Tribal colleges take the lead in global warming collaboration
Seeking energy justice will shape future tribal energy goals

According to an article in Indian Country Today, many tribal governments haven’t addressed climate change as it relates to their reservation, but tribal colleges are seeking to change that and raise the issue.
 
Climate change is going to impact reservation communities a lot harder based on research published last month (click here to see report). Right now is the time that tribal residents are putting a lot more time and effort into how to build energy efficient homes, and what time of energy would be the most efficient and economical for a sustainable future.

Students from these colleges have asked specifically what these governments were doing to mitigate the effects of climate change on their reservation, and if they were working with the colleges to address the issue.

Things could be worse, however; Alaska Natives have voiced the concerns of climate change as their biggest question is whether to move the village because of rising sea levels and intense erosion.

Tribal colleges, which are owned and operated by the tribe, are institutes of higher education geared at providing tribal knowledge and culture, along with providing college curriculum.

David Brien, chairman of the Turtle Mountain Chippewa, responded that tribal governments are doing little because of necessary attention to other pressing issues.

Brien said that tribal governments and colleges should come together to address climate change.

Brien said the tribes need data and science so tribes can ask for more funding and assistance. This is a crucial energy justice issue because the tribal governments often find themselves with no resources to combat climate change or improve efficiency in tribal homes and buildings. Being energy efficient shouldn’t be an unimaginable goal for tribal residents. The people who need to address energy efficiency are often the people who cannot afford to do so. Moving away from efficiency being a glamour word is something tribal residents and colleges are trying to reveal.

Coalbed methane development moves forward next to the Northern Cheyenne Reservation
Tribe developing energy plan to address this and future environmental issues

Indian Country today reported that the Montana Powder River Basin section bordering the Northern Cheyenne Indian Reservation can be opened to limited coalbed methane.

In a 2-1 decision by a panel of the 9th U.S. Circuit Court of Appeals is allowing a limited 500 wells, while the new coalbed methane Environmental Impact Statement (EIS) was being prepared. The previous EIS had not analyzed the impact of the mines sufficiently in 2005.

This decision has led the tribe to be proactive and develop an energy plan. More tribes across the country are developing an energy plan to combat issues like this that arise on the reservation.

The Northern Cheyenne Tribe had been against the development of coalbed wells. The tribe has raised their voices citing environmental and cultural concerns. The tribal government has made it clear that one of the reasons this was allowed to go through was heavy pressure to domestically develop natural resources.

Not focusing on alternative energy, such as wind, solar and biofuels is what triggered the tribal government to develop its own energy policy. Focusing on alternatives and providing the protection the earth needs will be the goal of this document.

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