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SHE WHO WATCHES BY KAYLA GODOWA-TUFTI
Water for Warm Springs
MRG FOUNDATION FUNDRAISES FOR TRIBE
AS WATER ISSUES CONTINUE
W
ater is life, Chúush iwa Waqishwit in
the Sahaptin language commonly
spoken in Warm Springs. A motto
that many tribal people have
adopted takes on new meaning
when water issues hit home.
The Confederated Tribes of
Warm Springs Indian Reservation of Oregon is home to
the largest Native reservation in the state. With a land
base of 1,019 square miles, the reservation also has the
largest community water system operated by a tribe in
the Pacific Northwest. Through my father’s side of my
family I’ve been enrolled with the Confederated Tribes
since 1989.
In a statement to OPB in April, Bobby Brunoe, gen-
eral manager of natural resources for the tribe, said,
“To this day people are very aware of water and how im-
portant it is to us, because it’s in all our ceremonies and
embedded in our culture.”
He told OPB that Warm Springs has the “oldest wa-
ter right” in the Deschutes basin, “back to time imme-
morial.”
Last summer Oregon’s largest reservation went
three months with boil notices and water outages. The
tribal community was without safe drinking water the
entire season. Some were left with no running water.
The Environmental Protection Agency threatened
to fine the tribe nearly $60,000 a day if it didn’t make
repairs by October.
Aug. 14 was when the 81-day “boil-water notice,” in
effect since May, was lifted. Normal water consump-
tion of treated water continued at that time. Though
the water system was operational, the Tribes face an
estimated $13 million in repairs to keep the water infra-
structure working long-term.
In July the Legislature approved $7.8 million from
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state lottery funds for three water projects on the res-
ervation. The state plans to issue the bond, known as
House Bill 5030, in 2021. In rare cases some funding
could be available before the bond is issued.
On Oct. 21 the Water and Wastewater Division of the
Public Utilities Branch started working with the con-
tractor, GELCO, to finish the replacement and upgrade
of the pressure reducing valves on the agency water
system main lines, according to KWSO Warm Springs
Radio.
Another boil notice was issued Oct. 24 in compli-
ance with EPA requirements, due to loss of pressure
in the agency water system. The boil notice is a pre-
cautionary measure to provide safe drinking water for
those affected.
According to the boil notice, “Boiled or bottled wa-
ter should be used for drinking, making ice, washing
dishes, brushing teeth and preparing food until further
notice.”
Public Utilities staff worked to fill reservoirs; how-
ever, the Kah-Nee-Ta tank ran out of water Oct. 22, and
the West Hills tank ran out Oct. 23. Fifteen portable
toilets were placed at the Community Center on Oct.
24 for those without running water.
Some residents reported damaged water heaters
due to the outage. At this time there is no known source
of assistance for those whose water heaters were af-
fected, according to tribal members.
The water department was required to submit two
rounds of BacT testing and chlorine residual values to
EPA to have the notice lifted. These tests are standard
requirements by the EPA to determine drinking water
sanitary quality.
On Oct. 31 the boil notice was yet again lifted.
Whether issues will persist through the winter remains
to be seen.
It’s alarming that Oregon’s largest reservation
could have water issues through the winter. More
than 3,300 tribal members reside on reservation. The
things we often take for granted — like drinking water
— are challenges tribal members have been forced to
face daily. The central Oregon winter frequently brings
hazardous weather to the reservation that could make
an already difficult situation even worse if permanent
repairs are not made.
In response to the current crisis, the McKenzie Riv-
er Gathering Foundation (MRG), in partnership with
the Confederated Tribes of Warm Springs, established
The Chúush Fund: Water for Warm Springs.
MRG says the Chúush Fund was established in full
partnership with the Confederated Tribes of the Warm
Springs of Oregon. They say, “This means every cent of
every dollar donated is directly assisting with the infra-
structure challenges that have led to the current water
crisis and is providing the Tribes with unrestricted dol-
lars to ensure the health and safety of their tribal citi-
zens.”
Se-ah-dom Edmo, executive director of the MRG
Foundation, an affiliated member of the Shoshone-
Bannock, Nez Perce and Yakama tribes, says, “Main-
stream foundations are not, in any way, obligated to
give to tribes and tribal people.” That, Edmo says, is
“particularly poignant considering the wealth gained in
this country and the state of Oregon by dispossessing
tribes and tribal people of that form of their wealth.”
MRG says it is committed to disrupting that prac-
tice. To learn more or to donate, go to mrgfoundation.org.
Kayla Godowa-Tufti is a member of the Confederated Tribes of Warm
Springs and descendant of the Klamath Tribes. A writer, lyricist and
Indigenous rights advocate, she has been a resident of Eugene for
more than 20 years.
E U G E N E W E E K LY . C O M