A University of Minnesota study has shed light on the various ways Minnesotans from different social and cultural backgrounds value water, signaling a need for more inclusive water policy-making, according to research published in Society & Natural Resources. The research highlights disparities in the values placed on water for uses such as cultural and religious practices, recreation, and gardening, finding that non-white Minnesotans place a higher importance on these aspects than their white counterparts.
Professor Mae Davenport, lead author of the study and director of the Center for Changing Landscapes points out that "Minnesotans don’t all experience water in the same ways—we have different water relationships depending on where we live, our cultural worldviews, our life experiences and the hardships we face," and she noted that historical and institutional injustices, still prevalent today, have marginalized culturally diverse and non-dominant racialized groups from decision-making processes which directly impact those very relationships. The research, affiliated with the university's Water Resources Center and funded by multiple Minnesota environmental trusts, utilized a statewide mail survey and an onsite survey during cultural events in the Twin Cities that brought to light the intrinsic value of water across varying sociocultural identities.
While safe and clean drinking water was a universal priority among the respondents, the details in preference and value greatly varied; for instance, those identifying as Asian, American Indian, Black or African American, Hispanic or Latino, Middle Eastern or North African, or Native Hawaiian or Pacific Islander rated water values linked to their cultural and religious practices and community activities more highly than white-only identifying individuals, and female-identifying respondents in the statewide survey expressed higher average importance across water values than male-identifying respondents, main insights that call for more inclusive approaches to water science, policy, and management.
In light of these findings, the research advocates for incorporating the vast array of water values and their corresponding relationships into water programs, policies, and investments, with the Metropolitan Council now teaming up with the research team to further delve into the water values and experiences of Twin Cities residents—especially focusing on residents of color, renters, and younger demographics, studies like this are crucial for creating equitable solutions in a world where water is life and its management, a reflection of justice. "I believe we all will benefit from learning more about the deep and meaningful connections people have with water in Mni Sóta Maḳoce, the Dakota name for what is now called Minnesota, meaning ‘where waters reflect the clouds," Davenport told the University of Minnesota news hub, underscoring the necessity for shared knowledge and caretaking practices.
The University of Minnesota's role extends through its various branches such as the College of Food, Agricultural and Natural Resource Sciences and the Center for Changing Landscapes, all of which aim to converge education, research, and community engagement to foster informed policymaking and stewardship of natural resources. Advocating for broader social science research and inclusive project planning, the hope is to empower communities statewide to work towards sustainable, livable, and equitable futures.
