The Great Plains Tribal Water Alliance's Water and Climate Conference, held September 18 - 19, 2024, was a resounding success. We were deeply honored to have Arvol Looking Horse, the 19th keeper of the Sacred White Buffalo Calf Pipe and Bundle, join us and speak on the profound significance of Mother Earth and the sacred white buffalo calf. His words resonated deeply with all in attendance, reminding us of our responsibilities to protect our natural world. Our keynote speaker, Natali Segovia, a Quechua international human rights attorney and the Executive Director of the Water Protector Legal Collective, delivered a heartwarming and powerful address on the sacredness of water and its deep cultural importance. Her insights inspired meaningful discussions throughout the event. We were also privileged to hear from many key partners who shared their knowledge and perspectives, including conversations on applying the decolonization framework and practices to climate adaptation, making the conference a rich opportunity for connection and learning. We look forward to future gatherings and extend our heartfelt gratitude to everyone who participated and contributed to this special event.

-Janna Black 

Other NC CASC members in attendance included Kynser Wahwahsuck and Imtiaz Rangwala.