A Brief Survey of Native Community Concerns Regarding Water Resources

Scientists continue to develop increasing complex computer models of hydrologic systems. These models can be used to predict the impact of proposed additional stresses on water resources. But even the best models result in predictions with uncertainty. Therefore, it is important to understand community concerns around water resources so that these uncertain predictions can be put into a useful context for decision making. I conducted a brief survey of several indigenous people from north central tribes to begin to understand their shared concerns and preferences regarding water resources in Native American communities. My survey was designed to start a dialogue, rather than to quantify concerns. I learned that native tribal members are very cautious about water coming into the reservations because they believe that water is a good source of medicine from the Earth. They were concerned with the quality of water, the quantity of water, and the control of water resources. In response to leading questions about scenarios that might happen on the reservation that I grew up in, I learned a lot about people's thoughts about water and how water is an important part of our culture.