Universal Access to Clean Water for Tribal Communities

UACW recently joined a brilliant group of webinar presenters from the University of Arizona to discuss water access. We are grateful to the University of Arizona Native American Advancement, Initiatives, and Research team for profiling Tribal Water Justice efforts, our recent Federal Funding Handbook, and insights from our webinar discussion. Heather Tanana, Karletta Chief, Paloma Beamer, Andrea Gerlak, Anne Castle, University of Arizona Udall Center https://lnkd.in/g3ECQmNX

We are excited to share an invitation to an upcoming webinar on Federal Funding Opportunities for Tribal Water Access on Thursday, November 21, from 3 to 4 p.m. MST. UACW will highlight our recent Federal Funding Handbook and join an incredible group of presenters from the University of Arizona to discuss water access. Heather Tanana, Karletta Chief, Paloma Beamer, Andrea Gerlak, Anne Castle, University of Arizona Udall Center

Join Universal Access to Clean Water for Tribal Communities, Native American Rights Fund, and National Indian Health Board next Tuesday (Nov 12) for a webinar developed for Tribal leaders, Tribal water system administrators, technical consultants to Tribes, and policymakers - and really anyone interested in Tribal access to clean drinking water! Hear about current water settlements, the nexus of water and health, NIHB's Tribal Environmental Justice Technical Assistance Center, and UACW's new handbook on Tribal water funding opportunities and processes.

On this Indigenous Peoples' Day, we honor the deep connection Indigenous communities have with water—an element sacred to life, culture, and tradition. We also acknowledge that far too many Indigenous communities in the U.S. still lack access to clean and safe drinking water. In our work and our lives, we stand alongside Indigenous communities in the fight for Universal Access to Clean Water for Tribal Communities, a fundamental human right. We endeavor to address these systemic inequalities by working with Tribal leaders, federal agencies, and other partners to bring sustainable, community-led solutions to the forefront by: -- Advocating for federal and local policy changes that prioritize water access for Tribal lands. -- Supporting Indigenous-led initiatives that protect water resources and empower local governance. -- Promoting education and awareness about the vital role clean water plays in the health, dignity, and prosperity of Indigenous communities. Water is life. On this day and every day, let’s honor Indigenous peoples by committing to a future where all communities have access to clean, safe drinking water. #IndigenousPeoplesDay #WaterIsLife #UniversalAccess #WaterJustice #IndigenousRights #SustainableSolutions #CleanWaterForAll

Meet the UACW Team! Universal Access to Clean Drinking Water for Tribal Communities started in the early days of COVID in response to the disproportionate impact of the pandemic on Native Americans. With a vision of raising awareness about the lack of access to running water in Tribal communities and Nations and making progress on the ground, Bidtah Becker and Anne Castle started UACW to mobilize targeted research and advocate for policies and funding that help solve the water access gap for Tribes. Anne's dedication continues to inspire, advise, and energize UACW's core team in their day-to-day efforts. With her wide-ranging experience on Colorado River issues, including her role as a Senior Fellow at the Getches-Wilkinson Center for Natural Resources, Energy, and the Environment at the University of Colorado Law School, she brings invaluable expertise to our mission. Bidtah Becker, who serves as the Chief Legal Counsel for the Navajo Nation Office of the President and Vice President, continues to support our work. Guided by Anne’s and Bidtah's vision, along with the support and encouragement from a wide network of collaborators such as the Colorado River Water and Tribes Initiative, UACW is intensifying its commitment to ensuring universal access to clean, safe drinking water for all Native communities across the United States. https://lnkd.in/gRAUhday

BIL and IRA provide unprecedented funding for Tribal water infrastructure. However, accessing that funding can be challenging. To address this issue, UACW recently released our Tribal Funding Handbook which serves as a resource to navigate the federal funding process. We have appreciated the conversations that the Handbook has generated! Our thanks to John Fleck at the Utton Transboundary Research Center and Jamie Pleune at the University of Utah S.J. Quinney College of Law for drawing attention to the Handbook and UACW’s work on closing the water access gap in Indian Country. https://lnkd.in/gKyihSxc

Native American families are 19 times more likely than any others to lack clean, running water in their homes. UACW is working to bring greater awareness to this inequity. On a recent PBS News Special The Tipping Point: Colorado River Reckoning, UACW Initiative Lead Heather Tanana noted that: “Water insecurity is pervasive for many tribal communities, certainly in the Colorado River Basin but also across the United States broadly, which is rooted in past federal allotment and assimilation policies.” Heather’s interview begins at 1:09:45 in the full broadcast available here: https://lnkd.in/gCXffj9y.

Today we are thrilled to launch our Bipartisan Infrastructure Law and Inflation Reduction Act Funding Handbook for Access to Clean Drinking Water in Tribal Communities! Unprecedented resources have been made available through the BIL and IRA, providing immense opportunities for addressing critical environmental and infrastructure needs and offering targeted funding to address the clean drinking water needs of Tribal communities. However, moving funds from the agencies into the hands of Tribes is proving to be challenging.   This Handbook will serve as a critical reference guide for Tribes seeking to access and utilize funding from the two federal acts to increase, improve, and maintain access to clean drinking water. The Handbook provides a road map to support Tribes in successfully navigating the entire funding process - from identifying water access project needs to obtaining the funds necessary for planning, designing, constructing, and maintaining essential projects. By transforming the federal approach to Tribal water access, UACW envisions a future where federal funds are effectively utilized, resources are adequately secured, and Tribal water access challenges are significantly mitigated over the next 20 years. More information is available at: www.tribalcleanwater.org.