Owning a River: Fid-Bau Portal

Owning a River

Colbert, Zachary

This text explores the intertwined histories of “nature” and “nation” within the Colorado Plateau, exploring their historical origins and contemporary implications. It elucidates how colossal irrigation projects have co-constructed these concepts, entangling property rights with whiteness and perpetuating racial subordination. Drawing from the work of scholars like Cheryl Harris, it illuminates the enmeshment of whiteness and property, generating privilege and power dynamics that shape perceptions of place and identity. Through an examination of property rights, water infrastructures, and architectural media, the essay reveals how whiteness is ingrained in the landscape, perpetuating systemic inequities and ecological injustices. It underscores the need for a critical reorientation away from whiteness and property rights, advocating for Indigenous-led stewardship and alternative narratives that prioritize inclusivity and storytelling. The essay also reflects on the broader implications of these issues, highlighting their global resonance and the urgent imperative to dismantle systems of oppression embedded within them. Ultimately, it calls for a transformative shift towards decolonization and equity to ensure the sustainable future of the Colorado Plateau and beyond, recognizing the deep entanglements of property rights with climate crisis.