In November 2023 and November 2024, Planet Women and San Xavier District of Tohono O’odham Nation co-hosted two Women and Water Convenings, alongside partners from Indigenous Women’s Leadership Network, Sonoran Institute, The Chapter House and The Nature Conservancy. In total, 136 Indigenous women and allies attended the convenings, representing more than 10 Tribes. Attendees are professionals in conservation; water, sanitation and hygiene; food sovereignty; cultural preservation; philanthropy; and creative and academic institutions—and each person is linked to the Colorado River and the Desert Southwest in their own unique way.

How did these gatherings come about?

The Indigenous communities of the Colorado River basin have an invaluable perspective on water and much wisdom to bring to conservation planning. There are many strong women leaders in the water space who are rising up to protect the Colorado River Basin, including women from the Southern Ute, Diné, Hopi, Apache and the Fort Mojave Indian Tribes. These women are drawing on their deep spiritual and cultural knowledge of the Colorado, as well as their degrees in hydrology, policy and ecology to advocate for long term fixes that serve nature and people.

However, many people Planet Women has spoken to say there is an acute lack of support, mentorship and development opportunities for women, Indigenous women and women of color in the water world, especially in rural areas. Many women experience ongoing sexual harassment, bullying, and exclusion by their male colleagues in the sector. A group of leaders wanted to do something about it – and the first thing they settled on was hosting the Women and Water Convening. The gatherings are a way to begin building a movement of diverse women working together to steward and heal the Colorado River.

What was discussed?

The outcomes and agenda have been created based on what Indigenous women and allies in the Colorado River Basin are prioritizing at this time. This year, the focus was on:

• Creating a welcoming and uplifting space to learn and share power, resources, and knowledge across the Basin.

• Advancing fair access to water resources, particularly for women.

• Building a movement of diverse women working together to steward and heal the Colorado River.

For the second year in a row, the San Xavier District of Tohono O’odham Nation welcomed guests to their land outside Tucson, AZ. Over two days in November, 56 women had time to connect, visit a sacred site, discuss key issues facing the basin, and exchange knowledge in small group roundtables and group presentations on mentorship, law, Tribal water rights, fundraising, how to mitigate burnout, storytelling and more.

What did we hear?

One attendee shared: “I think the power of women's voices in the environmental movement, led by Indigenous voices will stay with me. It is so important to uplift and amplify Native voices and women's voices and to offer a space for us to connect, heal, and learn from one another. There is truly nothing like this event.”

Another participant said she felt safe to ask questions about things she didn’t understand—even acronyms she wasn’t familiar with—in a way that she never would when she attends other meetings and conferences in the water sector.

Looking ahead

The Women and Water Convenings are part of Planet Women’s broader strategy in the Colorado River Basin. Through these gatherings, our grantmaking to local organizations, and our leadership programs in the region, we aim to:

• Increase the participation of women, especially Indigenous and local community members, in decision-making processes related to water management and conservation, including negotiations for the post-2026 guidelines for the Colorado River Basin.

• Strengthen collaboration and knowledge exchange among diverse stakeholders, addressing short-term challenges and enabling a transition to long-term sustainability in the basin.

• Implement women-led habitat restoration projects, enhancing ecosystem health and resilience in the face of climate change.

For the Indigenous Peoples that have existed in the Colorado Basin for millennia, the importance of water threads through their culture. As the Navajo say, “Tó éí ííná át'é,” meaning “water is life.” A member of the San Xavier District of the Tohono O’odham Nation shared that it’s time for fairness and justice to return water to Indigenous peoples. We echo this call.

Planet Women is proud to play a small part in enabling Indigenous women and allies to collaborate on their shared vision for the basin and the restoration and protection of the Colorado River and its tributaries. These gatherings are a testament to our founding idea that women are more than ready to lead and their values-driven leadership is needed now more than ever.

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