Earlier this month, Tribal Climate Resilience Liaisons Janna Black and Kynser Bell helped host the Great Plains Tribal Water Alliance Annual 2025 Conference in Deadwood, South Dakota, on the sacred lands of the Black Hills.

The event brought together more than 100 participants from over 13 Tribal Nations to share knowledge, stories, and strategies focused on protecting water, lands, and our cultures. Each day opened with prayers and songs, creating a space grounded in community, collaboration, and care.

The conference featured discussions on Tribal water rights, climate adaptation, and ongoing protection efforts such as the No DAPL movement. Participants also heard inspiring updates from GPTWA Board members and the Pine Ridge Girls School, who spoke in Lakota about their work to protect local creeks.

Hailey Robe, from the North Central Climate Adaptation Science Center, also attended and presented on current NC CASC research and partnership opportunities that support Tribal water resilience and climate adaptation.

The conference was a time of reflection, learning, and renewed commitment to collective action. GPTWA continues to serve as a powerful example of how Tribal Nations are leading the way in water protection and climate adaptation across the Great Plains.