We’re stepping into March dedicated to honoring and remembering our Matriarchs. The ones who raised us, challenged us, nurtured us, inspired us and continue to heal us with the kind of medicine uniquely their own. Looking to our past and present, we are surrounded by Indigenous Women who have defended and protected our Nations since time immemorial. Whether your Grandmother, Mother, Auntie, Sister or other Femme Relative or friend, let’s take a moment to picture those loved ones in our hearts and minds as we continue forward in the work. This month and every month, we honor all of them.

In this month’s newsletter, NDN Collective continues to advocate for a more just and liberated future for Indigenous communities and the world at large. We announce the next open application phase for the Radical Imagination grant, we speak out against global imperialism while making calls of support to relatives in Ukraine, we share updates from the NDN Collective ecosystem, and we share 12 open full-time positions at NDN Collective. And last but not least, we honor the strength and brilliance of the Indigenous women who comprise the NDN Collective team, many of whom you’ll see sprinkled throughout this newsletter.

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This grant is offered to Indigenous artists, culture bearers and storytellers from Turtle Island and surrounding Island Nations (U.S., Canada, Mexico, Islands of Hawai’i, Puerto Rico, American Samoa, Guam, the Northern Mariana Islands, and the U.S. Virgin Islands). Radical Imagination Grants are available to Indigenous artists and culture bearers working in all traditions, mediums, and genres working in the defense, development, or decolonization of Indigenous Peoples and the planet. 

“We look to the creative genius of artists to not only help us see the world from a different perspective, but to also help us imagine the way forward in an ever-changing landscape,” said Tina Kuckkan (Ojibwe), NDN Collective Director of Grantmaking.

NDN Collective firmly stands as a proponent of anti-militarism and anti-imperialism, drawing on the direct impacts that war has on surrounding communities, ecosystems and the world at large. This invasion is a continuum of the military industrial complex that continues to serve as a pathway for exploitation and destruction.

“As the People of Russia launch waves of anti-war protests, sacrificing their freedom and safety, we must dig deeper and look beyond the propaganda from all governments involved.  The invasion of Ukraine is deplorable and illegal – but there is no response from the US Military that will end in good. We must be both in solidarity with the People of Ukraine and in opposition to US militarism and imperialism…” said Krystal Two Bulls NDN Collective LandBack Director. 

Greetings Relatives. You will recall the launch of NDN Collective’s billboard series, ‘Our best days are ahead of us,’ where we envision a future of racial equity, leaning into our collective future with a hopeful heart and the belief that good things are to come. We have applied this same spirit where we unshackle from a scarcity mindset to one of abundance as we begin the planning and design process for the $50 million Bush Foundation Community Trust fund, starting with its naming as the Collective Abundance Fund!

We anticipate this fund will support home ownership, education, and entrepreneurship. Yet, we also envision that the fund would support reimagined wealth building activities that result in our people living well, balanced, and healthy. We ask that you start dreaming and re-envisioning along with us where we redefine wealth on our own terms and go beyond just the monetary wealth and financial comforts which are characteristics of capitalism. We recently kicked off our planning with an NDN working group who will help guide and shape the ways we engage our Indigenous relatives across the tri-state area to ensure inclusivity and transparency. We anticipate starting broad community engagement next month, beginning with a Regional Advisory Committee. Stay tuned for news on community engagement and feedback loops as part of the planning and design phase, as well as the branding of the fund that reflects our Collective Abundance. 

We are proud to announce that the NDN Climate Justice Team has joined the inaugural cohort of fellows in the Ripe for Creative Disruption: An Environmental Justice Movement Fellowship (EJM Fellowship), created and led by The Tishman Environment and Design Center. Twenty groundbreaking leaders representing 18 frontline community organizations have been selected to design and test solutions at scale for just transition, climate justice, environmental health, and energy democracy. During the two-year program, fellows will participate in a combination of virtual and in-person retreats, group coaching sessions, and ideation to scaling project phases.

The fellowship was designed to focus on collective leadership models making it distinct from other fellowship opportunities that focus on individual growth and development. During the fellowship, participants will work collaboratively in six groups of 2 to 4 leaders to innovate, test, and deploy contentious, creative, and scalable solutions to address the complexity of the climate crisis. The selected fellows include architects, urban planners, Indigenous leaders, artists, policy makers, green building/sustainability designers, advocates, and organizers, and are multicultural, intergenerational, primarily Black, Indigenous, People of Color (BIPOC), women, and gender non-conforming. Their work spans eight states and five territories, including Indigenous territories, the Mariana Islands of Micronesia, and Puerto Rico.

The article, titled, What Now? Pandemic. Social Unrest. And War explores the impact that the invasion has on climate change, natural resources and the economy.

“First, we know that it is only because of oil and gas that Russia is able to afford this military invasion,” said Jade Begay, climate justice campaign director for NDN Collective. “This makes it clear that not only are oil and gas used to carry out war but are also a root cause for exponential climate change.”

The article, authored by Mark Trahant, also examines the relationship between war and epidemics, one in which Indigenous peoples know very well.

On March 2nd, NDN Collective Director of Communications Sarah Sunshine Manning was invited to speak on an episode of Native America Calling, contributing to a discussion on the “S word.” The U.S. Interior Department identified nearly 700 federal place names using the “S word,” a pejorative term used to refer to Indigenous women. This action from the Department of Interior is being led by Secretary Deb Haaland, and is the most significant step yet in removing the “S word” from maps and signposts.

“The ‘S word’ reduces Indigenous women to objects,” said Manning. “I think it’s incredibly powerful that Secretary Haaland is leading this work [to remove the S “word”], and it really indicates what is possible when Indigenous people lead, and Indigenous women lead from that decolonial framework… This word was distorted by settlers… So to create this blanket word to refer to Indigenous women, when we all have our own languages, is incredibly problematic. For us to self-determine in this era is really critical. Not only do we have our own languages and words for ‘women,’ we also have our own place names.”

Krystal Two Bulls, NDN Collective LandBack Director, was featured on two episodes of KOTA Radio at the beginning of March. On the heels of Russia’s invasion of Ukraine, Krystal spoke to its connection to Indigenous issues and anti-militarism.

In the segment titled, “It Goes to LandBack” – Exploring the Official Anti Militarism of NDN Collective,” Krystal discusses who benefits from war, her opposition and how anti-militarism comes down to getting land back.

In the segment titled, “NDN Collective Official says War is an Indigenous Issue – Addresses Ukraine Situation”, Krystal discussed the impacts of U.S. militarism on Indigenous communities, the longstanding impacts of militarism and war and the call to engage in conversations around this subject.

“Diaspora Relief, is a collective of members across the pan-African diaspora who are deeply concerned with the difficulty experienced by Black people in their attempt to escape the war conditions currently unfolding in Ukraine. Though media outlets have often described their condition as “migrants” and “refugees” prior to their evacuation from major Ukrainian cities, the truth of the matter is that the vast majority are workers and students who found themselves segregated from other evacuees and trapped in war zones.”

“Operation Solidarity is a network of anarchists working on the principles of mutual aid and solidarity. The focus of our operation is the Ukraine: we are providing mutual aid to people on the run, supporting movements of emancipatory forces in defense against the Russian imperialist war and developing an infrastructure of solidarity with anarchists and anti-fascists from all over the world. Despite the incredible willingness to help people in need on Ukraine’s western borders, a humanitarian crisis is on the horizon. The logistics of bringing basic supplies to fleeing families are just as expensive as the fight against the enemies of freedom.”

The Digital Organizer will be responsible for building relationships with important community stakeholders including non-traditional partners through targeted outreach efforts.

The Racial Equity Organizer engages and mobilizes the public and coalition partners on racial equity and other priority issues, coordinates volunteer events, builds community conversation and oversees outreach efforts.

The Federal Grant Writer will perform opportunity research, lead federal application development, and steward relevant contacts within the Federal government programs to ensure successful partnerships with federal granting agencies. 

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 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 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 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 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.

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.