Despite the many challenges in the past few months, spanning the last half of 2024 and the first six months of 2025, IEN’s staff has continued to collaborate with our Indigenous and Front Line communities. We're committed to doing all that's possible to maintain our rights to resist an ever-expanding consolidation of corporate and government control. All the hard-fought for rights and protections to limit the wholesale destruction of the lands, water, and air that all life on Mother Earth needs to survive and thrive are being eliminated.
Many of the challenges to our way of life have come from the changes to weather patterns from burning fossil fuels, and the elimination of the earth’s natural systems that are the cause of unrelenting climate change; drought that caused forest and wild fires, and mega-storms that brought flooding, tornadoes, and hurricanes. Hurricane Helene devastated much of the lower East Coast, large parts of Los Angeles burned along with thousands of acres of precious forest, and the latest tornadoes in the upper Midwest that hit our home office and the Bemidji community at large. We will have updates on the damage and recovery soon.
Through all of the disasters and unconscionable destruction, we experience genuine emotional pain from the loss of a forest, a community devastated by mega-storms, and industrial waste streams that poison our relatives, contaminate and obliterate invaluable biodiversity.
What we feel is defined as empathy, which today seems to be in short supply from the lawmakers of this colonial government. Their lack of empathy drives their actions, which are not only cruel, unfair but will cause more unnecessary destruction, suffering, and death.
We’re witnessing the descendants of the colonizers, who have lost or never understood their place in this world, take whatever they want and do everything in their power to eliminate anything or anyone that stands in their way. They refuse to be held accountable or acknowledge, and act accordingly, given the delicate balance and the threats and evidence of ignoring their acts of greed and insatiable need for power. Click here to read KIITG’s latest blog: BACK OFF the Sale of OUR Public Lands - Vote NO on the Big Bad Bill
Our natural empathy for our relatives and adherence to our responsibility as Indigenous Peoples keep us working with our allies and partners across racial and physical divides toward real solutions. We seek, learn new methods, and incorporate these into the processes needed to adapt to new challenges. We rely on Traditional Indigenous Knowledge to provide our families and communities with the tools and means to [re]learn how to build and maintain regenerative economies. The Principles of an Indigenous Just Transition are guideposts for us to determine what works best for all life, where we live, because there is no ‘one size fits all’ solution.
In this edition of our Monthly Newswire, we’ve included short reports on where, and with whom, our staff has been asked to engage, and a few actions that you can take to let those currently in power know it’s time to make the right decisions. To reject the acts of cruelty to further enrich the wealthiest corporations and individuals. There are proposals to sell off millions of acres of our public lands for resource extraction and control, and others that will rip food, healthcare, and basic human needs from the most vulnerable. There is legislation on the table to give billions of dollars to fossil fuel industries for technofixes that will lock us into decades more pollution and increase emissions of greenhouse gases that will propel us faster into the age of no return for life on Mother Earth.
We still have options, we have a chance to reverse course, change in significant ways that limit the damage done, rebuild, and hopefully find ways to adapt and shield us from the worst consequences of modern society's mistakes. Soon, however, our options will be vague memories and regrets for not acting sooner. It's up to us - and we accept this mission for all of humanity and our relatives across Mother Earth! Join us in this moment for the future we all need.
Kunming-Montreal Global Biodiversity Framework (GBF) of the Convention on Biological Diversity
Thomas Joseph Tsewenaldin, (Hupa, Karuk, Paiute-Shoshone), Carbon Pricing Educator, was an invited guest of the European Union to participate in an expert-level discussion on the new Subsidiary Body of Article 8(j) of the Kunming-Montreal Global Biodiversity Framework (GBF) of the Convention on Biological Diversity. This was an opportunity for Thomas to gain and share with IEN personal insights and build community with board chairs and national focal points of many European countries, including the E.U., while advocating for the rights and protection of Indigenous Peoples and the Traditional Knowledge in the GBF. Click here to earn more.
National Congress of American Indians
Jordan Harmon, (Muscogee (Creek) Nation), Policy Analyst – Legislative Advocate, Claire Charlo, (Confederated Salish & Kootenai Tribes), Indigenous Feminisms Organizer; and Remi Still Smoking, as a youth representative, attended the National Congress of American Indians Mid-Year Convention, June 8-11, 2025. They joined the convention to participate in resolutions committees (Land and Natural Resources and International Committees), network with Tribal leaders and important figures in Indian Country, and educational outreach on the Indigenous Just Transition.
Indigenous Sovereignty
On May 25th there was a gathering organized by Healing Native in Healing Hands. It was led by Perry Lincoln and Radley Davis. Michael Lane (Menominee), Indigenous Sovereignty Advocate, shared support for their efforts to reclaim an unused railroad for logging that ran over village sites and cemeteries. They are also reviving the skills for building redwood dugout canoes. There was deep discussion on the Eel River’s right to exist and thrive, and IRJ, as it connects to the village sites and cemeteries
Keep It in the Ground
In June, we launched our Webinar Series unpacking the Executive Orders (EOs) and how Indian Country can use them to predict the Administration's next moves. Part one examined the EO "Declaring a National Energy Emergency," and we got to hear from wise, powerful leaders from our communities, like our very own Missy Crow, Waniya Locke, Crystal Cavalier, and Chuck Sams. Almost seven THOUSAND people have viewed our webinar on Facebook, and we had over 100 registrants on Zoom, and more than half of the viewers joined on the day.
Keep an eye out for parts 2 and 3 coming up later this summer.
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2025 Sister Alliance Webinar from Bonn
Participants: José Bravo (JTA) - moderator Tamra Gilberston (IEN) Chief Ninawa Huni Kui, (IEN/Brazil IP Rep) Francisco Kelvim Nobre da Silva, (MAR) Christine Nabwami, (LVC & ESAFF) Eriel Deranger, (ICA)
Geoengineering Africa and Beyond: A Dangerous Distraction
Geoengineering is a deliberate, risky, and speculative large-scale technological manipulation of the Earth’s Systems - oceans, land, and atmosphere - in an attempt to try and cool the planet. These dangerous and illegal outdoor experiments are entering the mainstream discourse on climate as well as in the halls of the UN at SB62 climate negotiations as if they are an answer to the climate crisis. The reality is - these climate scams are a dangerous distraction, causing risks to ecosystems, communities, territories, and Indigenous land, wate,r and air - and are not the answer to the climate crisis.
As governments prepare for COP30, watch our press conference as climate justice groups, frontline defenders and civil society policy experts raise concerns and expose the growing threat of geoengineering including technofixes like Solar Radiation Manipulation (SRM) and Carbon Dioxide Removal (CDR) being pushed in Africa and other regions and communities by powerful actors with vested interests, under the guise of climate action.
Carbon markets are a major driver for geoengineering. Despite mounting evidence that carbon markets do not deliver real emissions reductions and often lead to human rights abuses, land grabs, and violations of the rights of Indigenous Peoples, these technofixes continue to be called a climate solution. Join us to hear why global civil society is pushing back and demanding a stop to geoengineering. Click here to watch the video.
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Breaking Green: When Arctic Climate “Solutions” Become Colonial Experiments with Panganga Pungowiy - Panganga Pungowiyi, an Indigenous mother and climate geoengineering organizer from Sibokuk in the Dena’ina Islands, shares her community’s historical trauma and resistance against experimental climate technologies deployed without consent. Click here to listen now.
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It's time to kick Big Polluters out of the climate talks!
We are demanding that those organizing the climate talks and world governments attending them take the next step to protect the climate talks from industry interference. It is time to kick Big Polluters out of the U.N. climate talks.
Join us and take action now and help us demand that we kick Big Polluters out of the U.N. climate talks!
Please take 2 minutes to add your name to the digital action below to send an automatic email to the UNFCCC echoing the need to protect these talks from Big Polluters 📝 https://actionnetwork.org/letters/its-time-to-kick-big-polluters-out-of-the-climate-talks
Earlier this week, we joined together outside of the UN climate talks in Bonn to demand that we Kick Big Polluters Out. Today, wherever you are in the world, let's work together to turn up the heat in a critical moment.
Rights-based constituencies who are united in demanding we Kick Big Polluters Out of the UNFCCC delivered our demand to the Executive Secretary that next steps towards addressing Big Polluters' stranglehold must be delivered now.
We need to ensure that the UNFCCC knows we are watching for them to take the next step in this essential moment.
Please add your name here and help spread the word.
IEN is a member of the KBPO campaign
*Note: Your information will not be used for any purpose outside of this digital action
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Stop the CCS Scams and the Billions Wasted
The official government estimates are out for the Senate Finance Committee's portion of the tax bill and the increasing cost to 45Q tax credits for 45Q are alarming. These changes to 45Q will significantly expand the cost of the carbon capture tax credit and expose taxpayers to far greater long-term risk than is being acknowledged in current scoring. More specifics are below.
The Senate is still pushing ahead with a plan to vote on their full budget bill this week and pass the bill through the House before July 4, but it is facing significant headwinds, which could delay this timeline.
This is the time we need to make sure lawmakers continue to hear that people are concerned with massive harms to communities from the carbon capture industry and 45Q tax credits.
Call your Senators at 877-844-5384. Tell them:
I am alarmed that the Senate is proposing a plan to increase subsidies for the carbon capture industry, boosting the deficit and wasting taxpayer money.
I am concerned about the safety risks, land grabs, and harms to my community from dangerous and unnecessary CO2 pipelines and infrastructure.
For more perspective on this issue, USA Today reported on a letter sent by over 100 local and state elected officials in communities directly targeted for CCS and CO2 pipeline infrastructure. These leaders are sounding the alarm about the economic, public safety, and property rights threats posed by the continued expansion of this subsidy. A huge thank you to the CCS Action Network who helped to make this happen.Click here for more details.
Today, the Trump administration took steps to strike down critical protections for 13 million acres in the National Petroleum Reserve - Alaska (Western Arctic Reserve), opening a 60-day comment period on its proposal.
Support us in protecting these critical areas. Submit your comments and share during this 60 commenting period.
Check out this toolkit for talking points and more amplification guidance.
Trump breaks historic Columbia River deal between U.S. government, tribes, NW states In an order issued Thursday, the president said he would withdraw the U.S. from a 2023 deal made with tribes and environmentalists to end lawsuits over fish losses. Click here to learn more.
Canada's wildfire crisis is displacing First Nations at alarming rates - With over 40,000 people evacuated and infrastructure overwhelmed, Indigenous leaders say climate change is hitting their homelands hardest. Click here to read more.
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IEN Staff & Management
The Indigenous Environmental Network • PO Box 485 • Bemidji, MN 56619
In June, we launched our
Geoengineering is a deliberate, risky, and speculative large-scale technological manipulation of the Earth’s Systems - oceans, land, and atmosphere - in an attempt to try and cool the planet. These dangerous and illegal outdoor experiments are entering the mainstream discourse on climate as well as in the halls of the UN at SB62 climate negotiations as if they are an answer to the climate crisis. The reality is - these climate scams are a dangerous distraction, causing risks to ecosystems, communities, territories, and Indigenous land, wate,r and air - and are not the answer to the climate crisis.
