FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE:
Rapid City, SD – Today, as a counter to massive budget cuts and security threats looming on the horizon, NDN Collective announced “For the People Campaign” – a philanthropic call to move resources immediately from wealthy individuals and foundations directly to Tribal Nations and Indigenous people, organizations, and communities who are most vulnerable to the Trump administration’s agenda.
Through the “For the People Campaign,” NDN Collective uplifts a specific ask to philanthropists – to immediately increase giving to Indigenous-led organizations and support NDN Collective’s ability to resource their partners.
NDN Collective supports Indigenous communities, practitioners, and individuals year round through organizing, grantmaking and impact investing. They have 1,500 grantees across Turtle Island, and a vast network of people and organizations who will need robust mutual aid support, sponsorship, and resources to counter funding cuts, protect their communities, and resist increased militarization and climate destruction.
The organization has a long and proven track record of critical resource redistribution. Mere weeks into the COVID-19 quarantine going into effect in 2020, NDN Collective launched a $10 million response project to quickly provide grants, communication, and strategic support to Tribal Nations, front line Indigenous-led organizations, and individuals. The organization was called upon for this project five years ago because they had the infrastructure and capacity to distribute funds more swiftly and effectively than the federal government.
Just over a week into the Trump administration, NDN Collective is already seeing direct impacts on programming and people. Last year, the organization was selected as an outreach partner for the EPA’s Environmental Justice Thriving Communities Grantmaking Program – but already the National West grantmaker region was officially cut from federal funding, and the safety of the rest of the funding is in jeopardy.
Further, because of directives for ICE to ramp up deportations, Native people are being stopped and detained – simply for the color of their skin. One immediate and critical need, which NDN Collective is already facilitating, is for Tribal governments to mobilize resources for people to get tribal IDs in order to better navigate these illegal and traumatizing detainments.
“Over the past seven years, NDN Collective has moved an unprecedented amount of resources into Indian Country and across the North American continent known to us as Turtle Island. Our ties to our communities fortify us and guide us in all that we do in times of great challenge like our present moment. The continued work of peace and justice and the building of a true multi-racial democracy requires immediate support,” said Gaby Strong, NDN Collective Vice-President.
“The freezing of federal funding is a threat that would choke Indian country’s ability to run schools, hospitals, and businesses. We are seeing people forced to live in fear, cut from jobs, and impacting their ability to put food on the table. Now is not the time to sit idle, but act,” said Wizipan Little Elk Garriott, NDN Collective President.
“At NDN Collective, we fight on and fund the frontlines – which is why we’re best positioned to use the infrastructure we’ve built to support those most vulnerable in these turbulent times. Indigenous Peoples have endured the test of time, political regimes, wars, and countless struggles – yet we are still here. This campaign will help our movement, communities, and Tribal Nations navigate the challenges we find ourselves in today,” said Nick Tilsen, NDN Collective Founder & CEO.
“The teachings of Indigenous Peoples emphasize the importance of caring for one another – the FTP Campaign embodies the belief that WE take care of us. When fascist regimes choose to undermine our sovereignty and strip critical resources from our communities, we will do everything we can to take care of our people,” said Korina Barry, Managing Director of NDN Action.
“If the threat this week of frozen federal resources doesn’t get philanthropy to act more boldly, I honestly don’t know what will. It’s time for foundations to increase funding beyond the 5 percent required by the IRS and move resources to Indigenous led organizations and movements immediately. There is no more time to wait,” said Liz Welch, Director of Advancement at NDN Collective.
“The Trump administration’s intent on lifting climate protections and increasing mining and drilling is no secret– yet by sowing fear through unconstitutional executive orders that appear to instantly take away basic needs and violate rights, the administration is also fighting a narrative battle to make things like climate funding look unnecessary and wasteful to the public at large. We can’t let Trump win that battle – climate funding is more critical than ever,” said Davis Price, director of the Climate Justice Initiative at NDN Collective.
###
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.