Tribal leaders voice concerns about water, voting, COVID

Water rights, the ongoing impacts of the COVID-19 pandemic, voting rights, and infrastructure needs were some of the common issues that several tribal leaders from across Arizona talked about during their visit to the Capitol to talk with legislative leaders about their respective sovereign nations as part of the 27th Annual Indian Nations and Tribes Legislative Day.

“Since 1995, we have come together in this form here at the state capitol to address critical issues in tribal communities within the boundaries of Arizona,” Kristine Fire Thunder, executive director for the Governor’s Office on Tribal Relations, said in a video played for attendees who gathered in the state House of Representatives on Wednesday.

A variety of important topics and issues were brought to the forefront as Navajo Nation President Jonathan Nez, Colorado River Indian Tribes Chairwoman Amelia Flores, and Gila River Indian Community Governor Stephen Roe Lewis addressed legislative leaders on the Arizona House Floor on Wednesday. Each tribal leader touched on important topics such as water rights, voting rights, COVID-19 and infrastructure issues.

https://indiancountrytoday.com/news/tribal-leaders-voice-concerns-about-water-voting-covid