News
Global News, Action Items, and Updates from Tallgrass Institute
Tallgrass Institute Participates among 300+ Organizations in #GiveNative 2025
Tallgrass Institute is honored to be among the 300+ organizations participating the #GiveNative campaign by Native Ways Federation. This community movement helps raise awareness to giving—in all of its forms—to Native nonprofits and recognizes that Native-led organizations have the solutions to the issues that Native communities are facing.
Renewable Energy Siting Research Featured in E&E News Tribal Sovereignty Article
Tallgrass Institute’s renewable energy siting research was featured in an E&E News report about Tribal response to the U.S. Department of Energy’s request to rollback consultation policy. “The need for energy doesn’t have to be in opposition to engagement with Indigenous people,” said Tallgrass Institute founder Kate Finn.
Takeaways: IIPWG November 2025
Takeaways from the November 2025 IIPWG call, including a recap of Indigenous Peoples' insights from COP30, analysis of the second draft of the Consolidated Mining Standard Initiative (CSMI), and resources shared at the November IIPWG Canada call.
News of Note 11/21/25: Brazil Recognizes More Indigenous Lands, Tens of Thousands March for Climate Action, Indigenous Insights from COP30 Final Week
Brazil’s recognition of ten additional Indigenous territories, tens of thousands participated in Indigenous-led climate march, final week of COP30 provided further insights and priorities from Indigenous Peoples, and more.
Tallgrass Institute’s Analysis of CMSI Draft 2 Shows Little Progress on Indigenous Peoples’ Rights
Analysis of the final consultation draft of the Consolidated Mining Standard Initiative (CMSI) shows a low threshold for Indigenous Peoples’ rights and raises new concerns about governance, accountability, and the very definition of consent.
News of Note 11/14/25: Australia’s First Treaty with First Nations, World Conservation Adopts Indigenous Motions, Indigenous Insights at COP30 Week One
Australia's first treaty with First Nations establishes representation in government and accountability commission, World Conservation Congress adopts motions for Traditional Knowledge and sacred sites, Indigenous insights abound at week one of COP30, and more.
Insight and Takeaways from Indigenous Peoples COP30 Priorities Webinar
Tallgrass Institute published insights and takeaways from the October 28 webinar, Investor Briefing on Indigenous Peoples’ COP30 Priorities. Indigenous leaders and investment experts discussed key priorities and investor stewardship recommendations, including no-go zones, FPIC due diligence, direct funding for Indigenous climate action, and more.
News of Note 11/7/25: Norway Prioritizes Sami over Wind Farm, Canada Proposes $2.3B Indigenous Cuts, Indigenous Peoples at COP30
Norway rejects wind farm application given impacts to Sami culture, Canada proposes $2.3 billion in cuts to Indigenous services, new report ahead of COP30 exposes industrial threats to Indigenous Peoples in tropical rainforests, and more.
Tallgrass Institute Publishes Report on Renewable Energy Project Siting and Indigenous Peoples
Growing demand for renewable energy requires practices that respect Indigenous Peoples’ rights. The siting phase is an opportunity for investors to move away from business as usual to embrace models that respect Indigenous Peoples’ self-determination and mitigate material risks.
News of Note 10/31/25: Full Protections Needed for 196+ Uncontacted Peoples, Rise of Violence in Nicaragua, Historic Indigenous Biodiversity Meeting
New study by Survival International identified at least 196 uncontacted Indigenous Peoples under threat, Inter-American human rights commission raised alarm on escalating violence in Nicaragua, Indigenous Peoples held first meeting on biodiversity convention Article 8(j), and more.
Takeaways: IIPWG October 2025
Bay Mills Indian Community’s advocacy to protect lands and waters from Enbridge Line 5 threats, Indigenous Peoples’ COP30 priorities, Gwich’in response to re-opening the Arctic Refuge for development, final Consolidated Mining Standard Initiative consultation, and more.
News of Note 10/24/25: Suriname Updates FPIC Protocol, Tribes Call for US to Reinstate CDFI Fund, Record Indigenous Accreditation for COP30
Indigenous Peoples and Surinamese government update FPIC protocol, Tribes call on the US to reinstate CDFI fund and staff after cuts, more than 1000 Indigenous and Afro-descendant accredited for COP30, and more.
Tallgrass Institute’s IRMA Primer and Position on Draft Indigenous Chapter Revisions
Tallgrass Institute has published a primer on the Initiative for Responsible Mining Assurance (IRMA), discussing the Standard’s structure, how its audits work, and key improvements and gaps in proposed revisions to the Standard's chapter about Indigenous Peoples and FPIC.
News of Note 10/17/25: Typhoon Devastates Alaska Villages, Peru Considers Stripping Indigenous Protections, Manifest Destiny in US Law
Typhoon Halong hits Alaska Indigenous villages with more than 1000 people without shelter, Peru considers bills that trade Indigenous Peoples protections for oil and gas development, a look at Indigenous impacts from Manifest Destiny in US Law, and more.
News of Note 10/10/25: Grave Situation for Indigenous Peoples in Russia, Heineken Plant Taps Mayan Water, Indigenous Clean-up of Guatemala Pollution
UN reports show escalating human rights abuses and erasure of Indigenous Peoples in Russia, Maya people in Yucatán concerned by major Heineken plant water use, Indigenous Guatemalans cleaned up Lake Atitlán and now protest further state-sanctioned harm, and more.
News of Note 10/3/25: India Mega-Dam’s Indigenous Impacts, No Consent for Alaska Graphite Mine, Bank Slams Agribusiness in Ecuador
Tribes fear displacement from India mega dam set to counter upstream Chinese project, no Indigenous consent for impacts from Alaska Graphite One mine, Inter-American Development Bank reports Indigenous violations by Ecuadorian agribusiness giant, and more.