TRIBAL COALITION SENDS MESSAGE OF SELF-SUFFICIENCY

Washington, DC – In a strong gesture of support for tribal self-sufficiency, members of COLT (Coalition of Large Tribes) have adopted a resolution pledging support for each other’s priorities, including development of natural resources on tribal land and infrastructure development to move these natural resources to market.

The resolution, adopted at the meeting of COLT in Washington, did the following:

- called for consultation under Executive Order 13175 of November 6, 2000 (Consultation and Coordination with Indian Tribal Governments) when government decisions affect tribal treaties;

- drew support for port and rail infrastructure projects that open up both domestic and international markets for tribal goods and commodities to get full value for their natural resources; and,

- noted some funding opportunities for tribes to secure dollars to improve localized freight transportation or deal with impacts due to freight transportation either by rail or vessel.

Under the leadership of newly elected COLT Chairman and Crow Tribal Chairman Darrin Old Coyote, the large land owning tribes want their voices heard and specific needs addressed.  “Members of our tribe depend on our natural resources and lands in our territory to sustain our people and tribal governments,” said Old Coyote. “Our tribes have a long history of mutual support for one another’s commerce, culture and economic development efforts, particularly in regards to agriculture, energy, transportation, trade and infrastructure.  This support is even more critical today, when many of these issues have become mired in politics.”

Old Coyote said COLT tribes are striving to realize more value from their available resources and create more diverse and sustainable economic foundations for their nations, which will help ensure genuine sovereignty over time.  He said tribes are also critically in need of infrastructure investment, which is essential to tribal commerce and the well-being of our People.

“Our way of life relies on our land, our natural resources, and getting our goods to market relies on infrastructure,” Old Coyote said. “We are stronger if we work towards those things together, and the purpose of this resolution – to show people that COLT tribes are united on these issues.”

COLT is comprised of tribes with large land bases of over 100,000 acres, including the Crow Nation, Navajo Nation, Blackfeet Tribe, Shoshone-Bannock Tribes, Colville Confederated Tribes, Spokane Tribe, Ute Indian Tribe, Oglala Sioux Tribe, Mandan, Hidatsa and Arikara Nation, Rosebud Sioux Tribe, Sisseton Wahpeton Sioux Tribe, and Cheyenne River Sioux Tribe, among others.