I have learned that anyone is capable of influencing change. I consider myself an introvert, not inclined to make waves – but I’ve learned that through respectful interactions, one can affect policy,” says Northern Plains member Kaite Howes.
Kaite moved to the Stillwater valley in the late 90s, drawn to the rural beauty and quiet life the small town of Nye offered her growing family. She first learned about Northern Plains in the early 2000s, when a friend invited her to attend a Stillwater Protective Association (SPA) meeting. SPA is Northern Plains’ Stillwater Valley affiliate organization. Though intrigued, Kaite was immersed in the bustling demands of raising her two young girls and settling into her new community.
As the years went by, Kaite started to hear about the Stillwater mine’s expansion in the area through local news outlets and conversations with friends. Curious to learn more, she decided to attend several public meetings hosted by state agencies to better understand these proposed developments and their potential impacts on her family and neighbors. Kaite became concerned that the construction and proposed drilling sites from the mine would disrupt the natural vegetation, displace wildlife, dewater the creeks, and potentially contaminate the water around her home. “I didn’t feel like the public was getting the full story,” she reflects.
Kaite decided to get more involved in several volunteer groups and joined the Stillwater Protective Association to share her concerns. Eventually, she became deeply involved in our work to maintain the Good Neighbor Agreement (GNA), a legallybinding, collaborative agreement between Northern Plains, our local affiliate groups, and the Sibanye-Stillwater Mine that ensures strong water and community protections.
“Small rural communities rely on volunteers,” Kaite says about her and others’ work to uphold the GNA. “You have the ability to connect with people, on issues important to a specific area and see real results. The payback for me is meeting people, building relationships, and accomplishing something for the community.”
After years of participation in these groups, Kaite is now chair of the Good Neighbor Agreement Task Force, a group of Northern Plains member leaders who lead our GNA work. She is also an active and trusted member within the Stillwater community. Kaite serves as a critical point of communication between the Stillwater mine, Stillwater Protective Association, and her neighbors in the valley. While this trust is both essential and rewarding, it is not without its challenges. Kaite is never fully off the clock, frequently approached by community members in her everyday life, and often finds herself picking up the phone and calling the mine to relay their concerns.
As chair, Kaite is also tasked with navigating the complex and technical aspects of the agreement, and thinks that the most challenging part of the work is negotiating with the mine’s senior management. “I push myself through the discomfort, because others rely on me to deliver our message,” she says.
Kaite and fellow members volunteering to uphold the Good Neighbor Agreement continue to work hard to protect the watershed around the mines, enforcing water quality protections that are stricter than state and federal regulations, with the determined goal of preserving the Stillwater and East Boulder River’s pristine water quality for generations to come.
“I am proud to be a part of the Good Neighbor Agreement, and I am a big believer in building community,” she says. “This work has offered a look at what is possible when people continue to work toward a goal, with facts and mutual respect, and willingness to compromise to reach the best outcomes for their communities.”
The Plains Truth Winter 2025 Page 4
