By Shawn Dick, Tulalip News
The 4th Annual Tribal Energy Evolution Summit opened at the Tulalip Resort with prayer, song, dance and a sharing of cultures, bringing tribal leaders and clean energy advocates together to talk about energy sovereignty and the future of Indian Country.
From May 11-14, the nonprofit organization, Alliance for Tribal Clean Energy, brought together more than 200 tribal leaders and members representing more than 50 Native nations from across the country. Founded in 2016 by Chéri Smith, a Mi’kmaq descendant, the Alliance works to support tribes as they pursue clean energy projects on their own terms.
“The Alliance is here to serve all 575 federally recognized tribes, Alaska Native villages and state-recognized tribes,” said Smith, who serves as CEO, president and founder. “At any one time, we’re actively supporting about 150 tribes.”
Smith said clean energy means energy that does not rely on fossil fuels and does little to no harm to the land, water or communities. The Alliance focuses on solar, wind, geothermal and what Smith calls “good hydropower,” such as run-of-river systems that work with the natural flow of water instead of damming it or disrupting fish.
“Not all hydropower is created equal,” Smith said. “Our Indigenous communities know better than anyone what happens when you disrupt that water flow.”
When asked if there is a tradeoff between clean energy and saving salmon, Smith gave a direct answer. “In our collective opinion, take the dams out, all of them,” she said.
Smith explained that clean energy changes depending on geography. Solar may work well in the Southwest, wind may be a better fit in the plains, and geothermal may only be possible in certain regions. “The Alliance never comes into a tribal community with one answer already picked out. We start with what the community’s needs are and their resources, and most importantly, their self-determination and their vision for their own energy future. “
The Alliance was created after Smith witnessed energy poverty on a reservation in Montana. She said she saw Native families paying $800 to $1,000 a month for heat in the winter, while others faced shutoffs in freezing weather. That experience pushed her to leave her work in the commercial clean energy industry and start helping tribes with small demonstration projects.
“Energy isn’t a luxury,” Smith said. “It’s infrastructure, it’s health, it’s economic necessity.”
The Alliance now has about 55 staff members across 33 states and provides technical assistance, project development, project finance, policy support, education and workforce training. Smith said the organization does not charge tribes for its services and is funded through philanthropy, so it can remain independent from changes in federal funding.
One of the Alliance’s short-term goals is responding to emergency energy needs through the Indigenous Power and Light Fund. Smith said the fund helps tribes cover costs for projects, including feasibility studies, predevelopment work, storage and emergency energy infrastructure. Since 2024, she said the fund has deployed millions of dollars into tribal energy projects and helped unlock additional funding.
The long-term goal, she said, is energy sovereignty for every tribal nation and Alaska Native village “Energy sovereignty means that a community controls its own energy supply, generates its own power, builds their own economic base, and whatever that looks like is unique to their region,” Smith said.
For Tulalip, the energy conversation is already happening. Andrew Gobin, Director of Treaty Rights and Governmental Affairs, said Tulalip has several energy-related projects, including Qualco, a food waste digester that creates methane gas and converts it into electricity. Tulalip is also working with solar energy, electric vehicle charging stations, and small-scale microgrid projects near the Gathering Hall.
“We are looking for ways to become energy independent,” Gobin said. “I encourage the membership to pay attention to the projects that are happening.”
Gobin said one of the biggest barriers for Tulalip is public education and outreach. He said tribal members should be open to learning more about clean energy and what it could mean for Tulalip’s future.
“I encourage the membership to be visionary or to be open to the vision of energy and the industry and what it means and the potential it has for Indian Country and for Tulalip,” Gobin said.
Tim Nuvangyaoma, former chairman of the Hopi Tribe and vice president for tribal engagement with the Alliance, said hosting the summit at Tulalip was meaningful. He said the opening prayer, songs and dances showed the strength of Tulalip culture.
“When a song and dance and prayer was shared with us and knowing that the elders are passing this down to the younger generation, I have a deep respect for that,” Nuvangyaoma said. “To see that actually being carried on through that song and dance was just amazing.”
Nuvangyaoma said the summit’s theme, “Stronger Together,” reflected the purpose of the event. “It’s a place for tribal leaders and those that are associated with wanting to advance their energy sovereignty and self-determination,” he said. “It’s a shared space for everybody where we can offer assistance to one another.”
For Nuvangyaoma, the summit was also a reminder of the responsibility Indigenous people carry as stewards of the land, water and all living beings. He said clean energy connects to protecting sacred places and thinking about generations that have not been born yet.
“It isn’t about us today,” he said. “It’s about what we’re going to leave for those that aren’t here yet, for the next generations.”