Council of Energy Resource Tribes facts for kids
The Council of Energy Resource Tribes (CERT) is a group of Native American tribes in the United States. It was created to help tribes get more control over their own natural resources. These resources include things like coal, oil, gas, and uranium found on their lands.
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What is the Council of Energy Resource Tribes?
CERT is like a team or a club for Native American tribes. Its main goal is to make sure tribes have a stronger say in how the natural resources on their lands are used. It also helps them get fair deals for these resources.
Why Was CERT Formed?
Before CERT, many tribes felt they weren't getting fair prices for the valuable resources on their land. Companies would often pay very little for coal, oil, or gas. CERT was formed to change this. Its first big goal was to make sure tribes got better payments, called royalties, that matched the real market prices of these resources.
Who Started CERT?
The idea for CERT came from a group called Americans for Indian Opportunity, led by LaDonna Harris, who is Comanche. They helped bring tribes together. CERT was officially started in September 1975. Twenty-five tribes joined at the beginning, with the Navajo Nation and its chairman, Peter MacDonald, playing a big role in its creation.
What Resources Do Tribes Control?
The tribes that are part of CERT have a lot of important natural resources. For example, they control about 40% of the uranium that can be mined in the United States. They also have about 4% of the country's oil and gas, and a large amount, about 30%, of the coal that can be easily dug up in the Western United States.
Fighting for Fair Deals
CERT worked hard to get better deals for tribes. They wanted to change old contracts that didn't pay tribes enough for their resources. Sometimes, they went to court and won lawsuits to force companies to renegotiate. When lawsuits didn't work, CERT also supported public protests and even boycotts. A boycott is when people stop buying products or services from a company to show they are unhappy. These actions often helped tribes get the fair deals they wanted.
How CERT Changed Laws
Besides fighting for better contracts, CERT also worked to change federal laws. They wanted new laws that would give tribes more power in negotiations about their resources. CERT was very important in helping to pass two major laws in 1982:
- The Indian Mineral Development Act
- The Federal Oil and Gas Royalty Management Act
These laws helped give tribes more control and ensured they received fair payments for their valuable natural resources.
