Later this month, the Indigenous Environmental Network (IEN), an advocacy organization focused on greater engagement within Native American communities on the issues of environmental and social justice, will convene its 16th Protecting Mother Earth Gathering. Hosted by members of the Mandan, Hidatsa, Arikara Nations in North Dakota, this event serves as a forum for representatives of indigenous communities to discuss how dirty energy is encroaching on protected territory and what native peoples can do to mobilize against these forces.
Historically, Native Americans have represented a traditionally underserved population in America. While environmental and economic issues of national relevance often disproportionately impact Native American communities, the challenges of these populations largely fail to garner national attention.