Colorado Plateau Intertribal Conversations

Gatherings from the Beginning

In 2009, the Grand Canyon Trust’s Native America Program organized the first Colorado Plateau Intertribal Conversations (CPIC) gathering to reestablish conversations between tribal nations across the Colorado Plateau. Prior to reservation boundaries, state lines, and political jurisdictions, tribes had working relationships with one another cultivated through trade, travel, ceremonies, and stories. These relationships established support networks that helped tribes survive and advocate for one another and their surrounding landscapes.

To reignite these historical relationships, the Native America Program gathered culture leaders from 10 different tribes across the Colorado Plateau. A total of 20 individuals from the Havasupai, Hopi, Hualapai, Kaibab Paiute, Navajo, White Mountain Apache, Northern Ute, Southern Ute, Ute Mountain Ute, and Pueblo of Zuni tribes gathered in Flagstaff, Arizona in 2009. At this monumental gathering, attendees recommended to organize their discussions into four categories: water, language and culture, sacred sites, and health.

For 15 years, the CPIC gathering group has initiated intertribal projects and collaboration and identified funding opportunities for tribal projects across the plateau. The CPIC gathering group hosts a biannual fall gathering in conjunction with their yearly meetings. The fall gatherings bring together over 100 participants to discuss climate impacts, build community strategies, and establish long-term networks. This year, CPIC will be celebrating 15 years of conservation in connection with its 3rd fall gathering.