WRRC 2015 Annual Conference Agenda

Tuesday, June 9 – 11:30 am to 5:30 pm

11:30-12:30
Registration and Light Luncheon

12:30-1:00
Traditional Prayer and Blessing
Robert Stone; District Five Council Representative; Gila River Indian Community

Opening Remarks

Sharon Megdal, Director, University of Arizona Water Resources Research Center
Shane Burgess, Vice President, University of Arizona / Dean, College of Agriculture and Life Sciences
Stephen Lewis, Governor, Gila River Indian Community

1:00-1:45
Keynote Speaker: John Echohawk, Executive Director, Native American Rights Fund 
Arizona water issues from a tribal perspective video

1:45-3:00
The Nature of Tribal Water Rights. Tribal representatives will discuss the history and future of negotiating Native American water rights in Arizona.

Moderator:
Rod Lewis, Gila River Indian Community

Panelists:
Margaret Vick, Water Attorney (Havasupai and Colorado River Indian Tribes) video

Robyn Interpreter, Water Attorney (Yavapai-Apache Nation and Pascua Yaqui Tribe) video

Jason Hauter, Senior Counsel, Akin Gump video

Katherine Verburg, Attorney, Office of the Solicitor, U.S. Dept. of Interior 

3:00-3:20 Break

3:20-4:35
Tribal Water Successes and Challenges. Highlights of tribal water successes and challenges will be discussed by a panel of Arizona tribal water management leaders.

Moderator: Dennis Patch, Chairman, Colorado River Indian Tribes video

Panelists:
Norm DeWeaver, Inter Tribal Council of Arizona, Inc. video

Jason John, Navajo Department of Water Resources video

Cheryl Pailzote, White Mountain Apache Department of Water Resources

Bucky Preston, Hopi Water Issues Expert 

4:35-4:55
Tara Jackson, President, Arizona Town Hall, Engaging in the Arizona Town Hall video

4:55-5:30
Keynote Speaker: Ofelia Zepeda, Professor of Linguistics, University of Arizona. Native American poetry reading. video

6:00-8:00
Evening Reception

Wednesday, June 10 – 7:00 am to 5:30 pm

7:00-8:00
Continental Breakfast

8:00-8:10
Traditional Prayer and Blessing
Tim Terry, Gila River Indian Community

8:10-8:30
Senator Carlyle Begay, Arizona State Legislature, District 7 video

8:30-9:15
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.

Speakers:
Herman T.J. Laffoon, Colorado River Indian Tribes video

Vincent Randall, Yavapai Apache Tribe video

9:15-10:00
Keynote Speaker: David DeJong, Director of the Pima-Maricopa Irrigation Project and author of “Forced to Abandon our Fields, the Agricultural History of the Gila River Indian Community" 
An Indigenous History of Agriculture at Gila River: A Look to the Past. video

10:00-10:20
Break

10:20-11:35
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.

Moderator:
Delia Carlyle, Vice-Chairman, Ak-Chin Indian Community Council

Panelists:
Pete Bungart, Hualapai Tribe video

Charles Enos, Department of Environmental Quality, Gila River Indian Community
Paul J. Buck, San Carlos Apache Tribe video

11:35-1:15
Luncheon, Recognizing 10th Anniversary of Arizona Water Settlements Act, Public Law 108-451

1:15-2:30
Arizona Groundwater, A Precious Resource. Tribal water professionals will discuss management decisions related to groundwater, diversifying water portfolios with groundwater recharge.

Moderator:
Karletta Chief, University of Arizona video

Panelists:
Nicole Horseherder, Navajo Activist and To’ Nizhoni Ani’ video

Ardeth Barnhart, Director, UA Renewable Energy Network

Alex Cabillo, Hualapai Water Resources Department

2:30-3:30
The Next Generation of Tribal Water Use: Our Youth Represent the Future. Panelists will discuss current tribal programs developed to engage youth in traditional agricultural practices.

Moderator:
Karen Francis Begay, University of Arizona video

Panelists:
Janene Yazzie, Little Colorado River Watershed Chapters Association video

Stetson Mendoza, Gila River Indian Community
Clifford Pablo, Tohono O’odham Community College

3:305-3:45
Break

3:45-4:30
Keynote Speaker: Harry Walters, Navajo Historian. Water Culture of Indigenous Communities in the Arid Southwest: A Look Forward video

4:30-5:15
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.

Moderator: 
Katosha Nakai, Central Arizona Project video

Panelists:
Rod Lewis, Gila River Indian Community video

Ann Marie Chischilly, Northern Arizona University

Tony Skrelunas, Grand Canyon Trust video

5:15-5:30
Closing Comments, Traditional Prayer and Blessing
Barnaby Lewis, Gila River Indian Community