Bismarck, North Dakota – September 7, 2024, Indigenized Energy participated this week in the UTTC 27th Annual Tribal Leaders Summit, hosting two impactful events during an empowering and transformative gathering of tribal nations.
Founder and Executive Director of Indigenized Energy, Cody Two Bears; Director of Strategy for Indigenized Energy, Dr. David Riley; and President of ProtoGen Energy, Kevin Wright, led an afternoon panel discussion on Wednesday, September 4, to discuss the formation and future of the Northern Plains Tribal Coalition. The Coalition’s historic formation was led by Indigenized Energy in 2023, and this year was awarded $136M from the EPA Solar for All program with the MHA Nation as lead recipient. This panel discussed the background of The Northern Plains Tribal Coalition’s EPA award, strategic plans, and the implications of this effort for all tribes seeking to pursue energy sovereignty.
In an interview for an upcoming story by the McKnight Foundation, panelist Cody Two Bears talked about the work of Indigenized Energy and the Northern Plains Tribal Coalition,
“We recognize that each Tribe has its own unique energy needs and implementation capacity. We help them plan and deliver projects, we help build skills and knowledge that will last, and we empower communities to create their own green economies and clean energy solutions.”
Following the panel discussion, Indigenized Energy hosted a history-making flag ceremony featuring the 14 tribal nations who belong to the Northern Plains Tribal Coalition. With an audience that included Native American leaders from across public, private and nonprofit sectors, the Coalition celebrated a transformative moment for Northern Plains Tribes and their shared commitment to a sustainable future.
The event concluded with a celebrity performance by award-winning actor and stand-up comedian Tatanka Means from the Navajo, Oglala Lakota, Yankton Sioux, and Omaha Nations. Mean’s most recent film is the Oscar nominated, “Killers of the Flower Moon.” He was named “Entertainer of the Year” by the National Indian Gaming Association.
The flag ceremony and performance event were proudly sponsored by Indigenized Energy in conjunction with the UTTC Tribal Leaders Summit. Tribes that participated include:
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About Indigenized Energy
Indigenized Energy’s mission is to pursue tribal energy sovereignty through trusting partnerships and innovative programs that grow a collective capacity to unleash the power of renewable energy. Indigenized Energy works side-by-side with tribes to help them pursue energy sovereignty based on their unique conditions, and to develop their capabilities to plan, develop, and manage resilient and sustainable energy systems. The organization was founded in 2016 by Cody Two Bears (Standing Rock Sioux) in the wake of the North Dakota Access Pipeline #NODAPL protest. Indigenized Energy is a fiscally-sponsored initiative of Mission Edge San Diego, a 501(c)(3) nonprofit public benefit organization EIN 27-2938491. www.4indigenized.energy
About UTTC Tribal Leaders Summit
The UTTC Tribal Leaders Summit is an annual gathering that brings together tribal leaders, educators, and community members to discuss and advance issues of importance to indigenous communities. summit.uttc.edu
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