Wheat paste mural on the San Carlos Apache reservation in Arizona, completed in partnership with NDN Collective. Photo by Richard Blue Cloud Castaneda.

As the onslaughts of authoritarianism continue to manifest each day, we remain just as focused on our mission as we’ve always been– for all People, for Mother Earth, and the movement. At NDN Collective, we know that these are the times that we were made for, and we stay rooted in this truth.

In this month’s newsletter, we highlight the dualities of the moment we are living in and how this shows up in our work– from the very real challenges and fights we are up against, to the ongoing moments of joy, strength and resilience. We uplift original NDN blogs unpacking the implications and analysis of the recent Greenpeace USA trial, as well as the ways in which creative resistance art is a critical component in resistance movements. We also share inspiring stories that keep us energized in these times— from the work of the Cayuga Sour Springs Longhouse, to a celebrity ally supporting and funding the work of community-led change– something we need to see more of!  

As we press forward, Relatives, holding the challenges alongside the stories of strength will continue to be essential. Continue feeding your spirits all things nourishing, so we can all stay fortified for the days ahead.

Woman at the fronlines at Standing Rock. Oceti Sakowin Camp, Cannon Ball, ND, USA. November 11,2016. Photo Courtesy of Josue Rivas.

In March, a North Dakota jury found Greenpeace USA liable for more than $700 million in damages impacting Energy Transfer Partners, the corporation behind the Dakota Access Pipeline. ETP alleged that Greenpeace USA was responsible for the protests at Standing Rock in 2016-17. Indigenous youth led the movement at Standing Rock to protect the people, water, and land from the destruction of the DAPL, however, proponents of the oil and gas industry will lead you to think this was some spontaneous, unorganized moment. 

The trial against Greenpeace is evident of the rise in the use of Strategic Lawsuit Against Public Participation (SLAPP) lawsuits and Racketeer Influenced and Corrupt Organizations Act (RICO) charges against movement organizers and organizations. SLAPP lawsuits are strategically utilized to silence people, drain resources, and drown out movement-led narratives…continue reading.

Our Creative Resistance Team is the arts in activism branch of NDN Collective and teaches skills like screenprinting, banner making, wheatpasting and more. We work to empower Indigenous communities by helping them build the skills and tools they need to tell their own story and create their narrative. Each community has a very different environment that is impacted differently by climate change and it’s important for our team to see the ways these communities create solutions within their respective areas…continue reading.

The second column of this year-long partnership was authored by NDN Collective’s Advancement Officer, Kellian Staggers with an illustration by Erica Pretty Eagle Cozad.

It’s common to hear statistics like the $40 billion it would take to end world hunger or the $30 billion to end homelessness in the United States. And yes, a billionaire like Jeff Bezos could single-handedly pay to make sure everyone in this country is fed and sheltered for the next 3½ years—even if he never made another penny. These statistics highlight how wealth redistribution could address major human rights crises, but they often overlook the collaborative, innovative work that could turn a one-time influx of cash into lasting systemic change…continue reading.

Members of the Cayuga Sour Springs Longhouse, a 2023 Community Self-Determination Grant Recipient. Photo Courtesy of Cayuga Sour Springs Longhouse.

We are excited to share the energy sovereignty story of the Cayuga Sour Springs Longhouse (SSLH) of the Haudenosaunee Confederacy. SSLH is determined to develop clean energy resources for their community and operate their own energy needs outside of the provincial utility. SSLH conducted energy audits of four buildings, identifying and addressing energy efficiency measures, retrofits, and upgrades needed to prepare for renewable energy implementation. Through these audits, SSLH confirmed they will reduce their greenhouse gas emissions by 50%, through decreasing their dependence on propane! 

NDN Collective is honored to support the work of Cayuga Sour Springs Longhouse through our Community Self-Determination Grant.

We are excited to share an exciting new chapter of one of NDN Fund’s loan relatives and grantee partners, Wozani. Formerly Native Botanicals, Wozani is a Lakota-owned company that provides plant-based remedies and healing based on traditional knowledge and embodies a strong connection to the land. With their relaunch as “Wozani,” which means “the pursuit of good health” they hope to further their commitment to honoring Lakota traditions through supporting the mind, body and spirit. 

As part of the relaunch, the company created a new website to improve the user experience,
including more ways to search and learn about products and understand their traditional uses.

Nick Tilsen, NDN Collective CEO and Founder, sits down with He Sapa Otipi’s Executive Director, Cante Heart and Dr. Valeriah Big Eagle, NDN Collective Director of Strategic Partnerships. Photo by Angel White Eyes for NDN Collective.

In Season 3 Episode 1: Nick Tilsen, NDN Collective CEO and Founder, sits down with He Sapa Otipi’s Executive Director, Cante Heart and Dr. Valeriah Big Eagle, NDN Collective Director of Strategic Partnerships, two Indigenous matriarchs leading the work of developing an Indian Center in MniLuzahan (Rapid City).  He Sapa Otipi is an emerging non-profit rooted in Lakota values and traditions that revitalizes traditional kinships and fosters a sense of belonging within the community of MniLuzahan. It provides a safe space for reconnecting our spirits to ceremony, community, cultural identity, and awareness.

✊🏽 WANT TO LEARN MORE?
Visit the He Sapa Otipi website:  https://www.hesapaotipi.org

Named after Rihanna’s grandparents and funded partially through her brands, the Clara Lionel Foundation is coming off a “refresh” that is poised to direct more funds toward climate solutions and women’s entrepreneurship in the under-invested regions of East Africa, the Caribbean and the U.S. South. Experts say it’s rare to see such intentionality among famous philanthropists. Clara Lionel Foundation has also garnered praise for its embrace of “trust-based” giving, which empowers recipients with unrestricted funding.

NDN Collective founder Nick Tilsen said CLF lets his Indigenous power-building nonprofit “do the work on our terms” — and that other funders should take notes…continue reading.

Hundreds of community members gathered on July 4, 2023 in Rapid City, SD as part of the March Toward Justice, a collective effort to hold the police state accountable. Photo by Richard Blue Cloud Castaneda for NDN Collective.

Pe’Sla is a sacred Lakota site in the Black Hills, protected for generations as a place of ceremony and prayer. Now, it’s under threat by mining exploration that aims to drill for graphite on this sacred land, risking water, wildlife, and spiritual lifeways.

Graphic Art by JayCee Beyale, Graphic Designer for NDN Collective.

For generations, Indigenous Peoples have been preparing for this moment. NDN Collective has built power through grantmaking, storytelling, frontline action, and sustainable investing.