“As Tribes and companies grow in their focus on creating objective, measurable, enforceable agreements and on effective implementation, Tribal Benefit Agreements are better able to deliver on their promises.” –Tribal Benefit Agreements: Designing for Sovereignty
Benefit agreements designed with and by Tribes have increasingly centered Tribal nations’ priorities, which can maximize operational stability and long-term project success. However there remains a lack of knowledge and consistency throughout sectors and industries when designing agreements that center Tribes’ priorities and sovereignty.
Tallgrass Institute and Lepwe Inc. has published Tribal Benefit Agreements: Designing for Sovereignty to provide essential context and considerations for Tribal Benefit Agreements (TBAs) that respect self-determination and provide benefits in accordance with Native Peoples’ own goals.
The report – written by Kate R. Finn, Maranda Compton, and Melanie Matteliano, and produced with generous support from the 11th Hour Project – examines the complex legal and historical landscapes surrounding TBAs, gives key context for project development in the U.S., describes patterns and trends in the current uses, and shares best practices for companies and Tribes to support positive outcomes in negotiations and in agreements.