What Is Happening Here | Canadaland Investigates The Lifeblood of Navajo Nation | Pretendians x Reclaimed
Nov 11, 2024
Kyle Lewis, a retired U.S. Marine and Navajo Nation resident, shares his family's gripping journey through water scarcity. He discusses the ongoing legal battles for access to the Colorado River, emphasizing the historical context that has led to this crisis. Growing up, he felt the impacts of inadequate water infrastructure, particularly during COVID-19. Kyle highlights the cultural underpinnings of water for the Navajo people and insists on the urgent need for systemic reform to secure water rights and ensure the survival of their heritage.
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Returning Home to Water Hardship
- Kyle Lewis, a Navajo Nation citizen, returned to his family's community after 20 years in the military.
- He found the elders still hauling water daily, a practice he'd hoped to leave behind.
The Long Walk and Bosque Redondo
- The Long Walk forced the Navajo people from their ancestral lands to Bosque Redondo.
- Many died from the arduous journey and harsh conditions at the internment camp.
Treaty's Fatal Flaw
- The 1868 treaty established a 'permanent home' for the Navajo but didn't address water rights.
- This omission has had lasting consequences, restricting the tribe's development.