A Cultural Exchange Between Washington State and New Zealand
Phil Rigdon presents to tour participants on the Yakima Basin Integrated Plan.
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20 | IRRIGATION LEADER
Irrigation Leader: Please tell us about yourself and your position. Phil Rigdon: I am the superintendent of the Yakama Nation Department of Natural Resources. I oversee about 17 programs of the tribe, including water, fisheries, forestry, wildlife, and a few other things. Irrigation Leader: You were a member of the recent Irrigation Leader tour in New Zealand. Would you tell us why you decided to go on the trip? Phil Rigdon: The chance to go to New Zealand is an enormous opportunity. On the Yakama Reservation, we have the Wapato Irrigation Project (WIP). We’ve got a
PHOTOS COURTESY OF IRRIGATION LEADER.
ne member of the Irrigation Leader tour in New Zealand was Phil Rigdon, the superintendent of the Yakama Nation’s Department of Natural Resources, which oversees 17 different programs that cover fisheries, water, forestry, and environmental protection. While New Zealand is half a world away from the Yakima Valley, it has many commonalities, from the need to balance water use among fish, environmental needs, and agriculture to the need for water storage structures on irrigation districts. During the tour, Mr. Rigdon was also able to take part in a cultural exchange with members of the indigenous Māori people prior to the larger group visiting their community. In this interview, Mr. Rigdon expands on what he saw in New Zealand and the lessons he is taking back to Washington State.
