Osage Nation Seeks Support Against Eagle Kills

The National Congress of American Indians has joined the Osage Nation in opposing federal actions to permit eagle kills caused by wind industry development on tribal lands without regard for tribal cultural interests and authority.

A recent NCAI resolution says authorizing the wind energy project to kill eagles in Osage Nation territory without the tribe's consent would set a dangerous precedent. The resolution says it would limit the ability of all tribes in the U.S. to protect their cultural resources.

The resolution outlines a larger issue with far-reaching implications toward the protection of Indian sites of cultural significance nationwide. It raises questions about whether the government's encouragement of wind energy projects is occurring at the expense of proper tribal consultation on the impact to both eagles and tribes' cultural sites.

6/4/2013 Related Story: Osage Nation Fears Windmill Farm Will Harm Eagles, Tribal Heritage