During the pandemic, many of our young people, who scattered from their traditional lands, lost their jobs and returned home, putting more demand on the limited water supply. In the midst of all that, we had to hit pause on installing new systems, although we continued to fill existing tanks and gave some families 275-gallon, food-grade storage tanks to set up outside their homes.
We also prepared for a new round of installations when conditions permit and I’m proud to say we are expanding into a nearby region. A lot of trust-building has to happen as we grow so we are working closely with community leaders and the chapter houses that represent local governance within the Navajo Nation. Residents who meet us for the first time ask pointed questions about our plans and question whether we will follow through. Past experiences have left them understandably skeptical, but we make ourselves visible, request their support, and tell them we’re here—and that we’ll be back tomorrow.
My own family had running water when I was growing up, but many of my friends did not. I want to see that change. My hope is that one day the homes of every Navajo person will be hooked up to a water system, with indoor plumbing, a really nice shower, a commode, and a sink. That is what I wish for my tribe and indeed for all in America. Water is life, so it is important that we come together to defend this precious resource.
In Closing the Water Access Gap in the United States, DigDeep tells the story of six of those communities and lays out an action plan that asks us to reimagine the solution, deploy resources strategically, build community power, and foster creative collaborations. Read the plan and consider how a nation with so much wealth and opportunity can make it real.
Editor’s note: The U.S. Supreme Court ruled in 2023 that the federal government had no obligation to secure water access for the Navajo Tribe under this 1868 treaty. The Navajo Nation has stated it will continue to defend water sovereignty and practice water stewardship.