Tristan Ahtone

3 weeks ago | grist.org | Sophie Hurwitz |Tristan Ahtone

Twenty-two young people are suing President Donald Trump, arguing that his executive orders to “unleash” fossil fuel development and achieve “energy dominance” are not only unconstitutional but life-threatening — a direct challenge to his rollback of efforts to address the climate crisis. Many of the young plaintiffs have taken part in similar lawsuits before, and won. Now, they’re using the lessons learned in previous fights to improve their odds of success.

1 month ago | grist.org | Maria Rose |Tristan Ahtone

Any time a federal agency wants to develop a project in Wyoming — an oil and gas lease, a pipeline, a dam, a transmission line, a solar array — it has to go through Crystal C’Bearing first. C’Bearing is Northern Arapaho and the tribal historic preservation officer, or THPO, for the Northern Arapaho tribe, so if a new wind farm is proposed, for example, she determines if any tribal areas will be impacted by the project.

1 month ago | grist.org | Anna Smith |Tristan Ahtone

This story is published through the Indigenous News Alliance. In mid-April, the Trump administration cleared the way for a controversial copper mine proposed for western Arizona. The mine would destroy parts of Chi’chil Biłdagoteel — known as “Oak Flat” in English — over the objections of the San Carlos Apache Tribe and at least 21 other tribal nations.

1 month ago | grist.org | Sonam Lama Hyolmo |Tristan Ahtone

This story is published through the Indigenous News Alliance. In Native Hawaiians’ genealogical stories, says Solomon Kahoʻohalahala, the coral polyp is considered the oldest ancestor, and they hold relationships with animals, including the Koholā, or humpback whale. “Koholā is the manifestation of our god of the sea and is revered for its ability to dive into the depths of the deep sea and the realm of the sacred place of our creation, far beyond our imaginations,” he said.

2 months ago | grist.org | Tristan Ahtone

This story is published through the Indigenous News Alliance. During the opening day of this year’s United Nations Permanent Forum on Indigenous Issues, or UNPFII, one speech took a striking turn. Indigenous leaders and representatives of nation states delivered 3-minute monologues about the plight and importance of Indigenous women around the globe. Most were followed by ripples of applause from the speakers’ peers, or sometimes thunderous ovation if the statement was particularly rousing.