We step into 2023 with intention, recognizing that many shifts and deep reflections happen in the transition of Winter Solstice and with a new calendar year. These reflections carry us forward and closer to an actualized future where our people, our partners, and all life, are thriving. 

As we approach Martin Luther King, Jr. Day, we honor the history of the civil rights movement and the countless ways that civil rights leaders inspired and catalyzed a broad movement for collective liberation. We remain indebted to our movement building ancestors, and continue to draw strength from their commitment to justice.

In this month’s newsletter, we carry that same spirit and commitment to justice for all people and Mother Earth. Continue reading to hear from NDN Collective President & CEO Nick Tilsen, in a Q & A interview as he reflects on the 2.5 year legal battle to dismiss charges related to the July 3, 2020 action in the Black Hills. Also, check out the latest on the Collective Abundance Fund, slated to launch in May of this year. And read more as we introduce you to our Community Action Fund Grant Partners, and more.

On November 18, 2022, and after nearly two and a half years of an uphill legal battle, all charges against NDN Collective president and CEO Nick Tilsen related to a nonviolent direct protest in the Black Hills taking place on July 3, 2020, were finally dismissed by the state of South Dakota.  Nick faced up to 17 years in prison after allegedly organizing a blockade and #LANDBACK protest in his Lakota homelands in response to former President Donald Trump’s visit to Mount Rushmore in 2020.

“With this dismissal, there is finally a sense of relief and weight lifted off my shoulders and I’m able to take a deep breath, which I haven’t been able to do in quite some time,” said Nick Tilsen, NDN Collective President & CEO.

On December 15, 2022 NDN Collective shared the program intention around the upcoming Collective Abundance Fund, a grant opportunity through which NDN Collective will distribute nearly $50 million over a five-year period to Native individuals and families across Minnesota, North Dakota, and South Dakota.

“We are inviting Indigenous individuals and families to envision living a good life, where basic needs are met and social and cultural sharing is abundant. We are asking what it would take – what activities need to be supported to realize that family vision –  to sleep peacefully at night,” said Teresa Peterson, NDN Foundation Program Manager for the Collective Abundance Fund.

In April 2022, NDN Collective launched a comprehensive community engagement process with Indigenous people in SD, ND, and MN that included an online survey, interviews with community leaders, and hosted community conversations. The intention behind this process was to better understand community definitions and measures of collective abundance, wealth gaps, and wealth-building activities.

Listen in as Lorenzo Serna, NDN Collective Director of Tactical Media, sits down with Gaby Strong, NDN Foundation Managing Director and Teresa Peterson, NDN Foundation Program Manager for the Collective Abundance Fund for an insightful conversation surrounding the community engagement report – focusing on the purpose of community engagement, the process for meeting with the various communities across the tri-state region and how this critical data will help to address the wealth gap on Indigenous terms.

On December 15, 2022 NDN Collective announced awardees of the 2022 Community Action Fund. The fund’s intention is to move money into the movement space to help further Indigenous Peoples’ agendas as it relates to the defense, development, and decolonization of our Peoples and Mother Earth.

“It’s critical to resource grassroots efforts. The knowledge and power of the people closest to the issues and threats that we face must be fortified,” said Gaby Strong, NDN Foundation Managing Director.

President & CEO, Nick Tilsen was featured on an episode of CBC’s Unreserved, titled Here are 3 Places to Watch the Landback Movement Unfold in 2023.

In the radio segment, we hear from Nick Tilsen on sacredness of the He Sapa, also known as the Black Hills, and the July 3rd, 2020 action in which he and numerous other land defenders blocked former U.S. President Donald Trump from entering Mount Rushmore National Park, which exists in the Black Hills.

Several additional land defenders from across Turtle Island are also featured in the segment.

Photo By Josué Rivas (He/him), Mexican and Otomí.

On November 9th Supreme Court Oral Arguments were heard in the federal lawsuit Brackeen v. Haaland. This case is challenging the constitutionality of the Indian Child Welfare Act (ICWA), an act passed in 1978 to ensure that Native American children are kept with Native families.

Although a decision in this matter will not be made until June 2023, action can still be taken to protect ICWA, Indigenous children and tribal sovereignty.

Video | NDN Collective Streams ICWA Rally on Steps of U.S. Supreme Court as Brackeen v. Haaland Oral Arguments are Heard

Blog | NDN Collective Hosts ICWA Conversation with Rebecca Nagle Ahead of Major Supreme Court Case That Threatens Tribal Sovereignty

Leonard Peltier, a member of the Turtle Mountain Band of Chippewa Indians, activist, member of the American Indian Movement (AIM) and elder, has been locked up as a political prisoner for over 46 years following a wrongful conviction for aiding and abetting the murder of two FBI agents in 1975. Now 78, Peltier continues to maintain his innocence, alongside individuals, Tribes and organizations who have tirelessly demanded that he be freed.

The Grants Associate supports and manages various administrative and financial functions related to grants management within the Foundation. The Associate periodically interacts with other staff, grantees, auditors, vendors, and other external partners.

The Learning & Power Building Coordinator will  develop, coordinate and offer an array of power building programming and resources relevant to the self-determination,  sovereignty, regenerative sustainability and power of Indigenous Peoples, tribes and Indigenous-led organizations.

NDN Collective has (3) three Program Officer positions open to support the Collective Abundance Fund Program across Minnesota, North Dakota, and South Dakota.

Reporting to the Program Manager, the Program Officer will support the NDN Foundation Collective Abundance Fund Program. This includes supporting all grantmaking processes as part of a continuum from dissemination, application, review, selection, reporting and evaluation, as well as managing grantee-partner relationships, and sharing information and capacity building resources.

Reporting to the Director of Grantmaking, the Program Officer will support the NDN Foundation Grants Programs which includes several specific funding streams. This includes supporting all grantmaking processes as part of a continuum from dissemination, application, review, selection, reporting and evaluation, as well as managing grantee-partner relationships, and sharing information and capacity building resources.

The Director of Grantmaking will manage and implement NDN Collective grantmaking programs and processes, including harvesting insights and lessons learned through reporting and information sharing.

The Lending Officer will work with the Director of Lending and the NDN Fund Managing Director on business development and origination, lending, risk management and policy and power building.

The Payroll Coordinator processes payroll across the NDN ecosystem, corresponds with team members as necessary regarding expenses, and provides overall assistance in the Finance Department.

The Accounts Receivable Coordinator is responsible for proper record keeping and reporting for all types of revenue (philanthropic and government grants, individual contributions, and earned) across the NDN ecosystem, corresponds with team members as necessary regarding revenue, and provides overall assistance in the Finance Department.

The Controller will oversee and manage the day-to-day and long-term financial and administrative operations of the agency. The Controller will ensure accounting records and financial statements are in compliance with generally accepted accounting principles and ensure maintenance of effective internal controls.

The Project Manager is directly responsible for organizing, supervising, scheduling & planning of multiple internal construction and development projects to maximize cost efficiency and motivate contractors to complete each project assigned on time and under budget.

The Director of Communications and Communications and Narrative team, supporting all aspects of content production and targeted outreach. With special attention to media strategy, narrative and copy editing, the Deputy Director of Communications  works across a host of disciplines and platforms, including email, social media, blogs, website, and management of internal and external communications systems.

The Executive Assistant to the President & CEO provides services essential to the mission of the organization and the day-to-day operations of the President’s Office. This position also provides support to the organization’s Board of Directors.

The Media & Public Relations Officer acts as the primary media contact for the NDN Collective ecosystem and the President & CEO, creating and managing communications and messaging that shape public opinion and increase awareness of the NDN brand.