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| Tó Nizhóní Ání, Sacred Water Speaks, traveled to Stockholm, Sweden, for World Water Week 2024. |
Diné Youth at World Water Week in Sweden 2024
Black Mesa youth travel to Stockholm, Sweden, for World Water Week to share the need to protect our water in the face of false solutions and climate change.
by Adrian Herder, Media/Community Organizer, Censored News
FLAGSTAFF, Arizona – On Friday, August 23, 2024, members of Tó Nizhóní Ání traveled to Stockholm, Sweden, for World Water Week 2024, an international leading conference on global water issues organized by the Stockholm International Water Institute.
Earlier this year, Tó Nizhóní Ání was invited to attend World Water Week 2024 and asked to be on a panel on Green Colonialism. The Sámi national youth organization, Sáminuorra, organized this panel. Given this panel's Indigenous youth focus, Tó Nizhóní Ání took this opportunity to fund raise and send a delegation of Diné (Navajo) youth from the Black Mesa region to represent and speak on this topic.
During the panel on Green Colonialism, Jaren Numkena, Diné youth from Black Mesa, spoke on his upbringing as a farmer, the history of his family as a coal-impacted community member, and the proposed projects on and near Black Mesa, such as the Black Mesa Pumped Storage Project and the Hydrogen Pipeline. As our nation moves to alternative forms of energy, we must do so in a way that does not use or impact our water on the Navajo Nation, which is why we need solar and wind energy.
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| The panelist on Green Colonialism: Indigenous Youth for a Peaceful and Sustainable Future at World Water Week in Sweden. Panelist: Jaren Numkena, Diné, Kirin Vicenti, Jicarilla Apache, Aana Edmondson, Sámi, Bêlit Peters, Ta’an Kwäch’än, and Disa Crow Chief, Blackfeet. Moderator: Tilde Renman, Sámi. 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.  Bêlit Peters, Youth Coordinator of How We Walk with Land and Water, introduces herself during the panel on Green Colonialism. Indigenous Youth Panel On Tuesday, the Tó Nizhóní Ání 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 Tó Nizhóní Ání 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 Tó Nizhóní Ání 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 Tó Nizhóní Ání 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.  Kicking day one off with an Indigenous gathering at the Canadian Embassy with over 28 Indigenous Peoples organizations/tribes that are present at World Water Week 2024. Listen to the webinar recap Jaren begins, live from the cornfield in Tuba City, where they're harvesting melons, where blue corn, purple corn, watermelons, and squash are growing. Audrey joins from the cornfield in Hard Rock on Black Mesa on the Navajo Nation, where they are harvesting the corn, where the husks have turned white, to keep the crows away. Speakers: 🌿 Aana Edmondson, Sámi, Sáminuorra 🌿 Jaren Numkena, Diné, Tó Nizhóní Ání 🌿 Audrey Nadrainkura, Diné, Tó Nizhóní Ání 🌿 Raeanna Johonson, Diné, Tó Nizhóní Ání 🌿 Adrian Herder, Diné, Tó Nizhóní Ání https://www.youtube.com/watch?si=gm8yisvLzeqJgy2_&v=7IDKyvkWzLE&feature=youtu.be |
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