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