Cloud Peak energy jut sold its holdings, including Montana and Wyoming coal mines, to the Navajos. According to their CEO: "NTEC will continue its efforts to lead conscientious energy development while striving to balance job growth and protecting the environment for future generations.”
You can "strive" all you want, that ain't happening. The Navajos bought this at a bankruptcy auction so maybe it's a good deal? And maybe if we are going to continue to have coal jobs and coal profits they should be going to indigenous folks.... but we can't burn coal. So they will have to be bought out pretty quickly and given some other way to make a living.
It's the optics that are most troubling, especially at a time when we are told by climate movement theorists that we have to put indigenous folks in the leadership position. That their spiritual connection guarantees they will be good stewards of the earth ( and strategic leaders). Which is problematic on a number of levels and a form of essentialism we wouldn't impose on other subjectivities without a twinge of embarrassment.
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