Date:05/26/2015

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE

Contact: Brittany Xiu

Outreach Coordinator

UA Water Resources Research Center

(520) 621-8252

Only Two Weeks until “Indigenous Perspectives on Sustainable Water Practices” Conference, Tours Now Available for Participants

What can be learned from the indigenous perspectives on water and how can this knowledge be used to improve water management? The University of Arizona Water Resources Research Center (WRRC) will host a conference on “Indigenous Perspectives on Sustainable Water Practices” to explore these questions. The WRRC conference will include a half-day program on Tuesday, June 9, and a full day program on Wednesday, June 10, at the Wild Horse Pass Hotel & Casino in Chandler, AZ.

The conference, hosted in partnership with the Gila River Indian Community, will reflect the unique place of water in tribal life. It will look into water stewardship challenges and achievements, indigenous traditions in caring for agricultural lands and riparian areas, and tribal youth engagement. Talks and panel sessions will feature water law, water rights, groundwater, and a vision for the future. Presenters include representatives from Arizona tribes, the University of Arizona, Northern Arizona University, governmental agencies, and the Arizona Legislature.

The conference is open to all those interested in sustainable water practices, tribal water rights and cultural perspectives, and exploring opportunities for future water management in Arizona and beyond. “This conference will provide the Arizona water community a unique occasion to gain insight into indigenous water management concerns and practices,“ says WRRC Director Dr. Sharon B. Megdal.

The WRRC is pleased to announce that two tours of the Gila River Indian Community’s “Water Management Success Stories” will be offered at no cost to registered conference attendees on the morning of June 9 prior to the conference opening session. Participants will have the option of taking a bus tour to the Pee Posh Wetlands or the Pima-Maricopa Irrigation Project. Space is very limited and available by reservation only.

Conference highlights include keynotes by David DeJong (Author of Forced to Abandon our Fields), John Echohawk (Founder and Executive Director of the Native American Rights Fund), Harry Walters (Navajo Historian), and Ofelia Zepeda (Native American poet, MacArthur Fellow, and Professor of Linguistics at the University of Arizona). A luncheon on day two will recognize the 10th Anniversary of Arizona Water Settlements Act with traditional dancing from youth groups from the Gila River Indian Community.

Panel discussions at the conference will cover a range of topics, specifically:

·  The Nature of Tribal Water Rights. Tribal representatives will discuss the history and future of negotiating Native American water rights in Arizona.

·  Tribal Water Successes and Challenges. Highlights of tribal water successes and challenges will be discussed by a panel of Arizona tribal water management leaders.

·  Spiritual and Ceremonial Views of Water. Panelists will reflect on how tribes relate to water in songs and offerings, and how water is respected in indigenous communities.

·  Tribal Riparian Restoration in Arizona. Arizona tribes have a long history of restoring native riparian areas. Tribal representatives will discuss current efforts in riparian restoration.

·  Arizona Groundwater, A Precious Resource. Tribal water professionals will discuss management decisions related to groundwater and diversifying water portfolios with groundwater recharge.

·  The Next Generation of Tribal Water Use: Our Youth Represent the Future. Discussion will highlight current tribal programs developed to engage youth in traditional agricultural practices.

·  Learning from the Past, Looking to the Future. Panelists will discuss how past lessons can be applied to successfully manage water supplies within and beyond Arizona.

Online registration is open; student rates are available. Register today at wrrc.arizona.edu/WRRC-conference-2015/register.

To learn more about the program, sponsors, and keynote speakers, visit the conference website here. (https://wrrc.arizona.edu/WRRC-conference-2015)

The University of Arizona Water Resources Research Center (WRRC), a research and Extension unit within the College of Agriculture and Life Sciences, promotes understanding of critical state and regional water management and policy issues through research, community outreach and engagement, and public education. For more information, visit us at wrrc.arizona.edu.

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