This presentation was delivered as part of the Tribal Lands and Environment Forum: Virtual Gathering in August 2021 by Mark Sorensen with the Painted Desert Demonstration Projects/The STAR School.
Safe drinking water is vital to both community health and economic development. In marginalized communities, specifically the Native American communities of Navajo and Hopi Reservations, many public health stressors are caused by limited access to clean and safe drinking water. For over 20 years, Painted Desert Demonstration Projects, doing business as The “STAR” School, (Service To All Relations), has served students and their families residing in the former Bennett Freeze Area of the Navajo and Hopi Nations where families live without utility access. With their partners and support from USDA Rural Development, they have provided water access and quality technical assistance and training to various communities in Navajo Nation, later extended to Hopi Tribe, resulting in greatly increased access to clean water technologies among other benefits. This presentation will discuss STAR Schools’ approach to mitigating this critical issue and the lessons learned in restoring access to safe water for these worthy communities.
