Lora Jones
4/17/2018 5:00 PM
Through TV news and social media, most of us witnessed the courage of native peoples who blocked the oil pipeline construction at Standing Rock, North Dakota in 2016. What I didn't know was that there is a national Native American environmental protection organization known as the Indigenous Environmental Network (IEN).
The IEN was formed in 1990 by grassroots Indigenous peoples and individuals to address environmental and economic justice issues..."IEN’s activities include building the capacity of Indigenous communities and tribal governments to develop mechanisms to protect our sacred sites, land, water, air, natural resources, health of both our people and all living things, and to build economically sustainable communities."
Some of the issues addressed include: Clean up of contaminated lands from mining, military, and industry, toxic incinerators and landfills on and near Indigenous lands and struggles to obtain victim compensation to Indigenous uranium miners, millers, processors and people living downwind from past nuclear testing experiments.
As in most countries of the world, the indigenous tribes are unwilling hosts to industries that exploit our environment for profit. They are our best advocates for a cleaner and healthier environment.
The IEN was formed in 1990 by grassroots Indigenous peoples and individuals to address environmental and economic justice issues..."IEN’s activities include building the capacity of Indigenous communities and tribal governments to develop mechanisms to protect our sacred sites, land, water, air, natural resources, health of both our people and all living things, and to build economically sustainable communities."
Some of the issues addressed include: Clean up of contaminated lands from mining, military, and industry, toxic incinerators and landfills on and near Indigenous lands and struggles to obtain victim compensation to Indigenous uranium miners, millers, processors and people living downwind from past nuclear testing experiments.
As in most countries of the world, the indigenous tribes are unwilling hosts to industries that exploit our environment for profit. They are our best advocates for a cleaner and healthier environment.
