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Our Relationship to Water and Experience of Water Insecurity among Apsáalooke (Crow Indian) People, Montana

Author

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  • Christine Martin

    (Crow Tribe of Indians, Crow Agency, MT 59022, USA
    Crow Water Quality Project, Little Big Horn College, Crow Agency, MT 59022, USA
    Crow Environmental Health Steering Committee, Little Big Horn College, Crow Agency, MT 59022, USA)

  • Vanessa W. Simonds

    (Crow Tribe of Indians, Crow Agency, MT 59022, USA
    Department of Health and Human Development, Montana State University, Bozeman, MT 59717, USA)

  • Sara L. Young

    (Crow Tribe of Indians, Crow Agency, MT 59022, USA
    Crow Environmental Health Steering Committee, Little Big Horn College, Crow Agency, MT 59022, USA
    Center for Health Equity Research, Northern Arizona University, Flagstaff, AZ 86001, USA)

  • John Doyle

    (Crow Tribe of Indians, Crow Agency, MT 59022, USA
    Crow Water Quality Project, Little Big Horn College, Crow Agency, MT 59022, USA
    Crow Environmental Health Steering Committee, Little Big Horn College, Crow Agency, MT 59022, USA
    National Environmental Justice Advisory Council, Environmental Protection Agency, Washington, DC 20460, USA)

  • Myra Lefthand

    (Crow Tribe of Indians, Crow Agency, MT 59022, USA
    Crow Environmental Health Steering Committee, Little Big Horn College, Crow Agency, MT 59022, USA)

  • Margaret J. Eggers

    (Crow Environmental Health Steering Committee, Little Big Horn College, Crow Agency, MT 59022, USA
    Department of Microbiology & Immunology, Montana State University, Bozeman, MT 59717, USA)

Abstract

Affordable access to safe drinking water is essential to community health, yet there is limited understanding of water insecurity among Native Americans. Therefore, the focus of this paper is to describe Apsáalooke (Crow Indian) tribal members’ experiences with water insecurity. For Apsáalooke people, local rivers and springs are still vitally important for traditional cultural activities. We interviewed 30 Native American adults living on the Crow Reservation in Southeastern Montana. Participants answered six open-ended interview questions about their water access, costs of obtaining water and changes in their domestic and traditional water uses. Participants emphasized how the use of water has changed over time and described the complex challenges associated with addressing water insecurity in their community, including the importance of considering the spiritual and cultural impacts of water insecurity on health. Water insecurity is a growing global problem and more attention and efforts are needed to find appropriate and affordable solutions.

Suggested Citation

  • Christine Martin & Vanessa W. Simonds & Sara L. Young & John Doyle & Myra Lefthand & Margaret J. Eggers, 2021. "Our Relationship to Water and Experience of Water Insecurity among Apsáalooke (Crow Indian) People, Montana," IJERPH, MDPI, vol. 18(2), pages 1-20, January.
    • Handle: RePEc:gam:jijerp:v:18:y:2021:i:2:p:582-:d:478880
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    References listed on IDEAS

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    1. John T. Doyle & Larry Kindness & James Realbird & Margaret J. Eggers & Anne K. Camper, 2018. "Challenges and Opportunities for Tribal Waters: Addressing Disparities in Safe Public Drinking Water on the Crow Reservation in Montana, USA," IJERPH, MDPI, vol. 15(4), pages 1-13, March.
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    4. Steve Hamner & Bonnie L. Brown & Nur A. Hasan & Michael J. Franklin & John Doyle & Margaret J. Eggers & Rita R. Colwell & Timothy E. Ford, 2019. "Metagenomic Profiling of Microbial Pathogens in the Little Bighorn River, Montana," IJERPH, MDPI, vol. 16(7), pages 1-18, March.
    5. Cordelia Schimpf & Curtis Cude, 2020. "A Systematic Literature Review on Water Insecurity from an Oregon Public Health Perspective," IJERPH, MDPI, vol. 17(3), pages 1-23, February.
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    9. Margaret J. Eggers & John T. Doyle & Myra J. Lefthand & Sara L. Young & Anita L. Moore-Nall & Larry Kindness & Roberta Other Medicine & Timothy E. Ford & Eric Dietrich & Albert E. Parker & Joseph H. H, 2018. "Community Engaged Cumulative Risk Assessment of Exposure to Inorganic Well Water Contaminants, Crow Reservation, Montana," IJERPH, MDPI, vol. 15(1), pages 1-34, January.
    10. Cynthia Agumanu McOliver & Anne K. Camper & John T. Doyle & Margaret J. Eggers & Tim E. Ford & Mary Ann Lila & James Berner & Larry Campbell & Jamie Donatuto, 2015. "Community-Based Research as a Mechanism to Reduce Environmental Health Disparities in American Indian and Alaska Native Communities," IJERPH, MDPI, vol. 12(4), pages 1-25, April.
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