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Assessment of Climate Change in the Southwest United States pp 385–404Cite as

Unique Challenges Facing Southwestern Tribes

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Part of the book series: NCA Regional Input Reports ((NCARIR))

Abstract

The Southwestern United States is home to 182 federally recognized tribes (Federal Register 2010, Figure 17.1). California has the largest number of tribes (109), and the largest Native American population in the country (Table 17.1). Arizona, New Mexico, Colorado, and Utah are also home to seven of the most populous tribes, with populations ranging from 10,000 to over 300,000 (U.S. Census 2010). Nine tribes in the Southwest are considered “large land-holding tribes,” five of which are among the ten largest reservations in the United States, ranging in size from 600,000 to 15 million acres (Federal Register 2010). More than one-third of the land in Arizona is tribal land.

Chapter citation: Redsteer, M. H., K. Bemis, K. Chief, M. Gautam, B. R. Middleton, and R. Tsosie. 2013. “Unique Challenges Facing Southwestern Tribes.” In Assessment of Climate Change in the Southwest United States: A Report Prepared for the National Climate Assessment, edited by G. Garfin, A. Jardine, R. Merideth, M. Black, and S. LeRoy, 385-404. A report by the Southwest Climate Alliance. Washington, DC: Island Press.

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Author information

Authors and Affiliations

  1. U.S. Geological Survey, USA

    Margaret Hiza Redsteer

  2. Zuni Tribe Water Resources Program, USA

    Kirk Bemis

  3. University of Arizona, USA

    Karletta Chief & Daniel B. Ferguson

  4. Desert Research Institute, USA

    Mahesh Gautam

  5. University of California, Davis, USA

    Beth Rose Middleton

  6. Arizona State University, USA

    Rebecca Tsosie

Authors
  1. Margaret Hiza Redsteer
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  2. Kirk Bemis
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  3. Karletta Chief
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  4. Mahesh Gautam
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  5. Beth Rose Middleton
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  6. Rebecca Tsosie
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  7. Daniel B. Ferguson
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Editor information

Editors and Affiliations

  1. Institute of the Environment, University of Arizona, N. Park Ave Ste. 532 845, 85721, Tucson, Arizona, USA

    Gregg Garfin

  2. University of Arizona, USA

    Angela Jardine , Robert Merideth , Mary Black  & Sarah LeRoy , ,  & 

Endnotes

Endnotes

  1. i

    Stevenson, Atta, (November, 2011).“California Indian Water Commission: Statement on Climate Change.” Written communication. The California Indian Water Rights Commission consists of Tribal People dedicated to the protection of sacred sites, tribal water, and other inherent rights. According to Stevenson, “We offer our opinions to give voice to our relatives that cannot speak for themselves, the fish, the trees, winged-ones, etc., and especially the water.”

  2. ii

    U.S. Department of the Interior, Bureau of Indian Affairs (August 2011) Letter to tribal leaders and request for proposals 5p.

  3. iii

    Jill Sherman-Wayne, (January 2012). Written communication.

  4. iv

    In re General Adjudication of All Rights to Use Water in the Gila River System and Source, 35 P.3d 68 Ariz. 2001.

  5. v

    John Leeper (October 2011). Director of Navajo Nation Water Resource Management, written communication.

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Redsteer, M.H. et al. (2013). Unique Challenges Facing Southwestern Tribes. In: Garfin, G., Jardine, A., Merideth, R., Black, M., LeRoy, S. (eds) Assessment of Climate Change in the Southwest United States. NCA Regional Input Reports. Island Press, Washington, DC. https://doi.org/10.5822/978-1-61091-484-0_17

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