Seven Generations – collaboration and capacity building

The Shoshone-Paiute Tribe of the Duck Valley Indian Reservation

fortifying capacity for future generations

This project supports the Duck Valley Indian Reservation (DVIR), which spans Idaho and Nevada, in developing a rapid-response strategy to fortify its capacity to participate in government-to-government consultations and public responses under the National Environmental Policy Act (NEPA). This strategy will include processes to triage, review, and respond to mining proposals, establish air quality monitoring, and develop a baseline resource repository of Traditional Ecological Knowledge (TEK), cultural resources, and critical fish and game habitat. This partnership will support the Tribe in highlighting potential ecological and environmental health impacts. It will also provide resources to educate community members and support their participation in public commenting under NEPA, thereby generating robust community involvement in decision-making.

This community-driven initiative will:

Create a structured framework for reviewing, triaging, and responding to proposed mining and other federally triggered actions.

Lay the groundwork for a Tribal resource repository, including air quality data, cultural knowledge, and critical fish and wildlife habitats.

Support the community with tools that enhance active participation in decision-making processes.

Goals and Outcomes

This project supports long-term environmental health and sovereignty through:

Education & Awareness

Increased student and community understanding of baseline conditions on DVIR lands and of the NEPA process.

Enhanced Tribal Sovereignty

Enhance capacity to assess and respond to proposed mining projects.

Environmental & Cultural Protection

Safeguard vital natural resources, wildlife, and cultural heritage for future generations.

Community Voice

Support effective public comments and participatory processes grounded in Tribal priorities.

Replicability

Facilitate adaptation and adoption of the program by other Tribes.

Seven Generations Response Strategy

The idea for the Seven Generations project comes from within DVIR and builds on existing Tribal systems and stakeholder groups. Because the Tribes are facing increased pressure from mining in the region, the project utilizes approaches from emergency response to help the Tribes prepare for and respond to the pressures of mining. By utilizing an emergency response framework that includes coordination, training, and prioritization of resources, this project will facilitate more informed input on mining.

Resource Management

Organize environmental and cultural data into a geospatial database that is accessible and easy to use.

Coordination

Leverage existing community and governmental partnerships to streamline response efforts.

Communication

Train staff and youth, and produce materials that enable stronger community participation in NEPA scoping and comment periods.

Core Activities

Create an easy-to-access geospatial database of wildlife and cultural resources.

Engage Tribal K–12 and university students.

Deliver workshops with partners to coordinate activities and share results throughout the project.

Engage the community in project development and implementation, relying on their feedback throughout the process.

Deliver training events, including GIS, emergency response planning, NEPA, and technical review of environmental impact statements.

Develop, deploy, and refine a rapid response approach to engage promptly on proposed mines and government-to-government consultations.

Develop resources to foster stronger community engagement in the NEPA process.

background

Like many Tribal communities, the Shoshone-Paiute (Sho-Pai) Tribes of the Duck Valley Indian Reservation experience intense mining pressure related to high gold prices and the need for minerals for low-carbon energy production.

This is highlighted by the fast-track approval of the Thacker Pass Lithium Mine 85 miles away, impacting a Sho-Pai sacred site, Peehee Mu’huh (Rotten Moon).

NEPA offers a pathway to environmental justice by requiring consultation and public input for significant federal actions. But with 80% of Nevada’s land federally managed, and 63% of that by the Bureau of Land Management (BLM), Tribes are expected to:

This project helps DVIR rise to that challenge strategically, collectively, and in defense of Tribal sovereignty and health.

You can support seven generations

Protecting the health of DVIR’s lands, waters, wildlife, and people requires collaboration and commitment; whether you’re a community member, donor, or partner organization, your engagement matters.

Reach out to us to learn more, support trainings, or amplify Tribal voices in environmental justice efforts.

Partners

Additional Resources

Indigenous Advocates at the UN Say the Green Transition is Neither Clean Nor Just

Their message isn’t new, but it is gaining urgency as funding for green energy projects grows. Grist

Demand for Minerals Sparks Fear of Mining Abuses on Indigenous Peoples' Lands

Demand for lithium and other metals like cobalt, copper and nickel is soaring as the world increases manufacturing of green energy components like batteries and solar panels. NPR

This Time it’s Different? The Rush to Mine Indigenous Lands

Can governments and international mining companies figure out how to respect and work fairly with Indigenous communities? Nevada Current

‘We Were Not Consulted’: Native Americans Fight Lithium Mine on Site of 1865 Massacre

Indigenous groups say huge project in northern Nevada threatens environmental, cultural and historical destruction. The Guardian

As Miners Chase Clean-Energy Minerals, Tribes Fear a Repeat of the Past

Mining the minerals that may be needed for a green energy revolution could devastate tribal lands. The Biden administration will be forced to choose. New York Times

Native Communities Hit Hard by Mining Legacy

A new report explores challenges and opportunities. University of New Mexico

Funding for TIFO’s work with the Shoshone-Paiute Tribe of the Duck Valley Indian Reservation was provided in part through an Assistance Agreement with the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency.