorado basin, 22 now have completed or partially completed settlements with the U.S. government. That means they technically now control more than a quarter of the average flow of the Colorado.
Heather Tanana at the University of Utah says that gives them a lot of bargaining power, as the river continues to shrink."...
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