ADWR Director joins in World Water Week discussion on tribal water rights

ADWR Director Tom Buschatzke participated in the prestigious World Water Week events in Stockholm, Sweden, in August – a gathering that focused heavily on the water issues facing indigenous peoples around the world, including Native Americans of the Colorado River Basin region.

The Director’s panel on August 28 – “Enabling Indigenous Peoples Participation: Perspectives from the Colorado River Basin” – included Bureau of Reclamation Commissioner Camille Calimlim Touton; Amelia Flores, chairwoman of the Colorado River Indian Tribes; Becky Mitchell, Colorado River Commissioner for the state of Colorado; and Vice Chairman Lorelei Cloud of the Southern Ute Indian Tribe. The panel was moderated by Daryl Vigil of the Jicarilla Apache Nation.

The panel discussion emphasized the value of tribal inclusion in decision-making regarding water resources.

In his introduction, panel moderator Daryl Vigil observed that at the time the foundational “Law of the River,” as it is known, was created over 100 years ago, his Jicarilla Apache Nation “had just barely been put on a reservation and we were living on subsistence rations from the federal government on a piece of land that wasn’t our traditional homeland. That’s where we were at when the foundational law was created.”

“We’re 100 years behind, tribal sovereigns are,” he added, noting that overall tribes in the river basin enjoy rights to around 25 percent of Colorado River water.

Amelia Flores, the first woman to chair the Colorado River Indian Tribes, spoke of the cultural and spiritual ties of her tribes to the river. 

“I am the river,” said Chairwoman Flores. “My identity is with the Colorado River.”

“It is my identity that I bring to the table when I go to these meetings and having our voice heard in the negotiations. I carry on my shoulders all 4,600 tribal members – 24/7 – so it means a great deal to me to speak up on behalf of our tribal members.” 

Director Buschatzke in his remarks observed that, collectively, Arizona tribes have a right to roughly half of the state’s 2.8 million acre-foot Colorado River allocation. He expressed support for the idea that management of the river can only be accomplished by acting collectively.

Of the 30 indigenous tribes in the Colorado River Basin, 22 of those are Arizona tribes. Of those, 18 tribes have had their water rights quantified or settled. Four of those settlements are before Congress now.

“You have to have all of the sovereign tribes, the states and many of the big water users together to solve the problems facing us on the river or we’re not going to be able to save the river,” said Director Buschatzke.

Support for the Director’s participation in the event was provided by private philanthropic foundations. 

World Water Week, organized by the Stockholm International Water Institute, is one of the world’s leading conferences on global water issues. It has been held every year since 1991. 

The non-profit event attracts a diverse mix of participants from many professional backgrounds and nearly every corner of the world. It is dedicated to finding solutions to the world’s greatest water-related challenges, with topics ranging from food security and health to agriculture, technology, biodiversity, and issues affecting climate.