The Interior Department officials announced on Thursday that the Biden administration will provide $120 million in funding for 146 tribal climate resilience projects.
The Interior Department has announced a total of $120 million in funding for mitigation and resilience projects. This includes $71 million from the Inflation Reduction Act (IRA) funds, $26 million from the Bipartisan Infrastructure Law funds, and $23 million from annual appropriations for fiscal 2023. These funds can be utilized for a variety of projects, such as relocation efforts, coastal management, and habitat restoration.
During a media briefing, Secretary of the Interior, Deb Haaland, who is the first indigenous Cabinet secretary in the nation’s history, announced that these funds mark the largest ever allocation of annual climate funding to tribes by the Bureau of Indian Affairs. A total of 102 tribes and nine tribal organizations will receive these funds.
During a call with reporters, Haaland expressed her admiration for the administration’s extensive investment in Native community infrastructure. She emphasized that the $45 billion allocated is equivalent to 15 years of the Bureau of Indian Affairs’ annual budget.
According to a statement by Haaland, Indigenous communities are currently experiencing distinct and escalating climate-related difficulties that put their economies, infrastructure, and overall well-being at risk. Haaland further emphasizes the importance of President Biden’s Investing in America agenda in providing substantial support to Tribes and Tribal organizations as they strategize and implement measures to enhance climate resilience. This commitment is seen as a crucial step in fulfilling our obligations and responsibilities as outlined in trust and treaty agreements, ensuring the protection of these sacred lands for future generations.
The administration has allocated a total of $440 million in funds to support climate resilience in tribal communities. As part of this effort, an award has been granted to indigenous groups to address the challenges posed by climate change. This initiative builds upon a previous program launched in 2022, which focused on providing support for the voluntary relocation of Native Americans affected by the impacts of climate change.
Residents of Alaska’s Newtok Village and Native Village of Napakiak were among the recipients. Both villages have been severely affected by erosion, with Napakiak losing an alarming 25 to 50 feet of riverbank each year, according to projections by the Interior.
During her time in office, Haaland has placed a strong emphasis on Native issues. This includes an ongoing review of federal boarding schools, where Native children were historically subjected to forced placement and prohibited from growing their hair or speaking their tribal languages.
