Indigenous and Tribal Sovereignty
Policy Stances and Priorities
This is one of the Policy Planks of the United Frontline Table’s toolkit A People’s Orientation to a Regenerative Economy. The policy planks are one of three tools in the kit, together with series of Strategy Questions and the Protect, Repair, Invest, and Transform Framework. Make sure the check out the section on How to Use This Resource to Enhance Your Work and the Working Definitions.
Indigenous and Tribal Sovereignty
Indigenous peoples have suffered and continue to suffer from historic injustices as a result of dehumanization and racism and the colonization and dispossession of their lands, territories and resources, preventing them from exercising, in particular, their right of self-determination in accordance with their own needs and interests, extending to their rights affirmed in treaties, agreements and other constructive arrangements entered into with the United States and its several States. We must address the urgent need to respect and promote their inherent rights as peoples. When considering energy, climate change, and Green New Deal policy, it is important that the U.S., and its agencies, consider the history of destructive energy and mineral exploitation in Indigenous lands and territories. A just nation-to-nation relationship means breaking the cycle of asking Indigenous nations to choose between a colonial imposed model of an extractive economy or preservation of their Indigenous sovereignty, including protection of their traditional lands, waters and air, and the right to practice their spirituality and cultural lifeways.
Policy Stances and Priorities
PROTECT
Sovereignty
Strengthen and support Indigenous nations in the exercise of sovereignty to prevent further erosion of tribal and Indigenous sovereignty and recognition of off-reservation treaty reserved hunting, fishing, gathering, and ceremonial rights—including Indigenous measures to protect and preserve Indigenous language, culture, spiritual practice, sacred sites, and traditional relationships with Mother Earth. Demand that the U.S. fully implement the United Nations Declaration on the Rights of Indigenous Peoples without any attempted qualifications that seek to diminish the inherent rights and sovereignty of Indigenous Peoples.
PROTECT
Free, Prior, and Informed Consent
Codify and enshrine Free, Prior, and Informed Consent principles in U.S. federal law, with a right of judicial review. The U.S. shall, by rule or order, establish a consistent standard and procedure requiring U.S. federal agencies to secure the Free, Prior, and Informed Consent of Indigenous nations and entities confronted with federal actions affecting the protection of their environment, lands, water, livelihoods, and culture.
REPAIR
Address and Heal Broken Responsibilities
All efforts must be made to pressure the U.S. administration to order and commission an independent review and determination of broken environmental and social trust responsibilities to all Indigenous nations (American Indian and Alaska Native nations and their citizens). This review shall be used to formally and legally recognize liability of the U.S. government, and on that basis, to direct Congress to establish a 12 year-fund specifically dedicated to repairing its government-to-government relationship ensuring an economic Just Transition for Indigenous nations and their peoples..
INVEST
Indigenous Just Transition
In recognition of the federal trust responsibility—as a legally enforceable fiduciary obligation on the part of the U.S. to protect Indigenous treaty rights, lands, assets, and resources—now is the time for the U.S. to invest in Indigenous-led Just Transition. This investment must support Indigenous nations and Indigenous grassroots leadership in developing the transition to an Indigenous-based regenerative-living economy, transitioning from tribal housing with black mold to green, affordable, energy-efficient sustainable homes, to community health care, clean renewable energy and energy efficiency, sustainable community planning and ecosystem restoration, and meaningful work and localized community-building jobs.
TRANSFORM
Strengthening and Reclaiming Power
Now is the moment to create systemic changes in U.S. policies towards Indigenous nations and their peoples. It is an opportunity for transformation to bring procedures and mechanisms for redress, restitution, and a Just Recovery of treaty violations and due recognition to Indigenous peoples’ laws, traditions, customs, and land tenure systems—including those lands which were traditionally owned or otherwise occupied or used and which were confiscated, taken, and damaged without their Free, Prior and Informed Consent.
