As temperatures hover above 90 degrees Fahrenheit, Secretary of the Interior Deb Haaland (Laguna Pueblo) is expected to travel to Riverside, California this week to highlight how federal dollars are expanding access to clean drinking water and protecting communities from the impacts of the climate crisis, including extreme weather.
President Biden’s Investing in America agenda represents the largest investment in climate resilience in the nation’s history: $16.5 billion dedicated to making communities more resilient to climate change and other threats.
Through the Bipartisan Infrastructure Law, the Bureau of Reclamation is investing a total of $8.3 billion over five years, including for water purification and reuse, water storage and conveyance, desalination and dam safety.
Just last week, The Department of Interior announced a $120 million investment in tribal communities to mitigate the effects of climate change. Tribes can apply for the funding to either plan for or adapt to climate change related threats such as drought, wildfire, and coastal erosion.
Haaland’s trip to Riverside, California will coincide with another purpose: two stops on the Interior's “Road to Healing” tour, to hear from boarding school survivors and their descendants.
The Secretary and Assistant Secretary for Indian Affairs will travel to Riverside, California on Friday, August 4 and Rohnert Park, California on Sunday, August 6, 2023.
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These stories must be heard.
This May, we are highlighting our coverage of Indian boarding schools and their generational impact on Native families and Native communities. Giving survivors of boarding schools and their descendants the opportunity to share their stories is an important step toward healing — not just because they are speaking, but because they are being heard. Their stories must be heard. Help our efforts to make sure Native stories and Native voices are heard in 2024. Please consider a recurring donation to help fund our ongoing coverage of Indian boarding schools. Donate to Native News Online today and support independent Indigenous-centered journalism. Thank you.
