(Fort Hall Business Council Statement, May 27, 2026)
The Fort Hall Business Council of the Shoshone-Bannock Tribes formally opposes the development of data centers on the Fort Hall Reservation and opposes such development within ceded lands, Treaty-protected areas, or any other locations where such development may adversely affect the Fort Hall Reservation or its residents. This position reflects the Tribes’ sovereign obligation to protect the health, welfare, natural resources, cultural integrity, and future of the Shoshone-Bannock people.
The Council has identified serious concerns regarding data center development and the substantial demands such facilities place on water and energy resources, which are already limited and increasingly stressed across the region.
Since time immemorial, the Shoshone-Bannock people have carried the responsibility to care for the lands, waters, and resources within and beyond our Reservation boundaries. These responsibilities include areas where our people continue to exercise Treaty Rights, practice culture and traditions, and maintain spiritual connections to the land.
No development affecting Tribal communities, lands, resources, or Treaty Rights should proceed without early, meaningful, and ongoing government-to-government consultation with the Shoshone-Bannock Tribes and full recognition of Tribal sovereignty.
Water is not merely a commodity. Water is life. Its protection is fundamental to the health of our communities, ecosystems, and future generations. The Tribes do not support development that threatens these resources or compromises culturally significant landscapes and sacred places.
Data centers require significant electrical capacity. As Idaho is a net importer of electricity, increased demand raises legitimate concerns regarding regional energy capacity and reliability and may contribute to increased costs for utility customers as providers secure additional power on the open market.
The Shoshone-Bannock Tribes support responsible and sustainable economic development that respects the environment, protects cultural resources, and upholds Tribal sovereignty. Economic interests must never come at the expense of the lands and waters that sustain our people and way of life.
The Fort Hall Business Council remains committed to exercising and defending the sovereign authority of the Shoshone-Bannock Tribes to protect Tribal lands, Treaty Rights, and essential resources. The Tribes will continue to advocate for accountable decision-making and environmental stewardship that reflects these responsibilities to present and future generations.
