To support member Tribes as they develop their management capabilities and use their energy resources as the foundation for building stable, diversified self-governing economies (according to each Tribe's own values and priorities).

The Council of Energy Resource Tribes (CERT) was founded by Indian Tribes out of necessity and out of a profound sense of collective self-confidence-the confidence that Tribes could chart a new course of prudent development that would address Tribal priorities and values while contributing to a more secure energy future for all Americans. Formed by Tribes for Tribes, CERT is a "true" Inter-Tribal organization that is dynamically changing and challenging the federal-Indian relationship. The energy resource Tribes govern, control, and direct CERT. Each Tribe's principal elected official represents it on the CERT Board of Directors.

Since the inception of the Council of Energy Resource Tribes, the farsighted leaders have dramatically restructured the federal-Indian relationship regarding mineral development on Indian lands and have forged alliances and partnerships with industry. From the beginning, CERT member Tribes maintained complete management of their valuable resources. Tribes continues to participate in all aspects of managing their resources-from negotiating agreements, protecting the environment, realizing the value of water and other resources, to verifying revenue payments.

Tribes gained management oversight of the federal departments charged with responsibility for Indians and energy technical assistance. Led by the U.S. Department of Energy and supported by the Departments of Interior, Health and Human Services Administration for Native Americans, and the Environmental Protection Agency, the inter-agency agreement is a model for multi-Tribal and multi-agency coordination. Tribes are now taking their rightful place in the American system of government and are more able to fulfill their governmental responsibilities. Equally important, Indian Tribes are participating and competing in the American economic marketplace. The services provided by CERT are made possible by Tribal support, private donors, and foundation and federal grants. Funding for CERT's education program is raised through the American Spirit Award Dinner, the nation's largest private fundraising event for Indian education, and Faces of the Future and the Pueblo Challenge golf tourmanent. As sovereign nations, the CERT member Tribes' vision of true self-determination has remained constant since long before CERT was founded. CERT's Tribal leadership has a dynamic three-pronged approach to achieve this vision: to effectively govern within their own lands as well as play an important role in governing America; to master the tools of modern technology and business; to cultivate diversified economies, integrating environmental and cultural values with economic growth.

(In 1999, over sixty Tribal leaders gathered to develop this vision)
By the year 2010 each sovereign Indian Tribe will have a sufficient and reliable supply of electricity at reasonable costs to support its social and economic well-being.

Four components of the national Tribal vision are: accessing federally discounted and Tribally preferenced allocations from Federal Power Marketing Administrations; increasing power generation for local use including renewable energy generation and distributed generation; promoting energy efficiency and conservation programs on Tribal lands; and gaining full access to existing and new transmission systems.