Heather Tanana has published “Voices of the River: The Rise of Indigenous Women Leaders in the Colorado River Basin” in the Colorado Natural Resources, Energy & Environmental Law Review. Here is the abstract:
Climate change is one of the leading challenges facing tribes today. Traditionally, Indigenous women played significant roles in tribal decision-making and governance. However, European contact and colonization shifted gender dynamics, imposing male-dominated leadership. Recently, Native American women are reclaiming leadership positions—formally within tribal government, as well as informally in prominent community roles. These women are poised to lead the way in protecting their communities against climate change impacts, but support is critical to sustaining pathways to leadership. This article discusses the disproportionate impacts of climate change on tribes and highlights the rise of Indigenous female leadership within the Colorado River Basin to confront these challenges.
