When it comes to fighting global warming, it’s what you don’t see that counts. Doing more by doing less. This year, the American Indian Film Festival (AIFF) is doing less.

Native Wind, a South Dakota based non-profit dedicated to developing renewable energy resources on tribal lands, donated “Green Tags” to the AIFF—financial contributions used as credits to build clean energy wind farms.

Pat Spears, President of the Intertribal Council on Utility Policy (COUP), presented the Green Tags certificate to AIFF president Michael Smith at the annual event November 11th in San Francisco. Afterward, he introduced a one-minute public service announcement video featuring his son, actor Eddie Spears and Lakota Chief Arvol Looking Horse.

“The Green Tags donated to the Film Institute will offset 25 percent of travel expenses to the festival this year as well as cut down the emissions from the use of the venue,” says Spears. How this happens, he explains, is the funds from the Green Tags go toward buying wind turbines on reservation land—a clean, efficient energy resource with the proceeds directly benefiting the tribe.

Lest you think this is largely ceremonial, think again. At a cost of approximately $1.3 million dollars, one wind turbine is capable of providing the energy needs of 300 homes for one year. Clean, renewable energy to offset the pollution causing global warming.

“The investment of building the turbines is an upfront cost and still cheaper in the long run than running fossil fuel. By buying Green Tags, an average person can do something about reducing global warming,” says Spears. “It’s like a down payment. Twenty to 25 percent of the cost of one turbine can come from Green Tags; in fact, at the Rosebud Reservation, 25 percent of the funding came from Green Tags. That’s pretty significant.”

Eddie and his actor brother Michael are actively involved in promoting Native Wind, and do everything from helping their father in the field, to speaking at colleges and universities. Their visibility as actors provides additional focus to the issue of clean energy.

Whether an individual or company makes a sizable investment in Green Tags, or is able to buy a small amount, it all helps. The key, Spears emphasizes, is doing what you can to reduce global warming while promoting the welfare of Native people.

This year, the American Indian Film Festival is doing its part. Doing more by doing less. It’s time to do a little more—invest in buying Green Tags through Native Wind as gifts or as a personal investment. We shouldn’t expect any less.

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Watch the PSA featuring Eddie Spears and Chief Arvol Looking Horse: Native Wind PSA

To buy Green Tags and help support clean energy on tribal lands: www.nativewind.org  or  www.nativeenergy.com