Beneath the sagebrush deserts of northern Nevada, just south of the Oregon Badlands, lies Thacker Pass—home to one of the world's largest lithium deposits.

The U.S. government and private industry see the site as essential to reducing America's dependence on Chinese-refined lithium. Yet the proposed mine borders the Fort McDermitt Reservation, home to Paiute and Shoshone communities whose history is marked by displacement.

The project has divided the tribe: some see it as a threat to their land and way of life; others view it as a rare opportunity for stable, well-paying jobs. Caught in the middle is Tribal Chairman Arlo Crutcher, who must navigate a conflict within his own community. "Sitting in this position here," he says, "what do you do for your people? Because it's coming."