The Menominee Indian Tribe of Wisconsin has been selected to receive the inaugural Energy Sovereignty Champion Award at the 2026 People of the Sun Gathering, recognizing the tribe’s leadership, perseverance and long-term commitment to building an energy future rooted in sovereignty, resilience and service to the community.
The award will be presented Sept. 17 at Standing Rock in North Dakota as part of the People of the Sun Gathering, a national convening of tribal leaders, innovators, educators, artists and allies working to advance Indigenous-led solutions in energy, economic development and community resilience.
For more than a decade, the Menominee Tribe has steadily pursued a vision of energy sovereignty. Beginning with an early commitment to invest Recovery Act funding in renewable energy, tribal leadership chose to plant the seeds of a long-term strategy rather than pursue short-term projects. Today, that vision includes a commitment to achieving energy sovereignty by 2035 through renewable energy development, workforce preparation, resilience planning and innovative financing.
The journey has not been without challenges.
After helping lead a multi-state coalition that secured significant federal funding to expand tribal solar programs, the tribe saw that opportunity come to an abrupt halt when the program was terminated before implementation. Rather than abandon its vision, the Menominee Tribe continued moving forward, securing philanthropic support, developing new partnerships and exploring financing strategies that use the long-term value created by renewable energy projects to finance future investments.
The award also recognizes something less visible but equally important: the tribe’s commitment to serving future generations.
Energy planning at Menominee has been guided by a broader vision of stewardship — caring for elders, protecting the tribe’s natural resources, strengthening the local economy and creating opportunities for tribal members through education and workforce development. Rather than viewing renewable energy as a stand-alone project, the tribe has embraced it as part of a larger strategy for self-determination and community well-being.
“We knew renewable energy represented an important opportunity for our tribe, but we also knew we needed experienced partners to help us make informed decisions,” said Ron Corn, former chairman of the Menominee Indian Tribe. “We brought together organizations and technical experts who respected our vision and helped us develop a long-term strategy that reflected our values and priorities. That collaborative approach has helped position us for continued success.”
That long-term vision is now reaching tribal members through the Menominee Utility Rebate Program, which helps households improve energy efficiency, electrify their homes, reduce energy costs and prepare for a more resilient energy future.
“It’s an incredible honor to do this work for our tribe,” said Jaime Oshkeshequoam, who leads the Menominee Utility Rebate Program. “Opportunities like this don’t come along very often — to help families lower their energy bills, make their homes more comfortable and build a stronger future for our community. This isn’t just a job for me — it’s work I truly love, because I get to see the difference it makes in people’s lives every day.”
For the Menominee Tribe, this recognition is both an honor and a responsibility.
“We are deeply honored to receive this recognition,” said Darryl Pyawasay, director of the Menominee Tribal Utility. “This award belongs to the many tribal leaders, staff and community members who have stayed committed to this vision over the years. We hope our journey demonstrates that energy sovereignty is achievable. If our experience helps another tribal nation take the first step toward building its own energy future, then this recognition means even more to us.”
According to Cody Two Bears, founder and CEO of Indigenized Energy, the Menominee Tribe exemplifies the type of leadership the People of the Sun Awards were created to recognize.
“It has been an honor to work alongside the Menominee Tribe over the past several years and witness the leadership and determination they’ve demonstrated,” said Two Bears. “From the very beginning, they made a commitment to energy sovereignty and never lost sight of that vision. They persevered through changing circumstances — including the loss of major federal funding — and continued finding new ways to move forward.
“Today, they’re not only building renewable energy projects, they’re building the leadership, financial strategies and institutional capacity that will make energy sovereignty a reality. Just as importantly, they’ve remained focused on serving their people first — protecting elders, creating opportunity for future generations and demonstrating what tribal leadership looks like in action. We have every confidence they’ll achieve their vision, and we hope tribal nations across the country will look to Menominee as an example of what is possible.”
The Energy Sovereignty Champion Award recognizes tribal nations that are boldly advancing energy sovereignty through leadership, vision and action. The award honors tribes laying the foundation for long-term energy independence through planning, innovation, infrastructure, and community leadership.
