To Be Iina At'e: Development and Implementation of a Dine Methodology to Assess Past, Present and Future Water Sources Within the Cho'ho'tsoi Valley on the Navajo Nation

Abstract

In the southwestern part of the United States, tribal people are facing severe droughts, shifts in seasonal climate, increases in storm surges, and regional temperature increases. Water security is a significant concern for the Navajo Nation, who have been experiencing a drought for more than a decade. Over 30% of Navajo’s living on the reservation live without running water, and 40% have to haul water to meet their daily needs. There are severe water infrastructure deficiencies throughout the Navajo Nation. This research addresses water security concerns of my home community in a rural and arid landscape in St. Michaels, Arizona on the Navajo Nation. At an elevation of 6,500 to 7,500 feet and 11 inches of precipitation a year Cho’ho’tsoi valley and plateau is a semi-arid, high desert plateau and canyon environment that is extremely susceptible to drought. To understand past, present, and future water sources within the Cho’ho’tsoi valley, in a culturally appropriate manner, I addressed four questions: 1. How do I, as a Diné woman, conduct scientific research in my community? 2. Where were/are the water sources located in Cho’ho’tsoi valley? 3. How have the water sources changed in the last fifty years? 4. Are the current water sources – livestock wells, safe for human consumption? Grounded in Indigenous methodologies, developed using a Diné research paradigm, and based in ceremony, this research incorporates three major Diné concepts A) Hózhó, B) Ké, C) Sa’ah Naagháí Bik’eh Hózhó. This methodology is used to conduct ground surveys, archival research, water quality testing, and an autoethnography analysis to create a holistic understanding and genealogy of the Cho’ho’tsoi valley’s water resources.