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| Formation of Indian Water Working Group | |
| Dear Tribal Leader/Water Rights Advocate: The ILWG Board has just recently agreed to begin a national effort dedicated to protecting and maintaining the water rights associated with our precious trust land assets. It is the hope and desire of the Board, that tribes and allottees begin a comprehensive effort to understand and more fully evaluate their land, water and mineral trust assets! Drought, over-appropriation by State engineers, massive development, watershed alteration by the Bureau of Reclamation & Army Corps of Engineers, upstream contamination, global warming, lack of understanding of water rights - are all part of the picture that must be looked at to ensure the permanent homelands of Indian people always have a RELIABLE SOURCE OF CLEAN WATER! While there has been much work over the past few decades directed at water rights litigation and settlement negotiations, there has not been a cohesive force brought together to begin a national effort for tribes to network and develop water related strategies. The purpose of this initial gathering - to be held at the Holiday Inn Grand in Billings, MT on August 13 & 14, 2008 - is to: Identify key tribal representatives/experts and water rights initiatives within each major river basin; Discuss models of Tribal water management plans and code development; Further define the economic value that may pertain to water; Develop a national intertribal strategy for protection of water quality and quantity. To begin this organizing process, we believe it is essential to form a core group of persons who have an understanding of Indian Water Law; have the desire and energy to cooperate and share meaningful information; understand the major issues of Federal Indian Reserved Water Rights; and have the technical expertise and experience needed to control, monitor and protect Federal Indian Reserved Water Rights. Please join us to form a national working group designed to bring Indian Leaders and technical staff together, to establish a strong force for Indian Water Rights that is ready to take its’place in assuring the economic well being of Indian Country! Please see the following details on Time/Location of the meeting. Sincerely, Austin Nunez, Chair Indian Land Working Group & Chair of the San Xavier District – Tohono O’odham Nation |
Indian Water Working Group Meeting August 13 & 14 Registration Fee: $75.00 For more info contact: Wes Martel: wmartel@wyoming.com; Theresa Carmody: tcarmody@qwest.net For Hotel Reservations Call: (406) 248-7701 Click here to download registration form Click here for a draft agenda |