Sean Milanovich (Cahuilla), Making the Connection

Sean Milanovich is a former Chairman of the Agua Caliente Tribe of Cahuilla Indians, and current Vice President of the Native American Land Conservancy. He recently participated in the Indigenous led Bioneers convention in Rancho Mirage/Palm Springs on the Rights of Nature.

What Are the Rights of Nature in Indian Country? 

Rights of Nature is a global movement spreading across Indian Country to protect our lands and natural resources for generations to come by recognizing nature’s legal rights. At its core, Rights of Nature law codifies Indigenous values for caring for Mother Earth. For the last 4 years, the Bioneers Indigeneity team has been exploring how Rights of Nature can be implemented by Tribes in the United States. We ran our strategy across a working group of Tribal leaders, attorneys, and organizers. We meticulously researched intersections of the law to anticipate ways to bring about Rights of Nature in Indian Country. We developed a guide for Tribal organizers to build capacity to present and pass a Rights of Nature law to protect lands, waters, and key species. And, we have begun to share information with Tribes interested in exploring Rights of Nature through regional workshops in the Southwest and Northeast.

Sean Milanovich (Cahuilla) Part 1 Making the Connection

Sean Milanovich (Cahuilla), Gathering Fire

Sean Milanovich (Cahuilla), Sacred Sites and Lithium Extraction
Sean Milanovich is a former Chairman of the Agua Caliente Tribe of Cahuilla Indians, and current Vice President of the Native American Land Conservancy. He recently participated in the Indigenous led Bioneers convention in Rancho Mirage/Palm Springs on the Rights of Nature.

What Are the Rights of Nature in Indian Country? 

Rights of Nature is a global movement spreading across Indian Country to protect our lands and natural resources for generations to come by recognizing nature’s legal rights. At its core, Rights of Nature law codifies Indigenous values for caring for Mother Earth. For the last 4 years, the Bioneers Indigeneity team has been exploring how Rights of Nature can be implemented by Tribes in the United States. We ran our strategy across a working group of Tribal leaders, attorneys, and organizers. We meticulously researched intersections of the law to anticipate ways to bring about Rights of Nature in Indian Country. We developed a guide for Tribal organizers to build capacity to present and pass a Rights of Nature law to protect lands, waters, and key species. And, we have begun to share information with Tribes interested in exploring Rights of Nature through regional workshops in the Southwest and Northeast.

Sean Milanovich (Cahuilla) Part 2 Gathering Fire

Sean Milanovich (Cahuilla), Sacred Sites and Lithium Extraction

Sean Milanovich is a former Chairman of the Agua Caliente Tribe of Cahuilla Indians, and current Vice President of the Native American Land Conservancy. He recently participated in the Indigenous led Bioneers convention in Rancho Mirage/Palm Springs on the Rights of Nature.

What Are the Rights of Nature in Indian Country? 

Rights of Nature is a global movement spreading across Indian Country to protect our lands and natural resources for generations to come by recognizing nature’s legal rights. At its core, Rights of Nature law codifies Indigenous values for caring for Mother Earth. For the last 4 years, the Bioneers Indigeneity team has been exploring how Rights of Nature can be implemented by Tribes in the United States. We ran our strategy across a working group of Tribal leaders, attorneys, and organizers. We meticulously researched intersections of the law to anticipate ways to bring about Rights of Nature in Indian Country. We developed a guide for Tribal organizers to build capacity to present and pass a Rights of Nature law to protect lands, waters, and key species. And, we have begun to share information with Tribes interested in exploring Rights of Nature through regional workshops in the Southwest and Northeast.

Sean Milanovich (Cahuilla) Part 3 Sacred Sites and Lithium Extraction

Lithium in America tells the not unfamiliar story of industry and government pushing forward huge energy projects with market driven exuberance despite local opposition and failure to consult with tribes. 

The film shines a light on these questionable practices as we interview leaders and members from 5 tribes with respect to 4 major projects in 3 states that are bellweathers of policy today, and which represent a common mindset and set of practices, however misguided.

-Dorece Sam (Pai-Sho)
-Josephine Dick (Pai-Sho)
-Will Falk, Attorney
-Max Wilbert, Author
-Preston Arrow-weed (Quechan)
-Faron Owl (Quechan)
-Luis Olmedo (Comite Civico Del Valle)
-Pat Gonzales Rogers, Yale School of the Environment
-Secretary of the Interior, Deb Haaland
-Naenlyn Pike (Apache)
-Matthew Leivas, Sr. (Chemehuevi)
-Sean Milanovich (Cahuilla)

Narration by Robert Lundahl
Written and Directed by Robert Lundahl

Produced by Robert Lundahl and Tracker Ginamarie Rangel Quinone (Apache)

With Bradley Angel, Greenaction
and Preston Arrow-weed (Quechan)

According to Popular Mechanics Magazine, 

"This high concentration (of lithium) is found primarily at Thacker Pass in Nevada, and is already a controversial mining location. The area, also known as Peehee Mu'huh, is the homeland of many indigenous tribes and played an important role in its historical clash with U.S. soldiers. An indigenous organization dedicated to protecting the site even called potential mining operations a form of “green colonialism,” and is also engaged in stopping a mining site on the Oregon side of the caldera as well.

Apart from its cultural impact, any mining project in the area could also affect groundwater levels for local farmers and ranchers, not to mention its disruption to local fauna, such as pronghorn antelope, golden eagles, and sage grouse.

Right now, the McDermitt Caldera is a 40 million metric ton lithium conundrum with no clear answer."

Lithium In America

Emmy® Award winning Filmmaker, Producer, and Radio Show Host, Robert Lundahl, broadcasting weekly Primetime on KPFK 90.7 Los Angeles.

New tracks tagged #LithiumExtraction