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Arts & Culture

INDEPENDENT LENS: Power Paths

A Native drummer celebrates the construction of a wind turbine.
Looking Hawk Productions/ITVS
A Native drummer celebrates the construction of a wind turbine.

Airs Sunday, November 8, 2009 at 11 p.m. on KPBS TV

This program follows the efforts of American Indian tribes as they explore ways to bring renewable energy projects into their communities. From the Sioux tribes of Great Plains in the Midwest to the Navajo and Hopi of the Southwest, tribes are fighting to protect their land, air and water from the harmful impacts of mining and burning coal on their lands.

This program documents how young Native leaders formed the Just Transition Coalition and succeeded in a legal battle to close a large dirty coal plant not far from Las Vegas, which sends electricity to California. "Power Paths" follows their efforts to bring training and new jobs in renewable energy, installing solar energy and large wind turbines on their lands. Now for the first time in 60 years, Native Americans may receive some economic justice for the harm caused to their natural resources. Watch a preview.