Tribes Trek to D.C. to Offer Climate Change Perspective
Thursday, November 5, 2009
HELENA, Mont. - Tribal lands are among some of the areas most affected by global climate change, and those lands are also some of the richest in renewable energy resources. Those are two points being made as tribal leaders from around the country meet at the White House to share their perspectives on climate change with federal officials.
Montana State Sen. Jonathan Windy Boy (D), Vice Chairman of the Chippewa Cree Tribe, is one of those attending the briefings. He says tribes want to help with clean energy solutions.
"There are areas of expertise that we bring to the table, but when you have federal laws and federal rules that come into effect here, we're never at the table to help guide those rules and policy."
Windy Boy says tribal lands in Montana are ripe for biofuels and wind, yet most of the development incentives being offered and considered in the federal clean energy bill before the Congress do not benefit most tribes.
Mike Williams, chair of the Alaska Inter-Tribal Council, says rapidly-changing climate issues have landed on the front doorsteps of many of his state's tribes and indigenous people.
"Many of the communities are falling into the sea. We have no support, in most cases, to help these communities move to other places."
Little attention is being paid to the crisis, he says, but he hopes to change that.
get more stories like this via email
Health and Wellness
A recent report examined how some rural Tennessee hospitals have managed to stay afloat despite financial challenges. The report includes interviews …
Social Issues
Earlier this month, a new Arizona Public Service rate hike went into effect and one senior advocacy group said those on a fixed income may struggle …
Social Issues
Michigan recently implemented a significant juvenile justice reform package following recommendations from a task force made up of prosecutors…
Social Issues
A mix of policy updates and staffing boosts has helped to put wage theft enforcement on the radar in Minnesota, and officials leading the efforts are …
Social Issues
Colorado is working to boost the state's agricultural communities by getting more fresh, nutritious foods into school cafeterias - and a new online …
Social Issues
Missouri lawmakers are concerned with protecting people from the potential risks of the increasing accessibility of AI-generated images and videos…