Native American Mining and Energy Sovereignty Initiative receives support from Alfred P. Sloan Foundation

The Payne Institute for Public Policy at Colorado School of Mines has received a $750,000 grant from the Alfred P. Sloan Foundation to support its Native American Mining and Energy Sovereignty (NAMES) Initiative. 

The funding will support the initiative's core team, helping ensure a sustainable future for NAMES and its important work to empower tribal communities through knowledge and collaboration while gaining energy security and sovereignty for their people.  

“The generous funding from the Alfred P. Sloan Foundation ignites a transformative journey where Native Nations evolve from exercising sovereignty to demonstrating significance – not just determining our path but creating solutions that benefit generations to come," said Dr. Richard Luarkie, program director for the NAMES Initiative. “This partnership empowers our Native communities and partners to harness engineering, research, scientific knowledge and technological innovation, ensuring Native voices lead the conversation in shaping an energy future where Native lands and resources serve Native people first and foremost.  We are deeply grateful to the Alfred P. Sloan Foundation.” 

Housed at Colorado School of Mines, one of the world’s foremost universities in mineral and energy engineering, NAMES was established in 2023 to be a strong supporter of Tribal communities, an effective convener to industry and a thought leader in the national conversation on new critical mineral and energy development in the western U.S. The initiative supports Tribal sovereignty and economic integration through convening and research, as well as providing undergraduate and graduate scholarships. 

NAMES will host its second annual Native American Mining and Energy Sovereignty Symposium this month in Ignacio, Colorado, on the Reservation of the Southern Ute Indian Tribe. The May 20-21 event will bring together numerous tribal leaders, tribal energy experts, and representatives from federal and state government, industry and academia to discuss and share thoughts on how to support decision making and energy and mining development and finance in Indian country. Over the two-day event, attendees will have opportunities to deliberate on key issues of energy and mineral security, project development and financing, improving Indian engagement throughout projects, and workforce development and education. 

NAMES is also supporting 12 scholarships this year for undergraduate and graduate students at Mines.

“The issues facing Indian Country are fundamental to the economic and energy security of the United States. Working with Tribes brings significant benefits to our nation, the state of Colorado and Colorado School of Mines," said Morgan Bazilian, director of the Payne Institute. “It has been an honor to engage on these issues with a wide range of Tribes and Tribal people." 

In addition to the Sloan Foundation, the NAMES Initiative receives generous support from a number of partners.  These include BHP, Resolution Copper, Ivanhoe Electric, Newmont Corportation, Marathon Petroleum Corporation, the Southern Ute Indian Tribe, the National Tribal Energy Association and the Pueblo of Laguna. 

Established in 1934 by Alfred P. Sloan Jr., then president and chief executive officer of the General Motors Corporation, the Sloan Foundation supports high quality, impartial scientific research, fosters a robust, diverse scientific workforce, strengthens public understanding and engagement with science, and promotes the health of the institutions of scientific endeavor.  

The Payne Institute for Public Policy at Colorado School of Mines is a leading institution dedicated to providing policy solutions to critical challenges in natural resources, energy, and the environment. Learn more at payneinstitute.mines.edu.