100 signatures reached
To: Senate Majority Leader Mitch McConnell and Senate Minority Leader Chuck Schumer
Support the Western Tribal Water Infrastructure Act
On behalf of Ka Lei Hali’a O Ka Lokelani (KLHOKL), an Oregon-based Hawaiian hula school in the city of Aloha, we are writing to ask of your support of the Western Tribal Water Infrastructure Act. The Confederated Tribes of Warm Springs are in dire need of your support. In the midst of this pandemic, the Warm Springs reservation is in a water crisis. Their reservation relies on four water pumps to provide fresh, safe and clean water for their people - yet three pumps failed in 2019, and currently all four pumps are malfunctioning. The Warm Springs people have had to sustain their living on boiled water and bottled water donations from outside the reservation for months.
Why is this important?
After 40 years of a failed water infrastructure system, the community of Warm Springs desperately wants this great state of Oregon to help with the replacement of the water pumps, pipes, treatment systems, and sewers. The planning and services to help bring SAFE and HEALTHY water to the community of Warm Springs is estimated at $200 million. The Western Tribal Water Infrastructure Act extends funding to tribes in the Colorado Basin, which includes Warm Springs, Oregon. Your consideration of this bill and congressional influence in this matter will be invaluable and a significant step forward towards solving this crisis.
As constituents of Oregon, members of the minority communities, and indigenous people of an American claimed land, WE strongly feel our kuleana (responsibility) is to teach our children ways we can best help our community and neighbors as part of our endeavor to follow our values, and help our community during a time of crisis. We hope to see your support of the Western Tribal Water Infrastructure Act.
Read the full version of our petition letter here:
https://docs.google.com/document/d/1fxa5wEOUz4TuN689BYVxBpmcFGwS8a7c5cPp6dxsLJ4/edit?usp=sharing
If you want to take action to immediately support the Confederated Tribes of Warm Springs, please consider donating to THE CHUUSH FUND: WATER FOR WARM SPRINGS
https://www.mrgfoundation.org/the-chuush-fund-water-for-warm-springs/
Thank you for your consideration.
Me Ke Aloha,
Ka Lei Haliʻa O Ka Lokelani
How it will be delivered
This petition with the list of signatures along with the linked petition letter will be sent by postal mail to Senator Mitch McConnell and Senator Chuck Schumer, as well as Oregon federal lawmakers Senator Ron Wyden, Senator Jeff Merkley, Congresswoman Suzanne Bonamici and Congressman Greg Walden.