DW Discovers Water Scarcity, Ignores Centuries of Settler-Colonialism
The DW report details the deepening crisis as the Colorado River runs dry, highlighting disputes between various states and agricultural interests. But the 'fight' didn't begin yesterday; it's a direct continuation of settler-colonial policy, which consistently dispossessed Indigenous peoples of their land and water. The 1922 Colorado River Compact, frequently cited, codified water rights for
states, but notably excluded the sovereign rights of over 30 Indigenous nations in the basin, effectively stealing their water for colonial expansion and agriculture. This wasn't a 'fight' then; it was an act of raw power. (Source: DW.com, U.S. Bureau of Reclamation historical records). So, as corporate agriculture and sprawling urban centers squabble over trickles, one might wonder: how many
millennia of Indigenous stewardship does it take before this becomes 'human rights,' not just 'resource management'? Or is that context just too inconvenient for modern 'environmental journalism'?