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The Tribal Partnerships Program
About Our Program:
The Sierra Club partnership program works with tribal partners across Indian Country to bring powerful protection to Mother Earth. Some of the work we do includes:
Visionary Solutions:
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Time for a Just Transition from dirty coal to clean renewable energy. Check out this video of the end of the Mohave Generating Station, part of the work we have done to transition off dirty coal in the Southwest.
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Assisting the Navajo and Hopi tribes to build strong tribal economies with clean renewable energy like wind and solar energy development. The Sierra Club is proud partner for the DBYN Coalition. Learn more at www.navajogreenjobs.com.
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Strategic empowerment through training and providing information to tribal activists working for environmental protection.
Protecting our Natural Heritage:
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Protecting Sacred Lands: Homeland Security since 1492! The Partnership Program assists the EJ program with the Save the Peaks Campaign.
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Organizing events with tribal partners like the Mother Earth Gathering in the Grand Canyon with the Havasupai Tribe.
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Consulting with Sierra Club groups, chapters and other Sierra Club programs to build stronger tribal partnerships troughout the country.
Building Community:
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Working on the Rez and beyond. Reaching out to tribal communities on environmental education and building bridges with the Sierra Club. This includes trainings and support for grassroots organizing in tribal communities.
- The Partnership Program has helped organize Paatuwaqatsi Runs (Water is Life Runs) on Hopi's First Mesa. These long distance runs visit traditional springs and educates the Hopi public about their traditions surrounding water.
- Sierra Club works with several tribal partners for environmental protection including Dine CARE, Black Mesa Water Coalition, Black Mesa Trust, Navajo Green Jobs, DBYN Coalition and others.
Updates from the Field:
September 2011
Take Action
The Federal Government's Office of Surface Mining was accepting public comments until Nov 3rd, 2011 on the Environmental Assessment for Peabody Energy's Kayenta Mine located on Black Mesa. We have known for years that Peabody's operations have impacted sacred springs for local Navajo and Hopi communities. See the latest press release and hydrology report on Peabody Coal's impacts on sacred springs and wells in and around Black Mesa.
See more Tribal Partnerships Field Reports.
Paatuwaqatsi Runs (Water is Life Runs)
Sierra Club Representative
Andy Bessler is the Southwest Tribal Partnership representative for the Sierra Club based in Flagstaff, Arizona.