Council of Energy Resource Tribes facts for kids

The Council of Energy Resource Tribes (CERT) is a special group formed by Native American tribes in the United States. It was created to help tribes gain more control over the valuable natural resources found on their lands. This important organization was started in September 1975 by twenty-five tribes. The Navajo Nation, led by Chairman Peter MacDonald, played a big role in getting CERT started. LaDonna Harris, a Comanche leader from Americans for Indian Opportunity, also helped bring the tribes together to form CERT.

What is CERT and Why Was It Formed?

CERT is like a team that helps Native American tribes manage their natural resources. These resources include things like coal, oil, gas, and uranium. Many tribes have these valuable resources on their lands. Before CERT, tribes often had less control over how these resources were used or how much money they received from them.

Protecting Tribal Resources

The tribes that are part of CERT control a lot of important resources in the United States. For example, they have about 40 percent of the country's uranium, which is used for energy. They also have about four percent of the oil and gas, and 30 percent of the coal in the Western United States.

Getting Fair Deals for Resources

When CERT was first created, its main goal was to make sure tribes got fair deals for their resources. Often, old agreements for coal, oil, and gas did not pay tribes enough money. CERT wanted to change these contracts so that tribes would receive payments that matched the true market prices. These payments are called royalties.

How CERT Helped Tribes

CERT worked in several ways to help tribes get more control and better deals for their resources. They used legal actions, public protests, and worked to change laws.

Working with Laws and Courts

CERT pushed for new federal laws that would give tribes a bigger say in how their resources were managed. They also went to court to force companies to renegotiate old contracts. Sometimes, these lawsuits were successful, leading to better agreements for the tribes.

Public Action and Support

When lawsuits didn't work, CERT also supported public demonstrations. These were peaceful protests against energy companies. They also supported local and international boycotts. A boycott is when people refuse to buy products or services from a company to show their disapproval. These actions often helped tribes get what they wanted when legal battles failed.

Important New Laws

CERT was very important in helping to pass two major laws in 1982. These were the Indian Mineral Development Act and the Federal Oil and Gas Royalty Management Act. These laws gave tribes more power and control over their mineral resources and how royalties from oil and gas were managed.