A wide variety of perspectives and ideas were shared during Confluence Philanthropy’s Coffee Klatch in December, exploring approaches to investing in populations in climate transition, including tribal communities. Creating and building authentic partnerships and values-aligned investments with tribal communities and tribal-led organizations is important to shifting powers in the climate change movement. Philanthropic support and investment in Indian Country’s efforts is necessary as we work to dismantle the inequities of the energy crisis, environmental and social justice issues, while promoting healthy economies, cultural preservation, and restoration of tribal lands.
Tribal-led organizations like the Tribal Solar Accelerator Fund are trusted partners in Indian Country because they’re a reflection of the tribal communities they serve and are pivotal intermediaries upholding cultural values, place-based tribal knowledge and lifeways, experts in their respective fields, and most importantly protectors of tribal sovereignty. Tribes Continue to protect the land in ways that align with cultural and traditional principles, while looking to new and innovative ways of strengthening their inherent rights as sovereign nations.
Below are a few areas of consideration when thinking about how to navigate investment relationships with tribal communities.
Just Transition
One of the better stated definitions of “just transition in tribal communities” was written by Jessica Stago, the Native American Economic Initiatives Director; “A just transition involves shifting power to local communities as they invest in housing, food systems, and local businesses to create economies that honor Indigenous knowledge, reflect community values, forge equitable partnerships, and restore the land.” As investment in just transition continues to be prioritized, these values of shifting power to tribal communities should be reflected through partnership and understanding the monumental impact of tribes and tribal organizations.
Tribal communities are on the frontlines of climate change and are disproportionately affected by climate induced weather extremes. The future of renewable energy development in particular is essential and imminent to a tribe's ability to become energy resilient and energy sovereign, because ultimately tribes are responsible for taking care of their communities which requires securing important tribal services, infrastructure, and the ability to respond to emergency situations. Tribes are leaders, and they’re caretakers of culture and environment, and economics and policy just to name a few. The Tribal Accelerator Fund and many other tribal-led organizations are working to support the power shift by uplifting the voices in Indian Country.
History of Philanthropy and Tribal Communities
As philanthropy and the investment community begin to work with tribal communities, it is important to consider the history and the ongoing systemic environmental, economic, and societal injustices to date. Historically, philanthropy has been violent towards Indigenous Peoples across the globe, but in particular tribal communities were introduced to the forceful acts of “philanthropy” deemed as necessary for survival causing generational trauma (i.e., forced removal, residential/boarding schools, and stolen language and cultural lifeways).
As we move into a modern shift of what philanthropy should be, it must recognize that those prior relationships have caused a level of distrust and harm for many tribal communities and tribal-led organizations. Philanthropy created an unequal power dynamic where the narrative remains that tribal communities do not have the knowledge or understanding to help their communities thrive. Shifting the power to a strength-based narrative means there is understanding at all systemic levels that tribal-led organizations and tribal communities are capable of advocating for themselves, their people, and have the ability and knowledge to handle investments for their communities as they see fit.
Tribal Sovereignty
With over 574 federally recognized tribes, state recognized tribes and Indigenous communities throughout the United States and its territories, there is a vast and expansive set of knowledge and cultures that these communities are working to preserve and protect. For many Indigenous communities, the concept of sovereignty plays a huge role in forging partnerships and taking action to address community needs. With federally recognized tribes in particular, they operate as sovereign nations and their relationships with the United States are complex, but they are to be seen as self-governing of their people. This means they have their own tribal governments, laws, policies, and economies. The concept of sovereignty is large and all encompassing, but something to remember is that each tribe has their own set of rules, culture, and history they are trying to protect. There are also many tribal-led organizations that also exist outside of a specific tribal nation who are working towards addressing issues in partnership with tribes that incorporate the same concept of protecting tribal communities' sovereignty, cultures, and knowledge.
As a philanthropic organization who wishes to invest and collaborate with tribal communities and organizations, recognizing the importance of sovereignty will assist in the understanding of how organizations and tribes go about pursuing their partnerships.
Data Sovereignty
Philanthropists and investors have their respective goals and values for their own organizations they are representing. This may require some requests for data or information from the tribal-led organization or tribe they are investing in. We encourage philanthropy and investors to understand their requests for data might not always be in alignment with the tribal organization or tribe they are working with and to adjust accordingly. This means understanding how the data is delivered might vary from expectation or it might require a compromise on the data used. Unfortunately, data of tribal people and traditional knowledge has been stolen or used against tribes for generations and for this reason certain information and data is protected.
While philanthropy’s efforts and investment may be set for one specific project or idea, the work of tribal peoples and the investment itself will oftentimes impact many different areas of their economies, peoples, land, and culture. Given the concept of cultural and community preservation, data sovereignty is a concept that extends into trying to protect the information and knowledge of Native people.
Data delivery might incorporate more storytelling or anecdotes rather than numbers or very specific data points. The concept of data sovereignty and data information systems from a tribal perspective has been researched in academia by tribal and non-tribal experts. These experts collectively work to enhance existing frameworks to promote and advocate responsible data sharing and collection on climate action efforts, research, and nation building.
Advocating for tribal people requires advocating for their tribal sovereignty. There is not a one-size fits all approach to working with 574+ diverse tribes across Indian Country and due diligence in building and strengthening relationships with tribal communities, and tribal-led organizations where you work means educating yourselves and connecting with tribes and tribal leaders locally. Including tribes in your work is not just a checkbox for inclusion and diversity; it will widen your collective perspective for climate solutions, economic development strategies, and social justice issues for your work. Engaging more tribes and tribal-led organizations will deepen the work and networks that stretch far and wide for generations to come.
- Tanksi Clairmont (Sicangu Lakota/Sisseton Wahpeton Dakota), Managing Director, Tribal Solar Accelerator Fund at GRID Alternatives
- Angelica Wright (Choctaw Nation), Leadership Programs Officer, Tribal Solar Accelerator Fund at GRID Alternatives
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