Smoke signals. (Grand Ronde, Or.) 19??-current, September 15, 2022, Page 10, Image 10

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SEPTEMBER 15, 2022
Smoke Signals
NATIVE
AMERICAN
WATCHLIST
Watchlist: ‘The Navajo Water Lady’
(Editor’s note: It is estimated that there are approximately 149
billion videos on YouTube, and the number continues to grow.
Grand Ronde Tribal member and Social Media/Digital Journalist
Kamiah Koch sifts through those myriad videos twice a month to
recommend a worthwhile Indigenous video to watch. Follow her
bimonthly recommendations and enjoy!)
By Kamiah Koch
Social media/digital journalist
In 2015, CBS Sunday Morning featured Navajo member Darlene
Arviso, known on the Navajo Reservation as the “Water Lady.”
CBS reported an estimated 40 percent of those living on the Res-
ervation at the time did not have access to running water.
Journalist Lee Cowan asked Navajo Reservation resident Loretta
Smith what she used her sink for.
“We don’t use the sink because there is no running water,” Smith
said.
The sink is instead filled with buckets where water is shown being
hand-poured.
The water residents do get is either accessed by driving miles
through New Mexico or waiting for the giant yellow water-tank truck
driven by the Water Lady.
“I am proud of what I am doing for my people and I love my job,”
Arviso said. “I go out every day to meet different families.”
Although she goes to different houses on the Reservation daily,
she can only get to one house at a time, meaning she will make it to
a family’s home only once a month. But her arrival is received as a
celebration.
The water from the Water Lady’s tank is poured into any vessel
family members can get their hands on.
“Sometimes I wish I could do more,” Arviso said. “They just have
to stretch out their water.”
CBS followed Arviso to some of the 250 families she delivers to.
You can watch the video for yourself to see how they use their
limited water, an explanation for why the water resources are so
limited and what government and organizations are doing about it.
You can find the “The Navajo Water Lady” video at www.youtube.
com/watch?v=hk8Rm9EsET4 or find it linked in the Smoke Signals
“Watchlist” Playlist on our YouTube channel.
Play commemorates Klamath
fish kill anniversary Sept. 23-25
EUGENE – Minority Voices Theatre will present a concert reading
of illioo Native Theatre’s “Salmon Is Everything” at 7:30 p.m. Friday
and Saturday, Sept. 23-24, and 2 p.m. Sunday, Sept. 25.
The presentation commemorates the 20th anniversary of the devas-
tating fish kill on the Klamath River and celebrates the resiliency of
the community.
Based on historical events, the play follows three families that repre-
sent three constituent communities in the Klamath River watershed:
a ranching family, descendants of longtime residents and a Karuk-
Yurok family.
The 90-minute reading is suitable for family audiences and will be
followed by a post-play discussion with representatives from local and
regional watershed groups and Native community members.
illioo Native Theatre was founded by Grand Ronde Tribal Elder Marta
Lu Clifford, Lori Tapahonso (Dine/Acoma Pueblo) and Theresa May in
2020. The company showcases Native/First Nations/Indigenous drama-
tists and artists through productions, concert readings and workshops.
Tickets went on sale on Sept. 5 with a sliding scale of $5 to $20. For
more information, visit theVLT.com.
INDEPENDENT TRIBAL PRESS ORDINANCE
OPEN FOR COMMENT
Tribal Council is considering amendments to the Independent Tribal
Press Ordinance. The proposed amendments were given a First
Reading at the Aug. 24, 2022, Tribal Council meeting.
The proposed amendments will, among other things: (1) empha-
size the Tribal press is a critical and essential service to the Tribe; (2)
provide language for funding of Tribal press operations; (3) ensure all
Smoke Signals staff adhere to the ethics of journalism as defined by
the Society of Professional Journalists and endorsed by the Native
American Journalists Association; and (4) may include other minor
and technical changes.
Tribal Council invites comment on the proposed amendments to
the Independent Tribal Press Ordinance. For a copy of the proposed
amendments, contact the Tribal Attorney’s Office at 503-879-4664.
Please send your comments to the Tribal Attorney’s Office, 9615
Grand Ronde Road, Grand Ronde, OR 97347 or by e-mail to legal@
grandronde.org.
Comments must be received by Sept. 30, 2022.
SAVE THE DATE
15th Annual Dancing in the Square Powwow
Pioneer Square - Downtown Portland, OR
September 30, 2022 Time: 12pm - 6pm
Host Drums: TBA
EMCEE: Northwest Portland Area Indian Health Board Staff
The Northwest Portland Area Indian Health Board (NPAIHB) staff will be showcasing their
projects and work to celebrate our 50th anniversary 1972 - 2022. There will be no vendor
booths or food carts this year. There are nearby food carts and other food options available.
For more info contact Birdie Wermy (503) 416-3252 or Candice Jimenez (503) 416-3264.
Smoke Signals screenshot
Navajo member Darlene Arviso, known as the “Water Lady” in the
Navajo Nation, stands in Nina Garcia’s home on the Reservation.
Garcia, who has never had running water in her life, is one of
Arviso’s 250 customers that she delivers monthly water to with her
water-tank truck.
LIHWAP program is open
The Low Income Home Water Assistance Program assists with
water bills that are current or past due, and also assists with rates
and fees associated with reconnection.
LIHWAP assistance is a limited funded and first-come, first-
served program. Income criteria applies. Eligible Tribal members
must reside in the six-county service area or Clackamas County.
For more information, contact Emergency Assistance Programs
Coordinator Tammy Garrison at 503-879-2077 or tammy.garrison@
grandronde.org.
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