IoE Rough Cut Science:

In uncertain times, never give up: Addressing water insecurity in Crow


Date: Wednesday, March 2, 2022
Time: 12:00pm - 1:00pm

Speaker(s): John Doyle, Dr. Mari Eggers, Dr. Vanessa Simonds, Christine Martin, Charlene Yarlott Johnson, Tim Realbird

Location: https://montana.webex.com/montana/j.php?MTID=m6add3c84d2a3ed89f3c7c39c3c8a37c7


Speaker(s):
John Doyle

John Doyle

Chair and Director of the Apsáalooke Water and Waste Water Authority

John Doyle is a member of the Apsáalooke Nation in Montana. John served as a county commissioner in Big Horn County for nearly 24 years. He has served in many capacities to improve access to safe water and to improve the water conditions on the Crow Reservation. He is a founding and 16 year member of the Crow Environmental Health Steering Committee and has been the principal investigator (PI) for many research and health projects to understand and address poor water quality on the Crow Reservation. He currently works as the PI for several such projects at Little Big Horn College in Crow Agency, Montana.


Dr. Mari Eggers

Dr. Mari Eggers

Assistant Professor in Environmental Health

Dr. Mari Eggers is a research assistant professor in environmental health. She previously lived on the Crow Reservation for more than a decade, where she taught science at the Tribal College. She works with Crow colleagues and others on community-centered research and mitigation to reduce exposure to waterborne contaminants, improve access to safe drinking water, understand the impacts of climate change on water resources and community health, and increase community capacity to address these issues. Eggers is the Associate Director for MSU’s accredited Environmental Heath degree program, teaches environmental health, serves on the local Board of Health and is a Board member of Montana Health Professionals for a Healthy Climate. Eggers has a B.A. and M.A. (Stanford), an M.S. in Ecology and a PhD in environmental health (MSU).


Dr. Vanessa Simonds

Dr. Vanessa Simonds

Associate Professor in Community Health

Dr. Vanessa Simonds is an Associate Professor in Community Health. She is especially committed to designing and evaluating strength-based, community-centered outreach strategies designed in partnership with Native American communities. She is currently funded through the National Science Foundation to work in partnership with Crow community members to develop and implement an environmental literacy program for Crow youth and their families, Guardians of the Living Waters. Dr. Simonds is the Director of the new Indigenous and Rural Health interdisciplinary doctoral program at MSU. She holds a doctoral degree from Harvard University and is a member of the Apsáalooke Nation.


Christine Martin

Christine Martin

Community Health Professional

Christine Martin is a community health professional who currently serves as the Principal Investigator for the USDA NIFA New Beginnings for Tribal Students grant “Returning to our Good Camp,” and the Program Coordinator for the Guardians of the Living Waters Program at Little Big Horn College (LBHC). She is a long time member of the Crow Environmental Health Steering Committee, and in that capacity she collaborates on research projects addressing Crow water quality, climate change and community health. She has developed and will be teaching a community health course at LBHC. Christine earned both bachelors and Master’s degrees in community health from MSU Bozeman, and is a member of the Apsáalooke Nation.


Charlene Yarlott Johnson

Charlene Yarlott Johnson

Executive Director of Plenty Doors Community Development Corporation (PDCDC)

Charlene Yarlott Johnson has lived on or near the Crow Reservation for most of her life. Prior to Plenty Doors, Charlene worked with the Indian Health Service for almost 25 years as a public health nutritionist and an administrator. Her interest in starting a nonprofit organization focused on community economic development began while working with the Indian Health Service. Charlene acquired her bachelor’s degree from Montana State University – Bozeman and her Master’s degree from the University of North Carolina- Chapel Hill. Charlene is a member of the Apsáalooke Nation.


Tim Realbird

Tim Realbird

Water Sanitation and Hygiene Navigator at PDCDC

Tim Realbird (no photo) is the Water Sanitation and Hygiene (WASH) Navigator at Plenty Doors Community Development Corporation. His role is to increase the WASH knowledge of community members through awareness, assessment, and education to promote and ensure creation of lasting change in water security and health in our communities. As the Navigator, he provides support and training for homeowners and local interested entities to build knowledge capacity and mobilize community agents to work with households for secure access to safe water and reliable wastewater treatment. Mr. Realbird previously worked for the Crow Tribe in multiple leadership positions, has extensive program administration experience and is a member of the Apsáalooke Nation.