Description

Living Waters Resilient Nations

Centering Indigenous Leadership in Water Sovereignty and Climate Resilience

The Living Waters, Resilient Nations (LWRN) Cohort, a 6-month long learning experience taking place from November 2025 through May 2026. The Cohort is hosted by the Institute for Tribal Environmental Professionals (ITEP) Tribal Wellbeing for Seven Generations Program (TW7G), and will bring together Tribal leaders, Tribal community members, Tribal environmental professionals, and Knowledge Holders from across the Colorado River Basin. 

The primary goal of the LWRN Cohort is to ensure that Tribes in the basin have the tools and resources they need to build their capacity and knowledge in developing and maintaining climate resilient water infrastructure. 

To that end, over the course of the LWRN Cohort, cohort members will participate in interactive cohort meetings (virtual via Zoom, 1.5 hours each) that include an orientation, presentations from Tribal water experts, Tribal case studies, and small and large-group discussions and activities. In addition, they'll have the opportunity to develop and deepen their network of Tribal colleagues working on water issues in the Basin, and receive direct support from ITEP staff through one-on-one technical assistance both during and after the LWRN cohort. 

Requirements

WHEN/WHERE: The 6-month long Cohort will take place over a series of 12 bi-monthly virtual meetings scheduled for Wednesdays from 11am-12:30pm (MST) from late November 2025 through April 2026. At the end of the cohort, cohort members will be invited to an in-person workshop (expenses paid) to work on, or develop their Tribe's Climate Adaptation Plan* for water. 

SCHEDULE & TOPICS: Please see the bottom of this form for course topics and dates, or, for a more detailed version see: 2025-26 LWRN Cohort Course Outline.

ELIGIBILITY: The LWRN Cohort is open to all Tribal Environmental Professionals that work on Water issues and protecting Water for a Tribe in the Colorado River Basin. Only individuals who are able to commit to attending the orientation/pre-session and at least 75% of the cohort meetings should apply (if attendance is a concern and you'd still like to participate, please reach out to Ashley.Gries@nau.edu to discuss).