ABOUT US

Mission Statement

Black Mesa Water Coalition is dedicated to preserving and protecting Mother Earth and the integrity of Indigenous Peoples' cultures, with the vision of building sustainable and healthy communities. BMWC strives to empower young people while building sustainable communities.

BMWC was formed in 2001 by a group of young inter-tribal, inter-ethnic people dedicated to addressing issues of water depletion, natural resource exploitation, and health promotion within Navajo and Hopi communities. We continue to be led strongly by young adults while relying on an inter-generational support network. BMWC has been working to organize Navajo and Hopi communities for the protection of our lands, water and future generations. We work in collaboration with surrounding communities and organizations to more effectively address the problems we collectively face.

The effort to protect our lands and waters is connected to so many facets of life and living. The problems our communities are facing are deeply tied to a history of colonization and a growing reliance on an unsustainable culture and lifestyle. The roots of these problems are not always easy to see and many times cannot be easily remedied. BMWC has grown into an organization that is not only reactionary when needed, but also proactively working to build stronger, more sustainable communities. Therefore we work on topics such as:

• Protect Black Mesa, Energy and Water;
• Indigenous Youth Leadership and Development;
• Building local sustainable economies with Navajo Green Jobs initiative and;
• Just Transition Campaign.

BMWC Staff

• Jihan Gearon, (Diné) – Executive Director
• Wahleah Johns, (Diné) – Black Mesa Solar Project Manager
• Roberto Nutlouis, (Diné) – Green Economy Campaign Coordinator
• Autumn Chacon, (Diné) – Youth Leadership Development Coordinator
• Marshall Johnson, (Diné) – Field Organizer with To Nizhoni Ani
• Claudia Jackson, (Diné) – Diné Binaanish Ya'aah'teehgo Nooseel (formerly Navajo Green Economy Coalition) Coordinator

BMWC Board of Directors

• Tony Skrelunas (Diné) – Former Navajo Nation Economic Development Director. Grand Canyon Trust Indigenous Programs Director.
• Caitlin Sislin, Esq – North American Director for the Women's Earth Alliance. Graduate of University of California – Berkeley law school.
• Enei Begaye, (Diné & Tohono O'odham) – Grant Writing Support. Former BMWC Executive Director & experienced organizer, strategist, and speaker.

BMWC Advisory Board

• Kelvin Long (Diné) – Co-founder BMWC and founder of ECHOES – protecting sacred sites.
• Louise Benally, (Diné) – Big Mountain resident of Black Mesa. Grandmother & long-time resister to Black Mesa relocation efforts.
• Marie Gladue, (Diné) – Big Mountain resident. Grandmother & sustainable community planning graduate student.
• Gloria Johns (Diné) – Black Mesa resident. Grandmother & retired Navajo educator; Navajo School Districts Principal.
• Billy Parish – Founder of Energy Action Coalition – national network of students.
• Candice Lomahaftewa (Hopi) – BMWC Co-founder and herbalist.
• Bucky Preston (Hopi/ Male elder) – Longtime advisor and Hopi spiritual leader.
• Leonard Gilmore (Diné) – Navajo community planner with current work in developing the largest wind farm in Arizona on the Navajo reservation.
• Shonto Begay (Diné) – Local and nationally acclaimed artist, illustrator, writer and speaker.
• Andy Bessler – Long-time community organizer and Sierra Club Southwest Partnerships Director.
• Chelsea Chee, (Diné) – Youth Leadership Development Coordinator. University of Arizona graduate, current University of New Mexico Graduate Student in rural development and public administration, and long-time BMWC organizer.
• Julius Badoni (Diné) – Participant in BMWC's 1st Southwest Indigenous Leadership Institute. Recent graduate of Arizona State University and community organizer in the Phoenix metropolitan area.