Here in the Southwest we can’t have #LANDBACK without #WATERBACK
#WATERBACK is to reclaim all unsettled Indigenous water claims in the Southwest
#WATERBACK is a step towards Indigenous communities declaring their independence from the US Empire. It also means removing European occupation, removing the commodification of water, the rematriation of Indigenous water and land management practices and the resurgence of Indigenous identity.
— Julia Bernal (Sandia Pueblo)
#WATERBACK is being presented at A Meeting of Sacred Waters conference with partners from New Zealand.
A Meeting of Sacred Waters (translated from Te Huinga Wai Tapu in Māori) is a virtual gathering that provides a space for sharing Indigenous worldviews, values and perspectives to reclaim the health of the world’s rivers. Through the experiences of Indigenous peoples of the Whanganui and Colorado Rivers, this global exchange explores and honors the Indigenous knowledge vital to healing our ancestral waters.
The event welcomes all those who envision a sustainable future, including leaders and representatives from Indigenous nations and communities; Non-Governmental Organizations; local, state, regional, national and international governments; universities and research institutions; businesses and social enterprises; students; and others
The state of New Mexico and the Southwest region of the US Empire base their water jurisdiction and water statutes on prior appropriation and some riparian laws, meaning water use is justified for beneficial use and water rights are protected. Yet, Indigenous communities are constantly fighting for water allocations and water infrastructure. Through a long history of broken treaties by the US Empire, water has been misused and exploited for capitalist gain. Without water, we can’t tend the land and without water how can we thrive on our ancestral homelands?
In Case You Missed It
The rematriation of a Pueblo Indigenous perspective of how our water should be managed now and in the future.
From April 7th, 2021 at 6pm(MST). Hear from Julia Fay Bernal (Alliance Director) and Marcus Trujillo (Communications Designer) - Pueblo Action Alliance.
Isleta Pueblo & Aoetearoa: Indigenous Nations’ Actions to Protect their River’s Personhood - Water Back Op-Ed - By Danielle Lucero
Danielle Lucero is a member of the Pueblo of Isleta and is also Turtle Mountain Band of Chippewa. She received her master degrees in social work and public health at the University of Washington. Danielle’s work is focused on building tribal public health capacity, community-based public health strategies, and resiliency.
“My community is the Pueblo of Isleta, a tribal nation 15 miles south of Albuquerque, along the Rio Grande. For thousands of years, the river has protected and nurtured our community, and in return, we protect her. When I was in high school, my dad would take me on drives along the ditch banks to clear out trash from the water. That year, one of his roles in the community was to take care of the irrigation systems, which included removing items washed down from Albuquerque.”