Issue #4 / 2026

Photo credit: Willi White

Dear Relatives,

By now, perhaps you have heard the good news – Pete Lien & Sons withdrew their drilling plan of operation at Pe’ Sla. That means this sacred site is once again safe from extraction! This victory followed a week of action by community and tribal leaders in South Dakota to protect the land. The fight was comprehensive – from the land defenders who occupied two active drill pads for a week, to fighting in the courts through multiple lawsuits (including one filed by all nine tribes of the Oceti Sakowin), to securing a temporary restraining order. This win would not have been possible without prayer, community support, and the resources that NDN Collective and other organizations put towards this fight. The effort offers both a blueprint and hope for future land defense fights. 

This is the type of action and strategy we had in mind when building the recently launched LANDBACK Action Network (LAN). LAN provides critical infrastructure and connection to support Indigenous folks across Turtle Island to mobilize and protect their land, waters, and peoples. LAN is a network of Indigenous people, organizations, Tribal Nations, organizers, and accomplices working together to strengthen the LANDBACK movement and towards the collective liberation of all people and Mother Earth. We know there are fights like Pe’ Sla happening across Turtle Island – from Oak Flat in Arizona to the Trans Mountain Pipeline Expansion north of the medicine line. With LAN, we hope to share resources, knowledge, and build collective power to win these fights. 

These wins are not just for us as Indigenous People, but a win for Mother Earth, future generations, and ALL people. We all depend on clean drinking water, breathable air, and a livable planet. These moments are powerful reminders that these fights, and these victories, belong to us all. 

In Solidarity,
The NDN Collective Team

Photo credit: Angel White Eyes

Pe’Sla Protectors Win! Drilling Operation Plan Withdrawn. Community Organizing, Ceremony, Lawsuit, Occupation of Site Leads to Victory

On Friday, May 8, NDN Collective was notified that Pete Lien & Sons sent a letter to the United States Forest Service, officially withdrawing their plan of operations for the Rochford Mineral Exploratory Drilling Project (RMEDP) at Pe’ Sla. This victory follows a week of concentrated action by community and tribal leaders in South Dakota to protect the land. From the land defenders who occupied two active drill pads for a week, to fighting in the courts through multiple lawsuits and a temporary restraining order, today’s win is multi-faceted and offers a blueprint for future land defense fights… Continue reading

NDN Collective Launches LANDBACK Action Network

 On April 20, 2026, NDN Collective announced the launch of the LANDBACK Action Network (LAN) – a network of Indigenous people, organizations, grassroots groups, Tribal Nations, and individuals working together to strengthen the LANDBACK movement and towards the collective liberation of all people and Mother Earth. Alongside the announcement of the network, LAN also launched the new landback.org, a public storytelling platform where members of the network will offer insight, opportunities, and calls to action… Continue reading

Collective Abundance Awardee Highlight: Tami Motz

Tami Motz, Leech Lake Ojibwe, is a Collective Abundance Fund Year 2 Awardee. She is proud to share that she used the award to accomplish her wealth-building goals through building and equipping a new small food processing facility powered by a new solar energy system designed to support her entire homestead! The food processing building reflects her values of reuse and community care, with the front side made from reclaimed boards, generously offered to her by a community member. The new solar energy system also strengthened Tami’s overall livelihood by increasing available clean power, reducing fuel costs, and minimizing air pollution. Tami continues to embody the value of being a good relative rooted in teachings from her ancestors; she shares resources, teaches skills, and distributes food as a labor of love, cultivating a model of abundance grounded in generosity, sustainability, and collective care.

Photo credit: Nicole Francis

A Homecoming: Niweskok Rematriates 245 Acres in the Dawnland

Niweskok: From the Stars to Seeds is a nonprofit whose mission is to rematriate Wabanaki lifeways through engaging with our kinship responsibilities and reclaiming traditional foods & healing. We prioritize restoring the Penobscot Bay region as a Wabanaki foodhub. In Penobscot, Niweskok translates to “dried seeds for planting”, also “essence of life,” and “spirit”.  We are responsible to our communities of the Wabanaki Confederacy (Penobscot, Wolastoqiyik, Mi’kmaq, Passamaquoddy, and Abenaki of Odinak and Wolinak), and all our relations… Continue reading

LANDBACK For The People Podcast. Photo credit: NDN Collective

Season 4 Episode #6:  Organizing for Collective Liberation

N- In this episode, Nick brings Nicole, Cy, and Eva–three long-time organizers–to the table to discuss what brought them to this work and the LANDBACK movement, and the launch of the Landback Action Network! Watch the full episode here!

All LANDBACK For the People Podcasts episodes are available on YouTube and most streaming platforms. Check out our Linktree for where to listen

Be sure to like and subscribe to get alerts for when new episodes drop!

CBS News: South Dakota mining company cancels Black Hills graphite drilling project after tribal opposition

A Rapid City mining company has withdrawn its plan to drill for graphite in the Black Hills following opposition from Native American tribes and a temporary restraining order blocking the project. In a letter provided Friday by Indigenous advocacy group NDN Collective, Rapid City-based Pete Lien & Sons told the United States Forest Service on Thursday that it is withdrawing its plan of operations…Continue Reading

Tribal Business News: NDN Collective launches Landback Action Network to coordinate land return efforts

After years of building relationships across Indian Country, NDN Collective is formalizing a network it says has already been operating in practice. The Rapid City, S.D.-based nonprofit has launched the LandBack Action Network, a platform designed to connect tribal nations and organizations, match funders with projects, and provide shared strategy and support…Continue reading

Grist: We asked climate leaders what’s keeping them inspired. Here’s what they said.

“Despite an enormous funding and resourcing gap, we will continue to fight because our great-grandchildren are asking us to. The central problem is colonialism, which manifests itself in countless daily challenges, both ongoing and still emerging. We see colonialism show up in insidious ways, even within climate justice and environmental spaces.” – Nick Tilsen…Continue reading

Defend Pe’Sla: Community Takes Action to Protect Sacred Site

Watch community members shut down the drilling activity that was taking place at Pe’ Sla despite community opposition.

Graphic Art by JayCee Beyale.

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

The For The People Campaign is designed to provide critical resources directly to Indigenous communities through our existing grantmaking programs and organizing work to strengthen our movement, enhance the resiliency of frontline actions, and continue making transformative change under this authoritarian administration.

The movement is ready—help fund it now: http://ndnco.cc/ftpcdonate