Lorelei Cloud

Lorelei Cloud (Southern Ute Tribe) isn’t just breaking barriers—she’s reshaping the future of water, Tribal sovereignty, and Indigenous leadership.

A trailblazer in every sense, she made history as the first Native American to serve on a state water board (Colorado Water Conservation Board), where she champions equitable water policies in the drought-stricken West. But her influence doesn’t stop there. As a three-term Southern Ute Tribal Council leader—serving as Vice Chairman and Treasurer—she’s fought to protect Tribal resources and sovereignty from the ground up.

Cloud’s leadership extends far beyond governance. She’s the co-founder of The Indigenous Women’s Leadership Network, empowering Native women to claim their space in decision-making. As a Board Trustee for The Nature Conservancy (Colorado) and a key figure in the Water and Tribes Initiative, she bridges Indigenous knowledge and modern conservation—ensuring rivers like the San Juan, Dolores, and Animas are managed with both science and cultural reverence.

Her groundbreaking work hasn’t gone unnoticed. In 2023, she earned The Nature Conservancy’s Nature’s Advocate Award, and in 2024, Water Education Colorado’s Greg Hobbs Next Wave Leadership Award—proof that her vision for a just, sustainable future is leaving an indelible mark.