How can we improve adaptive capacity to water insecurity among American Indians in Arizona?

Water is a finite resource, and it is anticipated that water insecurity will grow as water resources are stressed and become scarcer globally. Western science applications and definitions of water insecurity focus almost exclusively on the material value of water (quality, accessibility and quantity) for human uses and activities. While there is well‐established research on material aspects of water, there are fewer studies that focus on water's relational aspects, including the social, socio-political, cultural, and emotional-mental wellbeing dimensions of water that might disrupt, or result from, water insecurities.

People mainly affected by water insecurity in the U.S. are historically marginalized communities, including people living in rural areas, on tribal lands, and in lower-income areas that often overlap with BIPOC communities. Water insecurity adversely impacts many tribal communities in the Southwest and has presented new challenges during the COVID-19 pandemic. In the Colorado River Basin, a drying climate could mean water shortages for those in Arizona and other parts of the Southwest and Mexico, and with them, new or increasing challenges related to water insecurity stressors. This pilot study aims to address this gap to better understand non-material aspects of water that might be important to addressing water insecurities experienced by Indigenous peoples living in regions vulnerable to climatic extremes (i.e., Arizona).

Photo-elicitation is a research method in which participants use visual images to convey their experiences, thoughts, feelings or emotions about a particular topic. This study explores how American Indians living in Arizona experience and think about water and water insecurities as dispatched in public broadcast media. Using recent images from the media that depict water-related challenges in Arizona and are specific to American Indian communities, Mitchell used a modified version of photo-elicitation to achieve several goals.

• Collect narratives about water and water insecurity from an Indigenous lens
• Advance conceptualization and empirical evidence for relational elements of water and water insecurity as experienced by American Indians in Arizona
• Advance innovative methodologies in the research process during the pandemic, while adhering to community social distancing orders
• Advance western sciences to enhance the water discourse and include a broader range of Indigenous perspectives that honor American Indian knowledge, thoughts, experiences and expressions about water.

In lieu of an interview, which is customary for many photo-elicitation projects, participants were asked to share their reflections about photographs depicting water-related issues in Arizona, including water protectors and protecting sacred sites, water contamination on tribal lands, drought and water scarcity, water access or tribal communities without running water, and representation in water policy and governance. Study participants also had an opportunity to upload their own photo with an accompanying narrative that represents what water means to them.

Mitchell's study addresses research gaps to better understand the relational aspects of water and water insecurities that may provide important insights into the protective factors or adaptive capacity we have to manage the adverse impacts of water insecurity. Ideally, this research will be part of greater efforts to harness the power of protective factors to reduce the harm to emotional-mental wellbeing caused by living in water insecure environments, particularly as we know water insecurity will most likely increase over time due to climate change and other events.