WORKING EFFECTIVELY WITH TRIBAL GOVERNMENTS STEVE CRAWFORD MS Psychology, MS zoology ENVIRONMENTAL...

WORKING EFFECTIVELY WITH TRIBAL

GOVERNMENTSSTEVE CRAWFORD

MS Psychology, MS zoologyENVIRONMENTAL DIRECTOR

PASSAMAQUODDY TRIBE

PASSAMAQUODDY TRIBE

Windpower site

Maine

TRIBES ARE DIFFERENT………….

HISTORY

GOVERNANCE

CULTURE

AWARENESS OF THESE DIFFERENCES IS ESSENTIAL IN EFFECTIVE COMMUNICATION.

IGNORANCE HAS CONSEQUENCES

CONSEQUENCES:

•MISCOMMUNICATION

•MISUNDERSTANDING

•FRUSTRATION

•FAILURE

SOME COMMONALITIES

EVERY TRIBE IS:

•UNIQUE

•OPERATES ON TRIBAL TIME

•SENSE OF PAST, PRESENT , FUTURE DIFFERENT THAN WESTERN PERCEPTION

COMMONALITIES (2)

• EXTRAORDINARY SENSE OF COMMUNITY, AND PLACE

•EXPERIENCES RACISM

•BRAIN DRAIN

•SKEPTICISM OF FED AND STATE GOVERNMENTS

EXAMPLES:

WHAT DIDN’T WORK

•WIND FARM

WIND QUALITY•CLASS 3 – 14.7 MPH •23 % CAPACITY AT 100 METERS

VIABLE WITH GE 1.5 MWTURBINE

TRANSMISSIONRESTRICTED TO 55 MW, BYLOCAL 115 KV LINE

•TWO TRIBES

•JTC

•POLITICS

MULTI-MEDIA GRANT

•GOALS:Identify potential air toxins to

community from plume studies.

Sample sustenance foods for pollutants.

Determine risk level to Tribe

1.EPA KNOWS WHAT’S WRONG

2. EPA WILL TELL TRIBE HOW TO FIX IT.

3. TRIBE WILL BE OVERJOYED

EXAMPLES:

WHAT WORKS:

•RESPECT

•EARLY, FREQUENT CONSULTATION

•PATIENCE

RESPECT:

•TRIBES WERE HERE FIRST

•MANY (MOST?) ON ANCESTRAL LANDS, INTIMATE ENVIRONMENTAL KNOWLEDGE

•NEVER FAIL TO RECOGNIZE THIS!!!

CONSULTATION

•COMMUNICATION CHALLENGES:

•WHO?•GOVERNOR, DIRECTOR, ADM.SECRETARY

•HOW?•EMAIL, SLOW MAIL

•WHEN?

EARLY AND OFTEN!!

P A T I E N C E