2021 Agenda

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Day 1 - Honoring Rod Lewis and Exploring the Meaning of Tribal Water Resilience 

Monday, August 30, 2021, 1:00-4:00 pm AZ time 

1:00 – 1:05

Welcome to Day 1 video
Sharon B. Megdal, Director, Water Resources Research Center, University of Arizona 

1:05 – 1:15

Opening Blessing video
Jerry Carlyle, Vice Chairman, San Xavier District, Tohono O’odham Nation 

1:15 – 1:45

Honoring Rodney “Rod” Lewis video

  • John R. Lewis, Former Director, Inter-Tribal Council of Arizona 
  • John Blaine Lewis, Executive Director, Avant Energy
  • Stephen Roe Lewis, Governor, Gila River Indian Community 
  • Katherine Elizabeth Lewis, Board of Directors, Gila River Health Care Corporation 
  • Sarah Camille Chiago, Student and Granddaughter of Rod and Willardene Lewis (pre-recorded reading) 

1:45 – 2:15

The Legacy of Rod Lewis and Tribal Water Resilience video
John Echohawk, Executive Director, Native American Rights Fund

2:15 – 2:25

BREAK (Sponsor Recognition) video

2:25 – 2:40

What does Indigenous Resilience Mean? video
Karletta Chief, Associate Professor and Extension Specialist, University of Arizona 

2:40 – 3:20 

Traditional Knowledge and Resilience video

  • Moderator: Rebecca Tsosie, Regents Professor of Law, University of Arizona 
  • Michael Kotutwa Johnson, Research Associate, Native American Agriculture Fund, Enrolled Member of the Hopi Tribe PPT
  • Vernon Masayesva, Executive Director, Black Mesa Trust

3:20 – 4:00

Reflections on Tribal Water Resilience video

  • Moderator: Darrah Blackwater, Indigenous Law and Policy Fellow, University of Arizona
  • Nikki Tulley, PhD Candidate, University of Arizona PPT
  • Tommy Drennan, Council Member, Colorado River Indian Tribes 
  • Lisa Garcia, Council Member, Ak-Chin Indian Community PPT
  • Percy Deal, Board Member, To’ Nizhoni’ A’ni (translated ‘Sacred Water Speaks’)  PPT

4:00

ADJOURN

Day 2 – Hearing from Tribal Leaders about Water Resilience

Tuesday, August 31, 2021, 8:00-11:00 am AZ time

8:00 – 8:10

Welcome to Day 2 video

  • Sharon B. Megdal, Director, Water Resources Research Center, University of Arizona
  • Levi Esquerra, Senior Vice President for Native American Advancement and Tribal Engagement, University of Arizona

8:10 – 9:30

Progress Toward Building Water Resilient Communities – Part I video

  • Moderator: Maria Dadgar, Enrolled Member, Piscataway Tribe; Executive Director, Inter-Tribal Council of Arizona
  • Gwendena Lee-Gatewood, Chairwoman, White Mountain Apache Tribe
  • Timothy Williams, Chairman, Fort Mojave Indian Tribe
  • Selso Villegas, Executive Director, Tohono O’odham Nation Water Resources 

9:30 – 9:40

BREAK (Sponsor Recognition) video

9:40 – 11:00

Progress Toward Building Water Resilient Communities – Part II video

  • Moderator: Katosha Nakai, Founder and Owner of Tribal Policy People, LLC
  • Stephen Roe Lewis, Governor, Gila River Indian Community PPT
  • Amelia Flores, Chairwoman, Colorado River Indian Tribes
  • Jonathan Nez, President, Navajo Nation

11:00

ADJOURN

4:00– 5:30 

Film Screening and Panel - Paya: The Water Story of the Paiute

  • Moderator: Kyndall Noah, Project Coordinator/Communication Specialist, Owens Valley Indian Water Commission
  • Teri Red Owl, Executive Director, Owens Valley Indian Water Commission
  • Noah Williams, Water Quality Program Coordinator, Big Pine Paiute Tribe of the Owens Valley
  • Paul Huette, Vice Chairman, Owens Valley Indian Water Commission

Day 3 – Appreciating Partnerships and Preparing for the Future

Wednesday, September 1, 2021, 8:00-11:00 am AZ time

8:00 – 8:10

Welcome to Day 3 video
Sharon B. Megdal, Director, Water Resources Research Center, University of Arizona

8:10 – 8:40

Opening Keynote video
Camille Calimlim Touton, Deputy Commissioner, U.S. Bureau of Reclamation

8:40 – 9:30

Advancing Water Resilience through Partnerships video

  • Moderator and Panelist: Crystal Tulley-Cordova, Principal Hydrologist, Navajo Nation Department of Water Resources PPT
  • Joshua Moore, Farm Manager, Colorado River Indian Tribes PPT
  • Brian Golding Sr., Director, Quechan Economic Development Authority PPT

9:30 – 9:40

BREAK (Sponsor Recognition) video

9:40 – 10:45

Preparing for a Water Resilient Future video

  • Moderator and Panelist: Bidtah Becker, Associate Attorney, Navajo Tribal Utility Authority
  • Jake Golden, Water Resource Specialist, City of Phoenix
  • Carrie Joseph, Postdoctoral Researcher, Arizona State University
  • Jesse Navarro, Governmental Affairs Assistant, Tohono O’odham Nation

10:45 – 10:55

Poetry Reading video
Ofelia Zepeda, Poet and Regents Professor, University of Arizona

10:55 – 11:00

Closing video