Janene Yazzie

First, I must start off by expressing my heartfelt gratitude to the organizers of the 2015 WRRC Annual Conference, Indigenous Perspectives on Sustainable Water Practices. It is not easy to champion a paradigm shift, but thats exactly what was initiated with this conference; a shift in the dialogue, values, and basis of collaboration among Arizonas Indigenous and non-Indigenous water users. We are all, presenters and attendees alike, indebted to the dedication of the planning team to honor our collective voices. 

Second, I have to extend my gratitude to the other presenters and the attendees who came to share, in the spirit of humanity, their wisdom, knowledge, compassion, and hope. I walked away inspired, having learned something from every one of you.

The dynamic nature of this conference was no small thing. It was the first time, to my knowledge, that Indigenous perspectives on water and sustainability were encouraged to serve as the framework to understand the issues surrounding water, energy, development, and our shared future in the state of Arizona. Legal and scientific experts sat alongside tribal government and grassroots professionals to provide engaging and informative presentations that addressed, in an accessible way, important complexities as well as possible solutions regarding water security in the Southwest. This groundbreaking conference is just a starting point for more inclusive consultation and partnership development with tribal and non-tribal stakeholders across the state. The biggest takeaway was that it is incumbent upon us to work together towards a truly sustainable future that benefits the residents, land, and ecosystems that make up our unique and precious homeland. Im honored to have been one of the many voices invited to present.

I called my presentation Our Shared Struggle and Our Shared Future: Creating a New Legacy because so often in the Southwest, the practice has been to look at the issues facing Indigenous Nations as unique to the conditions of our reservations. In reality, due to the patterns of environmental and economic injustice, we are merely at the frontlines of the legacy that is being created by unsustainable development. It was my intention to convey that the issue of water security knows no boundaries, but its modern roots can be traced back to the history of development in the Southwest. The stark reality is that our situation is not even a significant piece of the global water crisis, where more people die daily from lack of access to clean water than there are Navajo, and entire countries with populations much larger than the Southwest, are forced to emigrate from their homelands due to the conditions created by water insecurity. 

Our fates are intertwined and we must work to create a new legacy for our children. We must resist, in every capacity, the monopolization of the discussion regarding our water security by those who profit off the scarcity, exploitation, and unsustainable use of our water. It is not our job to save these corporations, its our responsibility to save ourselves, and work with one another to do it. Lets keep going.