On Sept. 8, Sen. Tom Udall, D-N.M., and Sen. Max Baucus, D-Mont., hosted a briefing for Senate staff on the inclusion of tribal governments in pending bills to deal with the climate crisis and promote renewable energy and energy efficiency. The panel of speakers was coordinated by the National Congress of American Indians and National…
As the debate over the impact of President Obama’s economic stimulus bill rages in Washington, we want to call attention to an unprecedented source of $2 billion in funding for tribal economic development projects. The stimulus bill authorizes American Indian and Alaska Native tribes to issue tax-exempt Tribal Economic Development bonds in an aggregate amount…
I. Tribal Authority to Manage Air Quality Indian tribes can undertake air quality programs either under the inherent power of a sovereign Tribal government or pursuant to the Clean Air Act. Indian tribes were independent, self-governing societies long before contact with European nations. The United States recognizes tribes as “distinct, independent political communities” qualified to…
Where do federally recognized Indian tribes fit in the development of environmental law? Where do American Indian and Alaska Native cultures fit into the landscape of environmental protection and natural resources management? The answer that I would give to both questions is a lot of places. Tribal cultures are deeply rooted in the web of…
Fundamental changes are coming as we move toward a post-fossil-fuels economy. Global climate change is a compelling reason why we need to shift to an economic order that uses energy efficiently and meets most of our needs for energy services with renewable resources. Meeting our energy demands through efficiency and renewables will also reduce our…
