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For Immediate Release
Contact Jennifer K. Falcon jennifer@ienearth.org, 218-760- 9958
Indigenous Environmental Network Statement in Response to President Biden’s American Jobs Plan.
"Indigenous Environmental Network recognizes the importance and value of the American Jobs Plan President Biden delivered today, but we must point out a major oversight: it neither acknowledges nor strengthens tribal sovereignty. It is our position that any meaningful and long-lasting recovery must expand investments that are set aside specifically for Tribes and Indigenous communities, strengthen tribal sovereignty, uphold Indigenous treaty rights, and codify Free, Prior, and Informed Consent. Congress and the Biden administration must know that recovery cannot take place until Tribal nations are the ones making the decisions about projects that impact their peoples and their lands. Additionally, as members of various coalitions putting pressure on Biden and Congressional leadership to truly “Build Back Better,” IEN also understands American Indian, Alaska Natives, and Indigenous communities must be at the center of a US jobs plan and economic recovery. The American Jobs Plan should address the erosion of tribal sovereignty and all inequitable impediments blocking the way of the secure economies of Tribal Nations and communities. Each federal agency should use administrative authorities to create funding mechanisms and pathways for Tribes and Indigenous communities through a consensual process, based upon meaningful metrics, to ensure investments in jobs are made available and allocated in an equitable manner. We encourage President Biden to consider the THRIVE Act, which includes provisions that address these gaps and sets a standard that both upholds tribal sovereignty and directs investments to Tribal Nations and Indigenous communities."
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Established in 1990, The Indigenous Environmental Network is an international environmental justice nonprofit that works with tribal grassroots organizations to build the capacity of Indigenous communities. I EN’s activities include empowering Indigenous communities and tribal governments to develop mechanisms to protect our sacred sites, land, water, air, natural resources, the health of both our people and all living things, and to build economically sustainable communities.
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