Graphic Art by NDN Collective.

These past two months have afforded us much abundance and celebration. As we close out Pride Month, we extend our love, appreciation, and solidarity with our queer and Two-Spirit relatives. In this solidarity, is a reminder that being an accomplice and good relative to our queer family is a year-round commitment and practice. One should not have to be told how to show up for your loved ones, you simply do so each and every day. 

In this newsletter we share some heavy news regarding our relative Leonard Peltier and ask our community to offer prayers for Leonard while continuing the fight for his freedom with renewed purpose. We also share several important dates regarding our open grant opportunities and community events. As always, we included ways to take action, learn about our campaigns, as well as opportunities to join our team! 

Relatives and supporters rally in front of the Federal Building in Rapid City, SD to show support for Leonard’s freedom on June 27. Photo by Angel White Eyes, Photo Editor for NDN Collective.

On July 2, the US Parole Commission announced its decision to deny Leonard Peltier’s parole. Leonard is an enrolled member of the Turtle Mountain Band of Chippewa Indians, an activist, sundancer, and member of the American Indian Movement. He is incarcerated for his involvement in the Jumping Bull shootout of 1975 that resulted in the death of an AIM member and two FBI agents. Leonard’s case has been widely regarded as unjust and unfair due to FBI’s actions during his trial and arrest. 

After being incarcerated for 48 years, he has become a symbol of the oppression that the United States “justice” system carries out against Indigenous People. In wake of this decision, we grieve collectively with our relatives across the world who have fought for Leonard’s freedom for decades and continue extending our prayers to him. Despite the loss at this moment, we will continue our fight to free him and shift our focus to seeking Executive Clemency for Leonard Peltier from President Biden.

Students of the Oceti Sakowin Community Academy sit on the floor during a lesson. Photo by Angel White Eyes, NDN Collective Photo Editor.

The Oceti Sakowin Community Academy opened its doors in 2022 to kindergarteners who would learn Lakota language, culture, music, as well as math and reading but all through an Indigenized approach. This fall, OSCA will welcome two more grades of students providing them a decolonized education that will build their identity and prepare them to be the future leaders of the Oceti Sakowin.

NDN Collective HQ staff pose with the Venoms Athletics team as they receive a $20,000 grant from NDN Collective. Photo Courtesy of Murray Lee, Director of Community Engagement at NDN Collective.

Venoms Athletics of Rapid City received $20,000 from NDN Collective’s President Partnership Fund which aims to support local organizations helping their communities in a meaningful way. 

“Everything we do, we do from our hearts – for our families, for our people, for our land,” said NDN Collective president and CEO, Nick Tilsen. “What Venoms does is not just about sports – it’s about leadership development, mentorship. Anybody who’s ever raised kids knows they need mentors, no matter what. If kids have a sense of belonging and responsibility, it improves our whole community.”

The Wicaktepi Remembrance Garden is in the shape of a Medicine Wheel and includes the names of individuals who’ve passed at the hands of police. Photo by Angel White Eyes, NDN Collective Photo Editor.

On May 24, NDN Collective welcomed more than a hundred people at the NDN Headquarters for the unveiling of the Wičaktepi Remembrance Garden. This garden serves as a memorial to those whose lives were lost at the hands of police and we hope it provides a healing space for families and loved ones affected by police violence.

“The Wičaktepi memorial garden offers a space for healing to those who’ve lost loved ones at the hands of police,” said Murray Lee, Director of Community Engagement at NDN Collective. “This garden will also evolve over time based on input voiced from the community. It will become what the community needs it to be.”

Main sitting room at NDN Collective Headquarters in Rapid City, SD. Photo by Angel White Eyes, Photo Editor for NDN Collective.

Community Action Fund – This one-time, short-term grant provides urgent response funds for frontline organizations, groups, and individuals impacted by local challenges to equip them with necessary tools to address imminent threats. Deadline to apply is October 31, 2024 at 5:00 p.m. US CST.

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Sacred Storm Buffalo is an Indigenous-owned and operated non-profit that promotes food sovereignty, works to restore buffalo herds, and trains apprentices in traditional buffalo harvesting. Sacred Storm Buffalo received support through the NDN Fund with partners Wambli Ska Society, Tanka Fund, and Makoce Agriculture Development, Inc. 

Sacred Storm Buffalo’s work will provide traditionally harvested buffalo meat to communities in South Dakota and the larger region, promoting Indigenous self-determination through food sovereignty. See you at the grand opening! 

Lorenzo Serna, Director of NDN Tactical Media Team, operates the camera as another episode of NDN Live commences. Photo by Willi White for NDN Collective.

Today, June 27th, NDN Collective joins local organizations, partners, allies, and long time advocates in Mni Luzahan (so-called Rapid City, South Dakota) for a rally and caravan for our relative Leonard Peltier. The #FreeLeonardPeltier caravan starts at Wambli Ska and ends at the Federal Courthouse.
 
On June 10, 2024, Nick Tilsen, NDN Collective President and CEO spoke on behalf of Leonard Peltier at his parole hearing.

Summary:
Since the beginning of the year Treaty Council representatives, Tiospayes, and Tribal government leaders have been meeting to organize and work on returning the federal land in the Black Hills to the Lakota by introducing legislation in the US Congress. This is a continuation of previous meetings.

In this meeting we will hear back from each of the committees and make key decisions on issues that need to be made collectively as representatives of the Lakota Nation.

IMPORTANT FACTS:
This meeting is not about acceptance of the Black Hills settlement money. In fact, strategy discussions thus far have centered around “Not Accepting Any Money for the Stealing of the Black Hills.” The language in the draft bill as written so far is to decline the money “given” to the Lakota in the 1980 US v. Sioux Nation case and instead ask for the return of all federal public lands in the Black Hills to the Lakota people. 

The language of the draft bill as developed so far would also not diminish any rights guaranteed in the 1851 and 1868 Treaties – in fact, it would uphold those rights. It’s important to continue working with a collective strategy and unity among diverse group perspectives and decision-making bodies.

Prior to the shooting at Donald Trump’s rally earlier this week, NDN Collective—an Indigenous power-building organization—prepared to attend the Republican National Convention (RNC) and related community events.

The goals for attending the “March on the RNC” were simple: combat the invisibilization of Indigenous issues and priorities in the national discourse around elections, and be in solidarity with those fighting for human rights constantly under threat by the right-wing extremism of one party and the inaction of the other. 

A caravan full of activists and organizers worked its way through downtown Rapid City on Thursday, June 27 calling for Leonard Peltier’s release from federal prison.

Over two dozen vehicles drove from Woyatan Lutheran Church to the federal courthouse in downtown Rapid City on a hot summer day. The caravan’s message is simple, release Leonard Peltier.

Coleman, Florida – This Wednesday marks Oglala Commemoration Day as Indigenous rights advocates await a decision in political prisoner Leonard Peltier’s high-stakes bid for parole.

Demands for justice for Indigenous freedom fighter Leonard Peltier are expected to resound loudly on the anniversary of the infamous June 26, 1975, shootout on the Pine Ridge Indian Reservation in so-called South Dakota.

Relatives and supporters rally in front of the Federal Building in Rapid City, SD to show support for Leonard’s freedom on June 27. Photo by Angel White Eyes, Photo Editor for NDN Collective.

Leonard’s parole was denied and in mid-July he was released from the hospital after being treated for an infection in his foot. Help keep Leonard’s spirits up by sending a letter to him today using the link below.

The Rapid City Area Schools (RCAS) district is currently facing significant scrutiny following the release of a comprehensive Office of Civil Rights (OCR) report. This report concludes a 14-year investigation into systemic discrimination against Native students within the district. The findings highlight pervasive issues of racial bias, unequal treatment, and lack of support for Native students, underscoring deep-rooted systemic problems that require immediate attention and action. Following this report, Superintendent Nicole Swigart was caught making racist and discriminatory statements towards Native students and their families.

📱Text RAPIDVRACISM to 50302 to join the call for police accountability, video cam transparency, and removal of SROs on school campuses in South Dakota. 

⚖️ Stay up to date on upcoming Know Your Rights trainings by joining our network today: /ndnco.cc/kyrnetwork 

📰 Sign up to receive more info about our campaigns, policy, and advocacy work https://ndnco.cc/qrtlynewsletter 

❤️ Contribute to the Say Their Name Garden in Minneapolis, MN https://www.paypal.com/donate/?hosted_button_id=J2FFVERPXEDKL 

🤳🏽Film the police if you are concerned about their actions or inaction https://www.teenvogue.com/story/how-to-film-police-safely

‘We’re Hiring’ Graphic Art by NDN Collective.

The Coordinator will coordinate NDN Collective’s outreach efforts in Region 5 (Minnesota, Michigan, Illinois, Indiana, Ohio, Wisconsin, and 35 Tribal Nations in those areas) for the EPA Thriving Communities Grant.

The Grants Management Specialist will administer the planning and implementation of the transactional aspects of grantmaking within the grants management system, as well as its maintenance and refinement.

The Federal Grant Writer will perform opportunity research and lead federal application development by writing, formatting, and submitting the highest quality grant proposals to federal funding agencies.

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

The Tactical Media Associate works across a host of disciplines and platforms, including livestream video productions, on-the-ground event coverage, post-production video editing, digital organizing, social media engagement, researching, and writing.

The IT Technician helps to maintain computer, surveillance, door access control, servers, hardware, software, and cloud applications in a non-profit organization setting.

The IT Specialist will implement, manage, and optimize digital content for placement across the NDN Collective Intranet as well as digital signage at NDN owned properties.

Reporting to NDN Collective’s President & CEO, the Director of Strategic Partnerships will act as a liaison to develop, manage, and execute NDN Collective’s strategies for creating, negotiating, and maintaining mutually beneficial partnerships that will support NDN’s current and future programming and campaigns.

The Program Officer will support the NDN Foundation Collective Abundance Fund Program specifically for Minnesota.

The Director of Donor Organizing will oversee all facets of NDN Collective’s individual giving program, including the planning, implementation, ongoing management, and evaluation of the program.