A Gathering of Indigenous Voices

A Meeting of Sacred Waters provides a space for sharing Indigenous worldviews, values and perspectives to reclaim the health of the world’s water sources. Through the experiences of Indigenous Peoples from the US and abroad, this global exchange explores solutions to restore balance for the wellbeing of humanity and the environment.

A Meeting of Sacred Waters creates connections, builds relationships, and ignites new ideas for healing our ancestral waters. Together, we:

• Highlight the interconnectedness between the wellbeing of humanity and the environment.
• Share examples of Indigenous-led guardianship, stewardship and management practices.
• Provide a space to engage, exchange and explore new ideas based on Indigenous knowledge systems.
• Explore pathways to heal our ancestral waters through Indigenous-led systems change.

Why Now? Why Us? Why Here?

Water is at the center of the climate crisis, according to the United Nations. Essential water sources such as headwaters,
rivers, and wetlands are found on the traditional territories of Indigenous Peoples, who steward about one-quarter of the
world’s lands. Climate change is causing unpredictable rainfall, floods, and drought, which is impacting people’s ability
to live healthy lives, farm, maintain cultural practices, and earn a livelihood. It is now more urgent than ever to support
Indigenous stewardship locally to impact change globally.

Nearly 200 people representing Indigenous Communities from Turtle Island and across the Pacific traveled to the Pueblo of Isleta in New Mexico for A Meeting of Sacred Waters held March 12-13, 2024. From this gathering place, one could see the Rio Grande River, or as it is known in Isleta, the Mother Blue River. Sadly, the river is no longer safe for drinking or cultural purposes due to pollution caused by the City of Albuquerque. Twenty-three sovereign Pueblos and Tribal Nations have fought for decades to protect the Rio Grande River Basin. However, a recent U.S. Supreme Court decision has left more than 90 percent of the state’s surface waters without environmental protections, making them the most threatened waterways in the U.S.

This story is just one of many shared at the gathering. Indigenous-led solutions are needed to address today’s water challenges and shift power dynamics in a way that respects sovereignty and Indigenous knowledge systems.

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