The Environmental Crisis on Native American Lands

3 Generations has been documenting stories of injustices to Native American communities, lands, and culture for more than 10 years. We work to bring attention to the degradation of Native American lands and the vulnerability of native peoples. We will continue to create films and videos that show the impact and devastation that the federal government and extractive industries cause to Native American communities.

The current administration in this country is working towards improving the relationship with Native American communities. There is more of a willingness to help advance the economic and environmental conditions that these communities find themselves in after hundreds of years of deception, betrayal and neglect by the federal government. The administration hopes to address some of these issues with the appointment of the first Native American to the post of Secretary of the Interior, a department officially entrusted with ensuring Native Americans’ welfare. 

Historically, the Department of the Interior was an agency that was responsible for eradicating the homes, the culture and often the lives of Indigenous people in the United States. Deb Haaland’s appointment is seen as a step in healing many of the wounds of the past and a move forward in the right direction. She has already made it clear that she intends to prioritize the Interior Department’s responsibility towards Native peoples, who fall under the jurisdiction of the Bureaus of Indian Affairs and Indian Education. One of her first actions was streamlining the process for Native American tribes to reacquire public lands from the federal government. She has also pledged to bring more federal resources to bear on missing and murdered Indigenous people, especially women.

To get more information on this and other Native American issues please visit our website at 3Generations.org.