For Immediate Release: October 7, 2022
Washington, DC – Today, NDN Collective’s climate justice director will visit the White House for Communities in Action: Building a Better New Mexico to highlight the work the organization has been doing on the ground in New Mexico and the greater Southwest region. This work ranges from COVID-19 relief, voter engagement and registration, climate disaster response, grants to people in the Southwest doing work ranging from renewable energy projects to language revitalization and more.
The team will also continue uplifting their strategies for getting Inflation Reduction Act (IRA) funds into the hands of Indigenous community members who need it most, imploring the Biden-Harris administration to engage with Indigenous leaders like NDN Collective who have built infrastructure that allows for efficient distribution of federal dollars.
The White House meeting occurs just as the Department of the Interior has announced scoping for new oil and gas leases in New Mexico – a move which is counter to the fight for climate justice – and NDN Collective plans to address this contradiction with top officials during the visit.
NDN Collective has been a vocal supporter of some pieces of the IRA and critical of others, penning letters to President Biden, Majority Leader Schumer, and Speaker Pelosi this summer asking them to reject all new fossil fuel projects, including onshore and offshore drilling.
“Deep collaboration between the presidential administration, state leaders, and community members is critical to ensure frontline and Indigenous communities receive the support they need through the IRA,” said Jade Begay, Climate Justice Director at NDN Collective. “The meeting today indicates the Biden-Harris administration is dedicated to building strong relationships to ensure we can strengthen provisions and programs and create climate resilient communities.
“I will also continue urging the administration to reassess new oil and gas expansion, as any new leases blatantly contradict their climate goals. Rather than more investment into new oil and gas expansion, we need the federal government to invest directly into creating equitable jobs in clean energy research and development.”
###
NDN Collective is an Indigenous-led organization dedicated to building Indigenous power. Through organizing, activism, philanthropy, grantmaking, capacity-building, and narrative change, we are creating sustainable solutions on Indigenous terms.