Government-to-Government Consultation
The Chilkat Indian Village of Klukwan is a duly constituted Indian Tribe organized pursuant to the Acts of Congress of June 18, 1934 (48 Stat. 984) and May 1, 1936 (49 Stat. 1250). CIV is considered its own sovereign nation. The US Government is responsible to engage in government-to-government consultation. The United States federal government has acknowledged its unfair treatment of Indigenous people, people of color and low income communities in its permitting of large scale mines. Environmental Justice as defined by the US government is the fair treatment and meaningful involvement of all people regardless of race, color, national origin or income with respect to the development, implementation and enforcement of environmental laws, regulations and policies.
The State of Alaska has made the commitment to consult with the Federally recognized Indian Tribes within its borders as early in the decision-making process as practicable, of matters or proposed actions that may significantly affect the tribe. Learn more about the State of Alaska’s commitment to consultation. Unfortunately, in the case of Constantine’s Palmer Project, the State of Alaska have failed in its commitment to establish fair and meaningful involvement with CIV.
In order to address this issue and the impacts presented by industrial mining in the Chilkat Valley, CIV’s Tribal Council is working to establish meaningful government-to-government consultation with the following federal and state agencies:
Government to government consultation takes considerable resources. Staff, consultants, lawyers and Tribal Council members have to spend significant time researching data and information related to the Palmer Project’s current and future actions in order to ensure the State of Alaska and the Federal Government of the United States take consultation efforts seriously.
Click to support CIV’s government to government consultation efforts: