Doing Business with INL

INL Strategic Tribal Engagement (ISTE) Collaborative

Advancing meaningful tribal engagement at Idaho National Laboratory

The INL Strategic Tribal Engagement (ISTE) Collaborative strengthens respectful, long-term partnerships between Idaho National Laboratory and Tribal Nations. Grounded in tribal sovereignty, federal trust responsibilities and cultural understanding, ISTE advances collaboration, stewardship and mission excellence. Through coordinated engagement, education and partnership, ISTE supports meaningful relationships that enhance research, workforce development and community impact.

Mission

ISTE builds respectful, long-term partnerships with Tribal Nations by advancing shared environmental, scientific and community priorities while honoring sovereignty and cultural values. At Idaho National Laboratory, this work supports early, meaningful and sustained engagement that strengthens relationships, improves project outcomes and integrates Indigenous knowledge into research and operations.

Why tribal engagement matters

Idaho National Laboratory operates on lands of deep cultural and historical significance to Tribal Nations. Meaningful engagement strengthens INL’s mission by:

Honoring Tribal sovereignty and self-determination
Supporting federal trust responsibilities and treaty obligations
Protecting cultural and environmental resources
Strengthening transparency and project outcomes
Integrating Indigenous knowledge into decision-making
Building long-term, trust-based partnerships

Principles for engagement

All engagement supported through ISTE is guided by the following principles:

Respect for sovereignty — Recognize Tribal Nations as sovereign partners
Early and ongoing engagement — Engage at the earliest stages and maintain communication
Transparency and accountability — Provide clear information and follow through on commitments
Cultural respect — Honor traditions, protocols and perspectives
Long-term relationship building — Prioritize sustained partnerships
Compliance and ethics — Align with applicable laws and policies

Tribal sovereignty basics

Tribal Nations are sovereign governments with inherent authority over their lands, cultures and futures. The United States maintains a government-to-government relationship with tribes, guided by treaties, federal law and trust responsibilities.

At INL, engagement efforts respect and uphold tribal sovereignty by supporting meaningful collaboration, cultural understanding and early engagement in activities that may affect tribal interests.

Tribal nations are sovereign governments with inherent authority to govern themselves.
Sovereignty includes the authority to establish governance systems, enact laws, manage lands and resources and preserve cultural identity.
Tribal nations are not stakeholders but sovereign governmental partners.
Engagement must reflect this unique political and legal relationship by respecting tribal governance structures, decision-making processes and cultural protocols

Federal and DOE framework

ISTE aligns with federal requirements governing Tribal relations, including DOE Order 144.1 and other consultation policies.
While formal government-to-government consultation is conducted by the Department of Energy, Idaho National Laboratory supports this process by facilitating communication, providing information and ensuring early, transparent and respectful engagement with Tribal Nations.

Who can be part of the ISTE Collaborative

ISTE supports collaboration across:

Engagement is coordinated to ensure consistency, accountability and alignment with federal responsibilities.

What success looks like

Effective engagement results in:

Trusted and sustained relationships with Tribal Nations
Early and consistent engagement across programs and projects
Increased Tribal participation in workforce and research initiatives
Demonstrated alignment with federal requirements and Tribal priorities

Contact Information

Elese Teton