Nipapanha Community Aboriginal Corporation is in talks to build a community-owned microgrid on Adnyamathanha Country in South Australia.

The sovereignty of federally recognised Tribal Nations in the United States is codified in the US Constitution, federal law, and myriad treaty agreements, but the realities of sovereignty are complex.

Federal law has obfuscated Tribal sovereignty, complicating and restricting Tribally owned or managed energy development on Tribal land.

This paper discusses the divergence of Western and Indigenous concepts of sovereignty and analyses federal Tribal law and policy and its implications for Tribal energy development, making two contributions.

The first is to explore whether past federal laws and policies have supported or impeded the ability of Tribal Nations to develop energy projects and utilise energy resources on Tribals lands in the US.

The second is to explore how the Inflation Reduction Act (IRA) altered US federal energy policy in the context of Tribal energy sovereignty, assessing the impacts of US federal Tribal policy on Tribal sovereignty in terms of de recto (by right), de facto (in fact), or de jure (by law).

This research reveals that the IRA encouraged de facto Tribal energy sovereignty, advancing Tribal self-determination by reducing dependence, increasing benefits, and empowering decision making for Tribal Nations in the US.

Authors: Don Lee, Chelsea Schelly, The Inflation Reduction Act: Implications for energy development, energy sovereignty, and self-determination for federally recognized Tribal Nations in the US, Energy Policy, Volume 205, 2025

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Thanks for the cover image gratefully used from here.

Indigenous communities across Canada continue to maintain significant influence on the long-term trajectory of that nation's clean energy transition.

Whether it is merchant transmission lines in Ontario or new large-scale hydroelectric generation in British Columbia, communities are adopting their own financing approaches to support Indigenous financial inclusion.

Some of these strategies are long-running, while others demonstrate novelty.

All approaches aim to develop financial and energy sovereignty.

In this co-produced paper (jointly prepared by Indigenous and non-Indigenous practitioners and academics), we synthesise select locally-rooted structures already in use – including many leveraged through extended experiences in both the energy transition generally and the national or community-based Indigenous economic development & energy and infrastructure units specifically.

We then spotlight national clean technology financing-supportive organisations that can help with maintaining momentum and reaching scale.

To conclude, we offer distinct areas where Indigenous communities and non-Indigenous partners can continue to creatively collaborate at every stage of the energy finance lifecycle – from very early-stage innovation all the way through to later stage refinancing of maturing assets.

The Canada-centric case study presented here may present implications and insights for other countries or territories seeking to empower Indigenous voices in their own energy transition.

Authors: Joel Krupa, Frank Busch, Derek Gladwin, Naoko Ellis, Financing clean technologies within Canada's Indigenous communities: Perspectives on sustainable energy transition from practitioners and academics, Energy, Volume 322, 2025, 134930, ISSN 0360-5442, https://doi.org/10.1016/j.energy.2025.134930. (https://www.sciencedirect.com/science/article/pii/S0360544225005729)

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As the world seeks to dramatically reduce greenhouse gas emissions from fossil fuel production and consumption to mitigate the impacts of climate change, communities that rely on coal, oil, and natural gas production as economic drivers are likely to face challenges.

Although extensive work has identified pathways towards a “just transition” in numerous contexts, very little has been written to understand the opportunities and challenges for fossil fuel-producing Native nations in a transition towards a net-zero emissions future.

In theory, Native American nations have control over the decisions that shape their energy futures because of their sovereign status. In practice, however, numerous factors limit the exercise of that sovereignty.

In this review, we assess the major barriers to tribal energy sovereignty, discuss historical and ongoing efforts to secure it, and highlight the tools that can further ensure the exercise of tribal energy sovereignty in the context of an energy transition. We also discuss recent policy developments and identify cases where Native nations are taking innovative approaches to govern the future of energy development on their lands.

Authors: Daniel Raimi, Alana Davicino, Securing energy sovereignty: A review of key barriers and opportunities for energy-producing Native nations in the United States, Energy Research & Social Science, Volume 107, 2024

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