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What are the Issues

Following are some of the concerns, issues and needs raised in recent NTWC conference calls and meetings. For more information, see Water-Issue Related Publications, below:

Barriers to EPA tribal environmental protection funding due to statutes and caps; especially CWA § 106 and §319 funding
Global climate change impacts on water quality
Impact of dams on water quality and the health of tribal communities
Impact of mining (especially cyanide and mercury) on water quality and the health of tribal communities
Need for coordination between EPA Air and Water programs re mercury contamination and monitoring
Need for EPA guidance re bioaquatic monitoring techniques
Need for a Tribal NPDES permit-writing course
Need to improve state/tribal relationships regarding tribal environmental protection
FY 2008 National Water Program Guidance concerns:
- Strategic Target SP-3 re Water Safe to Drink (percentage of homes on tribal lands that meet all health-based standards)
- Strategic Target SP-5 re Water Safe to Drink (number of homes on tribal lands lacking access to safe drinking water)
- Measure #WQ-2 re the goal for the number of Tribes that have water quality standards approved by EPA
- Measure #FS-1 re Fish and Shellfish safe to eat – concern about the potential health impacts on Native communities as a result of Alaska exclusion from testing
- “Highlights of Key Changes from FY 2007” - concern about whether intergovernmental initiatives in South Florida waters, Puget Sound and the Columbia River include appropriate involvement of impacted and potentially impacted Tribes
New CWA 106 Guidance - concern about an apparent breakdown in communication between EPA and the Tribes regarding the development of Water Quality Monitoring Strategies, and disparate requirements re Tribal compliance from region to region.

WATER ISSUE-RELATED PUBLICATIONS:

Ground Water Issues

Draft Report of the Technical Advisory Committee on the Capture of Surface Water By Wells: Recommended Technical Methods for Evaluating the Effects of Ground-Water Withdrawals on Surface Water Quantity (August, 1998). This paper, on the Washington State Department of Ecology website, addresses the important issue of hydraulic continuity between groundwater and surface water. http://www.ecy.wa.gov/pubs/98154.pdf

Native Cultural Values & Water

Haudenosaunee Environmental Task Force Position Paper on The Great Lakes. This position paper, which is available on the Great Lakes Regional Collaboration website link below, is an impressive articulation of the connection between Indigenous cultures and water quality. Following is an excerpt from the Position Paper cover letter:

"Our original teachings from the Creator are essential to our culture. The Creator instructed all parts of creation of their responsibilities. The waters have a responsibility to provide nourishment to Mother Earth, to plant[s] and animals as well as to humans. Humans have the responsibility to honor and give thanks for all parts of Creation. As different entities, we do not interfere with each other’s duties. Human-made pollution and diversions are a few of the abuses towards the waters and their duties. Haudenosaunee teachings warn us that if we continue abusing parts of Creation, those elements will vanish….”

For a copy of the Position Paper, please go to http://www.glrc.us/strategy.html.

Water and People: Challenges at the Interface of Symbolic and Utilitarian Values, is due out from the USDA Forest Service (Pacific Northwest) on March 7, 2008. Of particular note is Chapter 6: People of the River – People of the Salmon Wana Thlama-Nusuxmi Tanánma by Elizabeth Woody (Navajo/Warm Springs/Wasco/Yakama). Following is an excerpt, only one of many examples of Liz’s articulation of Native values pertaining to water and all associated life (which, of course, means all life):

"My tribal ceremonies begin and end with water. The food chiefs are recognized in order from the river to the mountains, and, conversely, in real life, it is the same with water. Water goes from the mountains to the Pacific Ocean as streams, creeks, and rivers, and returns from the Pacific to the mountains, as precipitation. It is our highest medicine and represents the purity of human interactions and respect as we keep it clean and revere its presence in our lives.”

To order the publication, please scroll down to GTR-729 on the following link: http://www.fs.fed.us/pnw/publications/gtrs.shtml.

Indian Country & Climate Change

Native Communities and Climate Change: Legal and Policy Approaches to Protect Tribal Legal Rights Report – pending Final Review, published by the Natural Resources Law Center at the University of Colorado Law School in conjunction with the Western Water Assessment at the University of Colorado on September 19,2007, is available at http://www.colorado.edu/law/centers/nrlc/publications/ClimateChangeReport-FINAL%20_9.16.07_.pdf. The 8-page Executive Summary is available at http://www.colorado.edu/law/centers/nrlc/publications/Climate_Report_Exec_Summary.pdf.

“Climate Change, Related Environmental Degredation and Indigenous People,” written by Stephen M. Sachs and published in Indigenous Policy, Vol. XVIII, No. 3, Fall 2007. See at http://www.indigenouspolicy.org/IPJ-articles.htm.

Climate Change Impacts on the United States: The Potential Consequences of Climate Variability and Change. See, in particular, Overview: Native Peoples and Homelands, which discusses such issues as Subsistence Economies and Natural Resources; Cultural Sites, Wildlife, and Natural Resources; and Rights to Water and Other Natural Resources. Written by the National Assessment Synthesis Team, US Global Change Research Program, published in 2000. For more information, go to http://www.usgcrp.gov/usgcrp/Library/nationalassessment/overviewnative.htm.

National Tribal Water Council dealing with water quality issues for American and Alaskan native tribes


Homepage About the Council What Are the Issues Council Members Meetings and Events Links and Resources Photo Gallery Contact	What are the Issues Following are some of the concerns, issues and needs raised in recent NTWC conference calls and meetings. For more information, see Water-Issue Related Publications, below: Barriers to EPA tribal environmental protection funding due to statutes and caps; especially CWA § 106 and §319 funding Global climate change impacts on water quality Impact of dams on water quality and the health of tribal communities Impact of mining (especially cyanide and mercury) on water quality and the health of tribal communities Need for coordination between EPA Air and Water programs re mercury contamination and monitoring Need for EPA guidance re bioaquatic monitoring techniques Need for a Tribal NPDES permit-writing course Need to improve state/tribal relationships regarding tribal environmental protection FY 2008 National Water Program Guidance concerns: Strategic Target SP-3 re Water Safe to Drink (percentage of homes on tribal lands that meet all health-based standards) Strategic Target SP-5 re Water Safe to Drink (number of homes on tribal lands lacking access to safe drinking water) Measure #WQ-2 re the goal for the number of Tribes that have water quality standards approved by EPA Measure #FS-1 re Fish and Shellfish safe to eat – concern about the potential health impacts on Native communities as a result of Alaska exclusion from testing “Highlights of Key Changes from FY 2007” - concern about whether intergovernmental initiatives in South Florida waters, Puget Sound and the Columbia River include appropriate involvement of impacted and potentially impacted Tribes New CWA 106 Guidance - concern about an apparent breakdown in communication between EPA and the Tribes regarding the development of Water Quality Monitoring Strategies, and disparate requirements re Tribal compliance from region to region. WATER ISSUE-RELATED PUBLICATIONS: Ground Water Issues Draft Report of the Technical Advisory Committee on the Capture of Surface Water By Wells: Recommended Technical Methods for Evaluating the Effects of Ground-Water Withdrawals on Surface Water Quantity (August, 1998). This paper, on the Washington State Department of Ecology website, addresses the important issue of hydraulic continuity between groundwater and surface water. http://www.ecy.wa.gov/pubs/98154.pdf Native Cultural Values & Water Haudenosaunee Environmental Task Force Position Paper on The Great Lakes. This position paper, which is available on the Great Lakes Regional Collaboration website link below, is an impressive articulation of the connection between Indigenous cultures and water quality. Following is an excerpt from the Position Paper cover letter: "Our original teachings from the Creator are essential to our culture. The Creator instructed all parts of creation of their responsibilities. The waters have a responsibility to provide nourishment to Mother Earth, to plant[s] and animals as well as to humans. Humans have the responsibility to honor and give thanks for all parts of Creation. As different entities, we do not interfere with each other’s duties. Human-made pollution and diversions are a few of the abuses towards the waters and their duties. Haudenosaunee teachings warn us that if we continue abusing parts of Creation, those elements will vanish….” For a copy of the Position Paper, please go to http://www.glrc.us/strategy.html. Water and People: Challenges at the Interface of Symbolic and Utilitarian Values, is due out from the USDA Forest Service (Pacific Northwest) on March 7, 2008. Of particular note is Chapter 6: People of the River – People of the Salmon Wana Thlama-Nusuxmi Tanánma by Elizabeth Woody (Navajo/Warm Springs/Wasco/Yakama). Following is an excerpt, only one of many examples of Liz’s articulation of Native values pertaining to water and all associated life (which, of course, means all life): "My tribal ceremonies begin and end with water. The food chiefs are recognized in order from the river to the mountains, and, conversely, in real life, it is the same with water. Water goes from the mountains to the Pacific Ocean as streams, creeks, and rivers, and returns from the Pacific to the mountains, as precipitation. It is our highest medicine and represents the purity of human interactions and respect as we keep it clean and revere its presence in our lives.” To order the publication, please scroll down to GTR-729 on the following link: http://www.fs.fed.us/pnw/publications/gtrs.shtml. Indian Country & Climate Change Native Communities and Climate Change: Legal and Policy Approaches to Protect Tribal Legal Rights Report – pending Final Review, published by the Natural Resources Law Center at the University of Colorado Law School in conjunction with the Western Water Assessment at the University of Colorado on September 19,2007, is available at http://www.colorado.edu/law/centers/nrlc/publications/ClimateChangeReport-FINAL%20_9.16.07_.pdf. The 8-page Executive Summary is available at http://www.colorado.edu/law/centers/nrlc/publications/Climate_Report_Exec_Summary.pdf. “Climate Change, Related Environmental Degredation and Indigenous People,” written by Stephen M. Sachs and published in Indigenous Policy, Vol. XVIII, No. 3, Fall 2007. See at http://www.indigenouspolicy.org/IPJ-articles.htm. Climate Change Impacts on the United States: The Potential Consequences of Climate Variability and Change. See, in particular, Overview: Native Peoples and Homelands, which discusses such issues as Subsistence Economies and Natural Resources; Cultural Sites, Wildlife, and Natural Resources; and Rights to Water and Other Natural Resources. Written by the National Assessment Synthesis Team, US Global Change Research Program, published in 2000. For more information, go to http://www.usgcrp.gov/usgcrp/Library/nationalassessment/overviewnative.htm.
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