Indigenous Water Wisdom
Our friends at Ecoversity will be matching gifts made to Indigenous Water Wisdom through 11/19!
Indigenous Water Wisdom is a native-led community organization devoted to supporting Native American tribes, local governments, and individuals in cultivating a regenerative relationship with water through education, advocacy, and technical assistance with rainwater harvesting, stormwater management, erosion control, and watershed restoration.
Water Wisdom from the Ancestors
Indigenous-inspired rainwater harvesting consists of a variety of low-impact earth works that work to recharge aquifers, balance water cycles, restore watersheds, build healthy soil, and return basic ecological function to the natural system. Many of these indigenous-inspired techniques are advocated by permaculture designers and wise land and water managers. Unfortunately, widespread use of these powerful solutions has been hindered by a policy and legal landscape that prevents the widespread adoption of these ancient technologies.
We are committed to supporting
water protectors
with watershed restoration
and community resilience efforts.
Every drop makes ripples
Your support makes resilience possible.
Come into a regenerative relationship with
Water
Water is life
Water is life. Water is living. Indigenous people hold a world view that considers water to be our kin. When we think of water as a relative and not a resource it changes how we care for her.
We are water
Because we are mostly water, it is in our nature to learn and flow with her. When we realize that we are nature, protecting her is the same as caring for ourselves.
You can make a difference
We are dedicated to empowering water protectors with the training, techniques, tools, and support to restore basic ecological function to watersheds by caring for water first.
Join the resilience team
We invite you to join us in making a commitment to care for water where you are.
Our Current Activities
Erosion Control
Black Mesa, AZ
“We are installing low energy erosion control earthwork to help the water that falls on the land slow down and seep into the body of the Earth. Erosion plays a major factor in the degradation of the watershed in the Black Mesa area of Navajoland. Due to the impact of Coal mining, billions of gallons of water have been extracted from the aquifers Navajo and Hopi people and ecosystems rely on. Now, instead of sinking back into the landscape, rain causes flooding that rushes into gullies and washes, taking with it precious topsoil necessary for plant life to establish. Stabilizing erosion on the landscape is the first step toward creating a water retention landscape here again.”
Rainwater Harvesting
Black Mesa, AZ
“We are offering technical assistance, design consultation, and installation support to Navajo people of the Black Mesa region to capture the rain that falls so that it can slowly sink back into the earth and regenerate severely depleted aquifers. The earthworks we are creating are small demonstration projects to support residents that have to travel up to 20 miles to haul drinking water. Our hope is that over time, we will be able to restore the watershed to the point that springs and perennial creeks can begin to flow again. We look forward to supporting many more future community-led watershed restoration projects.”
Peacemaking
Northern Arizona
“Mark Twain said, “Whiskey is for drinking- water is for fighting.” Tension over limited resources is the basis for conflict around the globe. Here in the desert west, water resources are the focus of litigation, water rights battles, and tension between people. Peacemaking principles such as unity and training of the good mind were taught by the Great Peacemaker thousands of years ago to bring peace to the Mohawk, Oneida, Onondaga, Cayuga, and Seneca Nations. Today, we can look to the teaching of the Peacemakers that have come before us and to our Holy People to cultivate unity necessary to bring healing to the land, water, and ourselves. This work is critical to creating safe spaces for deep conversations around a regenerative future for water and all life. ”