On Day #2 of our inaugural Nuclear in New Mexico: Fueling the U.S. Nuclear Renaissance conference I sat through what must have been one of the best presentations! It seems like I’ve been saying that a lot, but it just goes to show the calibre of the speaker and presenter roster that we’ve lined up.
Native Nuclear
We were honored to have the CEO of Native Nuclear, Scott R. Lathrop present on Tuesday morning. Native Nuclear empowers Native communities and uplifts their voices in the nuclear energy sector. By supporting tribal energy sovereignty, environmental stewardship, and sustainable energy development, their aim is to bolster Native communities and strengthen their role in shaping the future of nuclear energy.
I’ll share two of Scott’s slides that really stood out to me.
Native World View
The emphasis on balance between land, air, water, and the responsibility we carry in how we manage those resources, was especially powerful. He also talked about land stewardship responsibility founded in respect for the ancestral homelands and the balance required to manage natural resources thoughtfully. Perhaps, nowhere is this ‘’balancing act’’ more top of mind that New Mexico.
Foundation for Successful Tribal Engagement
This is exactly the kind of community engagement and collaboration that the Clean Energy Association of New Mexico (CLEAN) was established on. From the very beginning of planning this conference, we knew we were going boldly where no one had gone before in New Mexico when it comes to nuclear. We also knew that, to be successful, these conversations had to include voices like Scott R. Lathrop’s, hearing directly from Tribal Nations and, as I did in his presentation, simply sitting and listening. This kind of engagement, building relationships and establishing true partnerships is not only the responsible thing to do, it’s also just good business.
This reminds me of my time in the Yukon, where we worked closely with First Nations in Canada. We produced gold that was later turned into coins featuring artwork from First Nation artists who were compensated in cash and gold and received national recognition for their work. At the same time, we negotiated benefits and socio-economic agreements that delivered meaningful local impact. We had great success because we took the time to engage with the community and listen, and it remains one of the highlights of my career.
I am genuinely pleased with what is taking place at this inaugural Nuclear in New Mexico conference and we’ve still got more to come.
Stay tuned!!!
