As 2022 begins to unfold and the good work alongside our Relatives continues, we take time to honor the legacy of Indigenous movement building and those leaders who have paved the way. Without our predecessors, our Ancestors and their efforts, the groundwork for all that we strive for today would not have been laid. Let’s take a moment to remember. To offer our prayers and hold these warriors close as we journey forward, furthering their tireless efforts in reimagining a future where we all can thrive. 

In January’s newsletter, we also commemorate another year of impact and Indigenous power building, we continue to uplift our next generation of leaders and look towards another year of Indigenous self-determination while working in collaboration with all of you. Lastly, the NDN Collective ecosystem continues to grow and we are thrilled to also share a number of open positions.

Clyde Bellecourt with fellow AIM Member and Medicine Man, the late Leonard Crow Dog, attending Liberation Day 2020 at Wounded Knee. Photo Courtesy of Andrew Catt-Iron Shell

Co-founder of the American Indian Movement and prominent Native activist who spent decades fighting for Indigenous rights and building Indigenous power. Bellecourt passed away on the evening of January 11th at age 85, after a battle with prostate cancer.

“Clyde was a fearless leader who dodged bullets, sat jail time, marched in streets and built up Native communities. His fierceness in confronting racism and oppression have changed the conditions in which we organize and live in today. In fact, our generation stands on the foundation of Justice and Revolution that he spent his life fighting for,” said Nick Tilsen, president and CEO of NDN Collective.

Since our inception as an organization, we have taken an ecosystem approach to build Indigenous power with different entities within the collective working in tandem to support and invest in Indigenous-led efforts, businesses, organizations, Tribal Nations, grassroots changemakers, and frontline efforts across the continent. “Four years ago we created NDN Collective as a strategy to disrupt the status quo and begin to dismantle white supremacy by shifting resources and decision making power into the hands of Indigenous people to do the work of defending, developing and decolonizing,” says Nick Tilsen, NDN Collective President and CEO.

Art by NDN Action Program Associate Linnea Kingbird-Martini Red Lake Anishinaabe. Photo by Lewis Bernier.

NDN Collective and Indigenous Peoples Power Project (IP3) joined  two separate youth-led art actions alongside numerous other climate activists as part of #DefundClimateChaos, a nonviolent direct action movement spanning 26 countries, demanding financial entities across the globe cease their billion dollar investments into fossil fuels.

“This is a true hands-on experience for using arts as creative resistance. For those who came out on October 29th on the streets of San Francisco this was also a time to visually disrupt business as usual.  We are bringing the ashes from the California fires to the doorsteps of BlackRock. BlackRock is the biggest asset manager who streamlines investments towards climate destruction through resource extraction,” said Cy Wagoner, NDN Collective Creative Resistance Coordinator”

Completed ‘Defend’ Mural Outside of NDN Headquarters. Image Courtesy of NDN Collective Staff.

in collaboration with the NDN Collective team, with plans of featuring the mural on the NDN Collective headquarters and also on a blanket design in collaboration with Eighth Generation, an Indigenous-owned and operated lifestyle brand. 

“The woman pictured represents the global shift of power towards the feminine,” says Votan. “The bullhorn is symbolic of amplifying Native voices and the winter count design in the background connects Native people to ancestral Indigenous traditions.”

Halay’s children share about metamorphosis while reading The Very Hungry Caterpillar in the Yuchi language.

She is a language healer, working with Elders and raising her three young children as the first zOyaha (Yuchi) speakers in four generations. From the womb, she has only spoken to them in Yuchi. She is developing shtahaê Ô’wAdAnA immersion school at the Yuchi Language Project to decolonize education systems for her people and works internationally to promote young parents reclaiming Indigenous lifeways.  
 
Throughout the Fellowship experience we have been struck by Halay’s loving commitment to her work. Last month, in addition to the daily work in her community, Halay presented at an international virtual language conference hosted by Cultural Survival, and is working with fellow language warriors from Alaska, Texas, Oklahoma, and Australia to present at Te Aratini in Dubai as part of the upcoming UN International Decade on Indigenous Languages.
 
Halay’s continued work is transformational, hosting Zoom meetings with Yuchi families and language learners, working with apprentices, and deepening the natural daily use of the living Yuchi language through learning more subtle aspects, including body language and gestures.  She also shared that she and her children have co-presented at the opening of the First Americans Museum in Oklahoma City, as well as offering a presentation at the Ta’ya’yûnE awAnÔûnEhA (Euchee Butterfly Farm) during a gathering of the Tribal Alliance for Pollinators.

On December 21, 2021, the NEW LANDBACK U module on Black-Indigeneity featuring Amber Starks and Dr. Kyle Mays launched. Sign up for updates on future Landback U modules here.

On December 2, 2021, Jade Begay, NDN’s Climate Justice Campaign Director, provided Congressional testimony before the Committee on Natural Resources, Subcommittee on Energy and Mineral Resources on what more public lands leasing means for achieving U.S. climate targets. 

Photo By Brooke Anderson

“We have seen what President Biden and Congress were able to deliver for our bridges, roads, and trains – now, they must deliver for our voting rights. Democrats must use their full power to abolish the Jim Crow filibuster and pass the Freedom to Vote Act and John Lewis Voting Rights Advancement Act.” – Martin Luther King III

The Information Technology (IT) Director will oversee NDN Collective’s IT function and the implementation of new IT systems and policies.

The Advancement Coordinator will be part of a team of NDN staff and consultants to ensure we reach our fundraising goals each year, ensuring the organization is financially resourced to carry out our mission and goals.

The Program Officer will support the NDN Foundation Grants Programs which includes several specific funding streams.

The Program Associate provides administrative and programmatic support to the NDN Foundation and assists the Managing Director in planning, organizing and implementing Foundation operations as part of the NDN Eco-system, internally and externally.

The Warehouse Manager will oversee NDN Collective’s Warehouse systems and policies. The goal is to ensure Warehouse systems are effective and functioning within the limits of budget, time and specifications of the organization.

The Finance Technician performs a variety of technical, and administrative financial support duties in the financial activities of the organization.

The Vice President provides leadership and oversight for Operations, Advancement, Finance, Human Resources, Legal and Compliance, Communications, Fiscal Sponsorship and Research and Evaluation functions at NDN Collective.

The Human Resource Director oversees the HR department, provides oversight of organizational HR practices and policies and partners with the Leadership Team and staff to understand and execute the organization’s HR and talent strategy.

The Media & Public Relations Officer acts as the primacy 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.

The Graphic Designer creates digital and print materials for the NDN Collective ecosystem following NDN Collective brand guidelines.

The Research and Evaluation Manager will contribute to NDN Collective’s overall success by supporting research and evaluation efforts to understand and continuously evolve how the NDN Collective ecosystem of organizations drives social change.

The Chief Financial Officer contributes to NDN Collective’s overall success of the organization by effectively managing all financial activities for the organization and as a member of the Leadership Team.

The Program Associate provides administrative and programmatic support to the NDN Partners Managing Director in planning, developing business strategies, building client relationships and identifying new business opportunities as part of the NDN Eco-system, internally and externally.

The Website Content Manager leads the content coordination, development, and maintenance of the NDN Collective website and related websites.

Reporting to the Director of Finance, the Controller contributes to NDN Collective’s overall success by effectively overseeing the day-to-day financial activities for the NDN Ecosystem including accounts receivable, accounts payable, and payroll.

The Director of Policy and Advocacy will provide leadership for our public policy and advocacy work, working collaboratively with our Political Director, NDN Collective ecosystem of organizations, board of directors, and contract lobbyists.