(reverent orchestral music) - I'm Starla Sampaco in the Crosscut KCTS 9 newsroom.

Native communities across the country like the Lummi Nation are looking to renewable energy sources to achieve energy sovereignty.

- Energy sovereignty is the ability of the tribes to make the decisions about how energy is being generated, how it's being distributed, what kinds of land impacts are being made.

- Much of the Lummi Nation's electricity comes from a commercial provider, but many Native Nation members live off-grid.

- The utility hasn't run power to them 'cause they don't wanna spend all that money just for one customer.

- Crosscut's video series "Deeply Rooted" looks at a Northwest Indian College program that is training students in solar and wind energy production.

The goal is to create a micro-grid so both campus and reservation can be energy independent.

- In tribal communities, we believe that the seven generations that came before us really paved the way for us and that it's our job to pave the way for the next seven generations.

- I'm Starla Sampaco.

Watch full episode of "Deeply Rooted" on crosscut.com.