STORIES FROM THE COLORADO RIVER BASIN
a conversation with Indigenous water and land protectors.
April 10, 2025 at the CAVEA Theater at MSU Denver, Jordan Student Success Building (JSSB), Room 420.
*More info below, RSVP HERE.
MSU Denver is located on the lands of the Cheyenne, Arapaho, Lakota, and Ute and other Indigenous peoples who maintain a relationship with this land.
Confirmed Panelists include:
- Leona Morgan, Panelist [Diné community organizer and Haul No! activist working in the southwest]
- Louise Benally, Panelist [Diné cultural knowledge keeper, human and environmental rights’ activist]
- Reuben Cruz, Moderator [PiiPaash (Maricopa) and Quechan poet and activist from Arizona]
- Woman Stands Shining [Diné mother and grandmother, artist, activist, international speaker, water advocate]
INFORMATION FOR CLASSES ATTENDING
+Potential Syllabus Language:
Week 11, Thursday 4/10, 2-3:15: Meet at the CAVEA for Panel on the Colorado River featuring Indigenous water protectors working on restoration and protection of the Colorado River in the southwest region.
+Prep Work, Homework for Students/Faculty:
- Visit the WordPress Site for the event. NOTE: this will be updated by week 3 and will provide information about the panelists, moderator, and topic. Students will generate and post to our Google Survey 3 questions to inform the panel discussion (due 4/8). *A survey link will be included in the Canvas Module shared in week 3.
- Students should complete the Week 11 Canvas Module that will have readings and screenings that will prepare them for the panel discussion. NOTE: A Canvas module will be shared with faculty in the classes attending in week 3. The module will have approx. 45-90 minutes of homework (reading and short video options, a google survey for their discussion questions, and 2 discussion board assignments that faculty have the option of using prior to and/or after the panel). This will be completed by week 3 and shared with faculty who can import the Week 11 Canvas Module into their course site.
+RSVP: Classes that have confirmed participation will be on the list for the panel. Please RSVP HERE to attend the lunch or post-panel discussion. All are welcome, but space may be limited.
- 12:30-1:45 Community Welcome Lunch for those attending the Panel, RSVP required to reserve a space.
- 2:00-3:15 Moderated Panel – no RSVP for confirmed classes, RSVP for general public or other MSU
- 3:45-4:45 Small Group Discussion with Panelists – for attendees to engage in deeper discussions, RSVP required to reserve a space.
For more information contact:
Suree Towfighnia, Asst. Professor Video Production, JMP, [email protected]
Lorien Dancer, IDP Major and Student Coordinator, [email protected]
Gabriel Grinsteiner, Asst. Director, Denver Project for Humanistic Inquiry [DPHI], [email protected]
This event is part of an ongoing series about water protection and restoration. This iteration is made possible with the support of the Dean’s Innovation Grant and is hosted by community members, MSU faculty and staff in Journalism + Media + Production, History, Political Science, Native Studies and Environmental Science, along with the One World One Water Center (OWOW) and DPhi faculty and staff and students.