In the western United States, rivers like the Colorado River and the Rio Grande were carved up under compacts in the early twentieth century, long before tribes had a say in how rivers would be managed. Even though tribes hold the oldest and most senior water rights, they still don’t always have a seat at the table today. That’s starting to change with efforts like the Ten Tribes Partnership on the Colorado River.

In this episode of Our Land, correspondent Laura Paskus checks in on what it means for tribes to truly have a say in western water issues.