World Water Week 2024
On Friday, August 23, 2024, members of Tó Nizhóní Ání (TNA) traveled to Stockholm, Sweden for World Water Week 2024, an international leading conference on global water issues organized by the Stockholm International Water Institute (SIWI). The first half of the TNA team flew out of Phoenix for New York where they arrived in Stockholm early Saturday morning. Upon arriving in Stockholm, a water offering was made to the Baltic Sea for assured safe travel and waters protection. Earlier this year, TNA was invited to attend World Water Week 2024 and asked to be on a panel on Green Colonialism. This panel was organized by the Sámi national youth organization, Sáminuorra. Given this panels Indigenous youth focus TNA took this opportunity to fundraise to send a delegation of Diné (Navajo) youth from the Black Mesa region to represent and speak on this topic.
Upon arriving early Saturday morning from a redeye flight, the first half of the TNA team spent the rest of Saturday recovering from the flight and adjusting to the 9–10-hour time difference from Arizona. Leading up to this trip, executive director Nicole Horseherder had been planning with several Sámi organizations to make our trip worthwhile by learning about Sámi culture before the conference began. The Sámi people are the Indigenous people of the northern part of the Scandinavian Peninsula and large parts of the Kola Peninsula, and they live in Sweden, Norway, Finland and Russia.
Sunday was the first pre-conference cultural exchange with the Sámi people. Thanks to the Stockholm Sámi Association TNA team along with the other Indigenous conference attendees were given a tour of the Nordic Museum by Sámi guides to give a Sámi perspective of Sweden’s development. After the Nordic Museum tour, all the Indigenous groups traveled to the Canadian Embassy where the Indigenous groups were given their official introduction to each other. Later that evening, the Diné youth were invited to the Indigenous youth dinner organized by Sámiuorra and the Saami Council.
Monday was the first official day of World Water Week 2024 where the TNA team checked into the conference and attended a few sessions before the Opening Ceremony where some familiar faces spoke. Before the opening ceremony, the other half of the TNA team had finally arrived in Stockholm after a delayed flight. Professor Leslie (Phil) Duncan of the Gomeroi Nation and Aana Edmondson, Sámi, shared some encourage words with the audience reflecting on the increasing Indigenous presence at World Water Week and this year’s theme. “Three years ago, there were only five Indigenous Peoples represented at World Water Week,” said Phil. “This year there are significantly more, the numbers are amazing.” This year’s theme was Bridging Boarders: Water for a Peaceful and Sustainable Future. “The concept of boarders is made-up and not something that naturally exists,” said Aana. “It stops us from working together, and it is something we need to work against.” At the conclusion of day one, the Indigenous groups were invited to a reception at residence of the Australian Ambassador. There, the TNA team was able to meet Ambassador Ms Frances Segala for introductions and to express our gratitude for the invite.
On Tuesday, the TNA team prepared for the Green Colonialism panel by arriving early to setup for the session. Jaren Numkena was accompanied by Disa Crow Chief, Blackfeet, Kirin Vincenti, Jicarilla Apache, Aana Edmondson, Sámi, and Bêlit Peters, Ta’an Kwäch’än. During the panel, the speakers spoke on their personal stories as Indigenous youth and how their Indigenous nations are impacted by green colonialism. Jaren spoke about the coal impacted community experience on Black Mesa while also tying in his farming practices and the proposed hydrogen pipeline and the defeated Black Mesa Pumped Storage Project.
As the week came to an end, the TNA team spent the last two days of the conference attending sessions at World Water Week that were First Nation/Indigenous focused. An example of some of the sessions were Shared Visions: Collaboration in Water Resource Practices, Enabling Indigenous Peoples Participation: Perspectives from the Colorado River Basin, and Beyond Consultation to Collaboration and Meaningful Engagement with Indigenous Peoples. Outside of the conference, the TNA team made time to explore Stockholm by visiting the Old Town, The Vasa Museum, and the Viking Museum to name a few. On Friday, the TNA team spent the day traveling back to Arizona from Sweden despite the boarding pass issues in Sweden and Salt Lake City.
The Tó Nizhóní Ání team would like to say ahéhee’ ntsaago, thank you very much to everyone that contributed to the fundraising efforts for this trip! The donations have directly impacted the lives of the Black Mesa youth and enabled them to seize this once-in-a-lifetime opportunity to share and continue the work of water protection on Dził Yíjiin (the Black Mesa region). Tó Nizhóní Ání would also like to thank the Sámi relatives for being phenomenal host and sharing your culture with the Indigenous attendees. For more information about this trip please email Adrian@tonizhoniani.org.
