Download Tribal Summit Report - Native Waters on Arid Lands

TribalSummitReport:November9-10,2016
NativeWatersonAridLands(NWAL;http://nativewaters-aridlands.com)seekstoenhanceclimate
resiliencyoftribalcommunitiesoftheGreatBasinandAmericanSouthwestbybuildingthecapacityto
developandimplementreservation-wideplans,policiesandpracticesinsupportofsustainable
agricultureandwatermanagement.Duringthecourseofthisfive-year(2015-2020)project,researchers,
extensionexpertsandmembersoftribalcommunitiesmeetannuallyataTribalSummittoshare
informationrelatedtoclimatechange,climateadaptation,agriculture,waterresources,andother
topics.ThefollowingreportdescribeshighlightsofthesecondannualTribalSummit,whichwasheldon
November9-10,2016attheSouthPointHotelCasinoinLasVegas,Nevada.
Speakersatthisyear’sSummitincludedrepresentativesfromtheAguaCalienteBandofCahullaIndians,
UteIndianTribe,GilaRiverIndianCommunity,YeringtonPaiuteTribe,PyramidLakePaiuteTribe,Duck
ValleyShoshone-PaiuteTribe,JicarillaApacheTribe,ColoradoRiverIndianTribes,HopiTribe,White
MountainApacheNation,PuebloofZuni,NavajoNation,theSaltRiverMaricopaIndianCommunity,and
theCheyenneRiverSioux.OtherspeakerscamefromagenciesanduniversitiesincludingtheU.S.
GeologicalSurvey(USGS),BureauofIndianAffairs(BIA),theInstituteforTribalEnvironmental
Professionals(ITEP),NativeAmericanRightsFund(NARF),FirstAmericansLandGrantConsortium
(FALCON),SalishKootenaiCollege,theUniversityofArizona,theUniversityofNevada,RenoandOhio
University.SummitattendeescamefromcommunitiesandreservationslocatedacrossArizona,Nevada,
Colorado,California,NewMexico,Utah,SouthDakota,Montana,Wisconsin,Georgia,andOhiotoshare
intwodaysofworkshopsandtalks.Morethan100peoplewereinattendance.
Wednesday,November9(DayOne)
PreconferenceBreakoutSession:BIAClimateProgram,TrainingOpportunitiesandTribal
ClimateResilienceExamplesinAridEnvironments
OnthefirstdayoftheTribalSummit,apreconferenceworkshopintroducedattendeestotherange
climateplanningandadaptationresourcesthatareavailabletotribes,includingclimateprojections,
programs,trainings,andotheropportunities. NWALteammemberMichaelDettingerpresentedclimate
changeprojectionsfortemperatureandprecipitationfornineIndianreservationsintheGreatBasinand
SouthwesternUS(ColoradoRiver,DuckValley,GilaRiver,Hopi,NavajoNation,PyramidLakePaiute,
UintahandOuray,WalkerLake,andZunireservations).Hisprojections,whichareconstructedusing15
climatemodelsandtwoemissionsscenarios,extendthroughtheyear2100andshowincreasesin
temperatureatallninereservations,changesinprecipitationthatvarybylocation(wetterinnorthern
locations/drierinsouthernlocations),andincreasesinprecipitationextremes(floodsanddroughts).
1
JohnMosleyandJoeJojolafromtheBureauofIndianAffairs(BIA)presentedanoverviewofBIAclimate
programs,andsharedexamplesofgrantsthathavebeengiventovarioustribesforuseinclimate
changestudiesorclimateadaptationplanning.TheBIAoperatestheTribalClimateResilienceProgram
(TCRP),whichprovidestribeswithfundingfortrainingsandadaptationprojects,technicalsupport,and
youthengagementprograms.TheBIAalsoadministerstheTribalClimateResilienceResourceGuide,an
onlinehubofinformationontrainings,funding,planningandotherresourcesthatareavailablefor
tribesontheweb.
NickiCooleyandKarenCozettofromtheInstituteforTribalEnvironmentalProfessionals(ITEP)
discussedmethodsforcreatingclimatechangemitigationandadaptationplans.Theypresentedan
overviewofITEP’sadaptationplanningprocess,andsharedresourcesthattribescanusetocreatetheir
ownassessmentsandadaptationplans.Sessionattendeeswerethenaskedtosharetheirown
experienceswithclimateplanningandadaptation.
WEB RESOURCES
!
!
!
!
!
BIATribalClimateResilienceProgram(TCRP):http://bia.gov/WhoWeAre/BIA/climatechange/
BIATribalClimateResilienceResourceGuidehttps://toolkit.climate.gov/tribal/
ITEPTribesandClimateChangewebsite:http://www7.nau.edu/itep/main/tcc/Home/
ITEPAdaptationPlanningToolkit:http://www7.nau.edu/itep/main/tcc/Resources/adaptation
USClimateResilienceToolkit(NOAA):https://toolkit.climate.gov/#steps
OpeningBlessing&TribalWaterRights
The2016TribalSummitformallyopenedwithablessingfromClaytonHonyumptewaoftheHopiTribe,
andanoverviewoftribalwaterrightsbyHeatherWhitemanRunsHim.WhitemanRunsHimisastaff
attorneyfortheNativeAmericanRightsFundinBoulder,CO,anddiscussedfoundationalcasesintribal
waterrights,approachesforquantifyingrights,emergingissues,andcasestudiesfromdifferent
reservations.Inordertoplanforthefuture,tribesneedtoknowthatwaterwillbeavailable,said
WhitemanRunsHim.Tribescanquantifytheirwaterrightsthroughadjudication/litigation,orthrough
settlements,whichtendtobemoreflexible.Inadditiontoensuringwaterofsufficientquantitytomeet
theneedsoftribes,waterqualityisalsoanissueofgreatimportance.WhitemanRunsHimbelievesthat
theinternationaltrendtowardrecognizingahumanrighttocleandrinkingwatercanbeapowerful
advocacytoolfortribesinthefuture.
BreakoutSession1:GroundwaterandSurfaceWaterRelationshipsAffectingReservation
Environments
Thefirstbreakoutsession,ledbyNWALteammembersStaciEmmandVickiHebb,exploredhistorical
andpresent-daychallengesrelatedtowaterrightsandwaterqualityontribalreservations.Some
presentersdiscussedongoinglegaldisputesrelatedtogroundwaterandsurfacewaterrights,and
methodsforquantifyingthoserights.Forothers,problemsrelatedtopollutionandchemical
contaminationofwatersourceswereofmoreimmediateconcern.
TomDavis,ChiefPlanningandDevelopmentOfficerfortheAguaCalienteBandofCahullaIndians(Palm
Springs,CA)providedbackgroundonanongoingwaterrightsdisputeinwhichtheAguaCalientetribe
wantstousetheirfederallyreservedwaterrightstoaccessandhelpmanagelocalgroundwater.
2
Althoughthetribeholdsfederallyreservedwaterrights,theserightshavenothistoricallybeenapplied
togroundwater,andthetribehashadtobuywaterfromlocalwateragencies.BartPowaukee,Water
QualityCoordinatorfortheUteIndianTribeinFortDuchesne,UT,spokeaboutwaterresourcesandoil
andgasproductiononUtetriballands,includingpipelinesthatrunclosetorivercorridors.Drinking
wateronthereservationcomesprimarilyfromgroundwater,andwaterqualitytestingshowspresence
ofarsenic,uraniumandothercontaminants.GinnyHatch(EnvironmentalDirector)andDietrick
McGinnis(Consultant)fromtheYeringtonPaiuteTribeinYerington,NValsospokeaboutgroundwater
contaminationissues.InYerington,aplumefromthenearbyAnacondaMinepollutedthetribe’s
groundwaterwithuranium,arsenic,seleniumandothercontaminants,creatingmanagementchallenges.
BreakoutSession2:InvigoratingTribalEconomiesthroughInnovativeWaterResource
Use
Thesecondbreakoutsession,moderatedbyNWALteammembersLorettaSingletaryandBonnieColby,
exploredwaysinwhichtribesarestrengtheningtheireconomiesthroughinnovativewaterresourceuse.
SpeakersMervinWright(PyramidLakePaiuteTribe),ReggiePremo(DuckVallyShoshone-PaiuteTribe),
WainwrightVelarde(JicarillaApacheTribe)andAmandaBererra(ColoradoRiverIndianTribes)provided
examplesofinnovativewateruseontriballands,whichincludedfisheriesprojects,waterleases,and
improvedwaterconveyance/deliverystructuresforagriculture.Onekeythemethatemergedfromthis
sessionwasthatisimportantfortribestosecureandquantifytheirwaterrightsinordertoeffectively
managewaterresourcestoinvigoratetribaleconomies.
Thursday,November10(Day2)
TribalCollegesandUniversities(TCU)ProgramsandInternships
TheseconddayoftheTribalSummitbeganwithpresentationsfromVirgilDupuis(SalishKootenai
College)andJohnPhillips(FALCON)aboutTribalCollegesandUniversities(TCU)programs,andan
overviewoftheinternshipsandopportunitiesthatareavailabletostudentswhoareinterestedin
hydrology,waterresources,rangemanagementandotherdisciplines.
TribalCollegesandUniversitiesaretriballycharteredschoolsattendedprimarilybyNativeAmerican
students,andgovernedbyaNativeAmericanBoardofRegents.Therearecurrently37TCUinstitutions
intheUS,operatingin16states.Topareasofstudyincludenaturalresources,business,healthand
wellness,andyouthdevelopment.OneopportunityavailabletostudentsistheNWAL/TCUinternship
program,inwhichstudentsarepairedwithNWALresearchpartnerstodocollaborativeresearch.Salary
supportandstipendsareavailableforfacultyandstudentsintheinternshipprogram.
WEB RESOURCES
! TribalCollegesandUniversities(fromUSDepartmentofEducationwebsite):
http://sites.ed.gov/whiaiane/tribes-tcus/tribal-colleges-and-universities/
! FirstAmericansLand-GrantConsortium(FALCON):
https://portalcentral.aihec.org/falcon/Pages/default.aspx
3
BreakoutSession3:TribalRangelandandLivestockConservationPractices
Thethirdbreakoutsession,moderatedbyNWALteammembersTrentTeegerstromandMattLivingston,
focusedonsuccesses,challenges,barriers,andsolutionsforsustainingandexpandingeconomically
viableagriculturalproductionandranchingontriballands.PresentersJinwonSeo(DuckValley
Shoshone-PaiuteTribe),CalvertCurley(BureauofIndianAffairs–NavajoRegion),RobinsonHonani
(HopiTribe)andSistoHernandez(MountainApacheNation)discussedchallengesfacedontheir
reservationssuchaslandtenureissues,rangelandhabitatdegradation,andfundingcuts.Todealwith
thesechallenges,ranchersandlandmanagersareexploringsolutionssuchashabitatconservation
measures,waterpipelines,livestockassociations,livestockinventories,impoundmentsforcapturing
feralandescapedanimals,rangemanagementplans,atraditionalfisheriesrecoveryproject,andmore.
BreakoutSession4:TraditionalKnowledgeandEcology
Thefourthbreakoutsession,ledbyNWALteammembersBeverlyRamseyandKarlettaChief,
exploredbestpracticesinNativeAmericanagricultureforclimateresiliencythatincorporatestraditional
knowledge.ThePuebloFarmingProjectteamillustratedtheuseoftraditionalknowledgetoidentify
idealfarmingsitesinsouthwesternColoradotogrowHopi-helddrought-resistantcorn,andare
usingcomputeraidedre-constructedagriculturalindicestoincreaseclimateresiliency.TheBlackMesa
WaterCoalitionexplainedthatclimateresiliencyinagriculturalpracticesisadecolonizedperspectiveto
landmanagementthatemphasizesfoodsovereigntyandsupportingtheengagementofeldersand
youthtopasstraditionalknowledge.TheZuniProjectdiscusseddecadesoldeffectiveriparian
agriculturecenteredaroundthematriarchofagrandmotherandnetworkofextendedfamilyandthe
forcingofethnocentricEuropeanpatriarchalvaluesofsingleunithomesandthattherevitalizationof
traditionalagriculturalpracticesforclimateresiliencyisembeddedincultureandfamily.Finally,theSalt
RiverPimaMaricopaIndianCommunityGardengaveabriefpresentationonancientDryFarming
Practices,utilizedbytheHohokamincentralandsouthernArizona.Thepresentationhighlightedhow
theyareusingtheirAncestorstechniquestoaddressmodernlandscapingandagriculturalneeds,by
adaptingtraditionalknowledgetomakeitapplicablefortoday.
WEB RESOURCES
! PuebloFarmingProject:http://www.crowcanyon.org/index.php/pueblo-farming-project
! BlackMesaWaterCoalition:http://www.blackmesawatercoalition.org/
! SaltRiverPimaMaricopaIndianCommunityGarden:
http://www.srpmic-nsn.gov/government/culturalresources/garden.asp
DakotaAccessPipeline:SavingOurWaterforFutureGenerations
InThursday’slunchtimetalk,ChairmanHaroldFrazieroftheCheyenneRiverSiouxTribe(EagleButte,
SouthDakota)spokeaboutongoingoppositiontotheDakotaAccessPipelineattheStandingRock
ReservationinNorthDakota,andthepotentialimpactstosacredgroundsandwaterresources.
4
SynthesisSession:KeyTakeaways
AfinalsynthesissessionledbyNativeWatersteammemberDerekKauneckisofOhioUniversityasked
participantstoshareinsightsregardingkeytakeawaysfromtheTribalSummit.Sevencommonneeds
andthemesemerged.
1) Toplanforclimateresilienceinthefuture,itisimportanttoprotectresourcerights.Itisdifficultto
planforthefuturewithoutknowingwhatwillbeyours.Typesofresourcerightsdiscussedduring
thisconferenceincluded:TreatyRights;Waterrightsandquantification;Culturalresourcerights
associatedwithwater,landandresources;Grazingrightsandwateruse;Righttoavoid
harm/risk/pollution;Newrights–Intellectualpropertytoplantspeciesandculturalresources.
2) Tobetterconsolidateandshareresources,cross-tribecooperationandcoordinationareneeded.
Forexample,tribescancooperateandcoordinatewhencollectingdataforclimatescenarios,
ecologicaldataonlongtermsandshorttermchanges,hydrologicaldataonriverbasin
systems/groundwater.Theycanalsocoordinateforgrant-writingsupport,workshopsonclimate
planning,andeducationprogramdesign.
3) Thereisaneedforinnovationandnewwaysofdoingthings.Itissometimespossibletointegrate
traditionalknowledgewithmoderntechnology,tofindoldwaysofdoingnewthings.Weshouldsee
traditionalknowledgeaspartofthatcommonknowledgeheritageavailable,andprotectand
nurtureitssurvival.ExamplesofinnovationdiscussedduringtheTribalSummitincludedwaysto
usewaterresourcesdifferently,schedulingfisherieswaterallocations,tourism,boating,anduseof
newirrigationtechnologies.
4) Traditionalknowledgeandmodernscientificknowledgepresentdifferentwaysofknowingthe
world:howdoyoubestcombineandutilizetraditionalknowledgeandscientificdatainwaysthat
areorientedtowardthefutureandknowledgeableandrespectfulofthepast?
5) Thereisaneedtolocalizebetterapplicationofsciencefortribalneeds.Weheardexceptional
storiesofsuccessfulpartnershipsbuiltonREALpartnershipsandcollaborations.
6) Weneedtofindwaystorespecteachother,andcommunicateacrossprofessions,sciences,
generations,anddifferentcommunities.
7) Involvingtheyouthisanimportantchallenge.Wemustdevelopnewwaystoimproveeducation
towardrespectingdifferentwaysofknowingthenaturalworld,whilebeingeducatedinnewwaysin
formalscientificdisciplines.Wemustlookfornewwaystoeducatethataremorerespectfulofour
sharedhumanheritages.
Closingblessing
TheSummitclosedwithablessingfromRobinsonHonanioftheHopiTribe.
5