The Navajo Nation, located in northern Arizona, has been severely affected by a 22-year drought that has dried up most of their water sources. To obtain water, members of the tribe must make a long journey to the water station, burning $30 worth of gasoline in the process. However, this cost is necessary as over one-third of the homes on the 71,000 square kilometer reservation lack water.
The Navajo tribe has long sought access to water from the Colorado River, which runs along the western border of their reservation. Along with 29 other tribes, they have rights to Colorado River water. However, on June 22nd, the U.S. Supreme Court ruled that the federal government’s treaty obligations do not include a duty to assist the Navajo Nation in acquiring that water.
This ruling has brought the issue of quantification to the forefront. Tribes, including the Navajo Nation, still have water rights, but the amount of water they are entitled to is unclear. The quantification issue has led to decades-long legal battles and settlements for some tribes, while others continue to face challenges in accessing their fair share of water.
In order to access river water, tribes must reach agreements with the states they reside in. These agreements are based on century-old deals from which Native Americans were initially excluded. With ongoing drought and expectations of mandatory cuts in water usage, tribes like the Navajo face increasing challenges in obtaining their rightful share of water.
Had the government been found to have a responsibility to assist the Navajo Nation, the water gap in Indian Country could have been closed more quickly. However, the fight for fair water allocation will continue, though it may take more time and determination.
For now, thousands of Navajos rely on places like the water station mentioned in the article to obtain their daily water. The struggle for water access highlights the importance of addressing the quantification issue and ensuring that tribes receive their fair share to meet their basic needs.
