University of Arizona Graduate Studies
Indigenous Food, Energy, and Water Security and Sovereignty (Indige-FEWSS)
GOAL:
To develop a diverse workforce with intercultural awareness and FEWS expertise to address FEWS challenges in indigenous communities.
CHALLENGE:
Worldwide, ~370 million indigenous people live in over 90 countries. Although, indigenous people are only approximately 5% of the world population, they represent 90% of cultural diversity and hold 20% of the land that maintains 80% of the world’s remaining biodiversity. However, indigenous people often lack access to energy, water, and food infrastructure.
- 14% of U.S. Native American households lack access to electricity.
- On the Navajo Nation, our partners for this graduate student training experience, approximately 35% of dwellings are not connected to central power or potable water.
PROBLEM-SOLVING:
Developing technical solutions to these challenges requires an understanding of indigenous societies, governance, and culture and the ability to work effectively in these contexts.
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