One thing our Ancestors knew well was how to plan and prepare for the future. Life was challenging in different ways back then, and they knew that our survival depended our preparedness and our commitment to ensuring that our children and future generations would not just survive, but thrive. Our Ancestors prayed for us, and they took action for us. Today, we do the same for our families, our communities and our Nations.

In this month’s newsletter, we are honored to share with you a number of ways that the NDN Collective ecosystem is working in community across Turtle Island, standing in our power, and organizing steadfastly for an even more empowered and abundant future. We share highlights from the past month of organizing, including NEW updates in our ongoing efforts to hold systemic racism accountable in Rapid City. We share a number of uplifting stories about Indigenous people coming together in times of action and solidarity, and times of joy and community. We also share NEW funding opportunities, including the Community Action Fund for frontline organizing, and the Collective Abundance Fund Survey which invites Native American residents of Minnesota, South Dakota, and North Dakota to support in the design of a groundbreaking funding opportunity to be rolled out in 2023. And as always, we share plenty of ways for you to take action, and so much more.

“Indigenous matriarchs, mothers and grandmothers have sparked the path towards healing, liberation and resilience in our communities since time immemorial. Every moment of action and vocalization of truth for the betterment of the collective has been a testament to the reclamation and power by our matriarchs to lead as they always have.

We also acknowledge the challenges faced by our relatives who may not have those relationships with their mothers. On a day dedicated to honoring mothers we extend gratitude to those aunties, grandparents, dads, siblings, and all who have stepped in to fill those roles with love and attentiveness.”

An Indigenous woman holds a sign for the boycott against racism in Rapid City, SD. Photo by Willi White for NDN Collective.

Over 100 community members showed up to support the first day of the action and take a stand against local area businesses with racist policies. The boycott was sparked by Connie Uhre’s public threat to ban all Native Americans from her businesses, followed by at least two documented incidents of the Grand Gateway Hotel refusing service to Native Americans. The Uhre’s own The Grand Gateway Hotel, Cheers Lounge, The Foothills Inn and Uhre Realty.

“This is bigger than just forcing the Uhre family out of business for their racist policies – it’s about addressing systemic racism in our community at all levels by holding people accountable,” said Sunny Red Bear, Racial Equity Director at NDN Collective. “We want the Rapid City community to realize that their dollars translate into power – which is why we’re asking our neighbors to support us by refusing to spend money at establishments that have expressed hateful and racist sentiments towards Indigenous people.”

NDN Collective’s Racial Equity Campaign invites all allies and community members to join the boycott, either in-person, or virtually.  The following form has been created for those interested in supporting boycott efforts against the Grand Gateway Hotel. Options to support include writing online reviews, phone banking, writing letters, and showing up on the picket line.
 
Rapid City businesses are also invited to submit a statement in support of the boycott, taking a stand against racist business practices while committing to policies and practices that address systemic racism.  Businesses can submit statements here.  

“It’s so important for us to use our voices in our own community,” said Sunny Red Bear, NDN Collective Racial Equity Campaign Director. “This boycott is the next step.” 

Indigenous Artists gather at the end of a successful concert for the people. Photo By Aria Stafford for Rapid Skillz

Indigenous artists and musicians from across Turtle Island gathered in Rapid City, South Dakota on Saturday, April 16, in the first-ever For the People Festival. The live concert hosted at Rapid Skillz Sports Complex was emceed by Whitney Recountre and featured a special line-up of musical guests and entertainers including Antoine Edwards, Opie & Des, Ekitchetu, Def-I, Fawn Wood, Terrance Jade, The Bearhead Sisters, Tonia Jo Hall, Gunner Jules, Spur Pourier, Jaque Fragua, Night Shield, DJ reHst, Dawson Dayne, Let it Bee, and Stacks Thunderhawk.

“Nanaskamon (I’m thankful) for NDN Collective for making this beautiful event happen,” said singer and musician, Fawn D. Wood (Plains Cree and Salish). “In my whole time as an artist, I’ve never experienced moments like this where I had the crowd singing with me– it absolutely blew me away, and I really had to thank the team that worked so hard to make this happen in such short notice and I really believe when things fall into place like that it’s truly meant to be.”

NDN Collective recently announced the selection of the Regional Advisory Committee for the Collective Abundance Fund– a program slated to disperse nearly $50 million to Native individuals and families across Minnesota, North Dakota, and South Dakota in early 2023. Each member of the committee brings a rich background and lived experience in their home communities, both reservation and urban. They are grassroots leaders, language and culture advocates, Tribal representatives, movement-builders, educators, entrepreneurs, and so much more.

The development of the committee comes less than six months after NDN Collective announced that is was selected by the Bush Foundation for a Community Trust Fund to redistribute nearly $50 million to Indigenous Communities. $50 million was also distributed to Black-led organization Nexus Community Partners, as a means of addressing racialized wealth disparities in the Black community.

On April 30, NDN Collective launched the Collective Abundance Fund survey – a community engagement tool being utilized to redefine wealth on Indigenous terms and help redistribute nearly $50 million to Native individuals and families across Minnesota, North Dakota, and South Dakota beginning in early 2023.

“Our voices and lived experiences matter – and so do our visions and dreams for an abundant future. The planning and community engagement process we are undertaking will inform the design of the Collective Abundance Fund and is rooted in NDN Collective’s commitment to self-determination,” said Terri Peterson, Grants Manager for the Collective Abundance Fund.

Note: Survey is only intended for Native American residents of Turtle Island residing in ND, SD or MN.

On April 22 NDN Collective announced the online grant portal for the Community Action Fund (CAF) which will provide modest, urgent response funding to direct action and frontline organizing across Turtle Island, also known as the post-colonial borders of North America.

The CAF will help further Indigenous Peoples’ mobilization strategies as it relates to the defense, development, and decolonization of Indigenous peoples and the planet. $350,000 is available to support such efforts in 2022 with grants averaging $15,000 and ranging up to $30,000.

“We prioritize frontline, grassroots and community-based efforts that defend our people, communities and Nations against negative resource extraction that poisons our people, pollutes our water, destroys our lands, contributes to climate change and violates our human rights,” said Gaby Strong, NDN Foundation Managing Director.

NDN Collective responded to the April 15th announcement from the Department of Interior that the Bureau of Land Management (BLM) will post notices for significantly reformed onshore oil and gas lease sales – an 80 percent reduction from the acreage originally nominated for lease sales

“We are grateful that the Department of Interior is listening to tribal and scientific communities in our call to end fossil fuel infrastructure development as a critical piece of mitigating the climate crisis,” said Kailea Frederick, NDN Collective Climate Justice Organizer.

“We must carry this win forward to remain steadfast in our work to shift from fossil fuels to renewable energy, and we must also turn our attention to reforming offshore oil and gas leasing. It is clear that the Department of Interior has been paying attention to the need for making decarbonization more accessible to Native and Indigenous homes, communities, and Tribal Nations, and we need that accessibility to extend even further,” said Jade Begay, director of Climate Justice at NDN Collective and member of the White House Environmental Justice Advisory Council.

In Executive Order 14008 on Tackling the Climate Crisis at Home and Abroad, President Biden directed the Council on Environmental Quality (CEQ) to create a Climate and Economic Justice Screening Tool. The purpose of the tool is to help Federal agencies identify disadvantaged communities that are marginalized, underserved, and overburdened by pollution. The current version of the tool provides socioeconomic, environmental, and climate information to inform decisions that may affect these communities. The tool identifies disadvantaged communities through publicly-available, nationally-consistent datasets.

Since the launch of the beta version of the Climate and Economic Justice Screening Tool, we have found key issues that will negatively impact Tribes and create unequal access to grants within Justice 40. It is critical that Tribes across Indian Country participate in the current public comment process to name these issues before the tool becomes finalized.

Join us on May 16th, 3pm EST / 12pm PST for a training and webinar where we will discuss the tool and its impacts. We will also guide participants through the steps to make public comment.

Jade Begay, NDN Collective Climate Justice Campaign Director, featured in documentary that recounts the true story of Black and Brown Environmentalists “Toward Environmental Justice” teaches others about the influence of Black and Indigenous folk on the Environmental Justice Movement.

Janene Yazzie, NDN Collective SW Regional Director, featured in an Atmos article on the Rights of Nature Movement. The article features insight from Indigenous advocates, including Yazzie, who decry nature-based solutions as the answer to combatting the climate crisis.

Lorenzo Serna, NDN Collective Director of Tactical Media. Photo By Steph Viera for NDN Collective.

On Monday, May 2nd, NDN Collective Director of Tactical Media Lorenzo Serna was present at the American Indian Month Kick-off in Minneapolis, MN, where a march in celebration of the month ensued, followed by a meal and community gathering at the Minneapolis American Indian Center.

On Thursday, May 5th, Lorenzo journeyed to Boom Island Park at the Survivor’s Memorial in Minneapolis, Minnesota (Dakota and Anishinaabe Territory) for the National Day of Awareness for missing and murdered women and relatives.

Volunteer opportunities available for in-person and virtual support, including writing online reviews, phone banking, writing letters, and showing up on the picket line.

Our relatives in New Mexico are experiencing an extremely early wildfire season. As of May 3rd 2022, over one million acres have burned in the state. Here are some ways to support community and animal kin through this devastating time, by way of the Poeh Cultural Center and Laguna Community Foundation in New Mexico.

Items to donate include but are not limited to: Water, Canned Food, Toiletries, Clothing, Dog & Cat Food, Snacks, Personal Hygiene (Men’s and Women’s), Paper Plates/Bowls, Paper Cups, Utensils, Etc.

Contact Info: (505) 455-5040

Donate at: Lagunacf.org/donate
Deliveries to the Pueblo of Cochiti can be made at the Pueblo Checkpoint  
For more info on making a delivery, call:  (505) 219-5982

On April 30, NDN Collective launched the Collective Abundance Fund survey – a community engagement tool being utilized to redefine wealth on Indigenous terms and help redistribute nearly $50 million to Native individuals and families across Minnesota, North Dakota, and South Dakota beginning in early 2023; this is expected to occur over a four year period.

With special attention to rapid response and tactical media, the Tactical Media Associate works across a host of disciplines and platforms, including livestream video productions, post-production on videos, on-the-ground event coverage, and copywriting.

The Social Media Manager administers NDN Collective social media platforms including Facebook, Twitter, Instagram, YouTube, TikTok and LinkedIn. Primary responsibilities include leading the Social Media Team, building a dynamic social media strategy that maintains the vision and mission of NDN Collective while building Indigenous power.

With special attention to media strategy, narrative and copy editing, the Deputy Director of Communications  works across a host of disciplines and platforms, including email, social media, blogs, website, and management of internal and external communications systems.

The Executive Assistant to the President & CEO provides services essential to the mission of the organization and the day-to-day operations of the President’s Office. This position also provides support to the organization’s Board of Directors.

The Administrative Associate duties and responsibilities include providing administrative support to the President & CEO and Executive Assistant to the President & CEO. This position will ensure efficient operation of the President’s office on a daily basis.

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 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.

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.