At NDN Collective, we know very well that Indigenous Peoples are too often denied access to spaces, resources and platforms to voice concerns and demand change. Still, we continue showing up to challenge systems, engage in critical conversations, and remind the world of the inherent knowledge that Indigenous Peoples possess as solutions for all people and Mother Earth.

In this month’s newsletter, we share highlights from COP 27 in Sharm El Sheikh, Egypt with our Climate Justice Delegation, who engaged in numerous panels and discussions on international policy related to climate change. We also lift up our tactical media coverage in Washington, D.C. to shed light on the major ICWA case, Brackeen v. Haaland. We celebrate the launch of the LANDBACK Magazine, and we welcome the 2023 Radical Imagination Cohort– all of this, and much more.

An “Eviction Notice” banner being hung over the sign of the Grand Gateway Hotel in Rapid City. Photo by Willi White for NDN Collective. March 26, 2022.

On October 19th, in response to breaking news that the Department of Justice (DOJ) filed a lawsuit against the owners and operators of the Grand Gateway Hotel and the Cheers Sports Lounge and Casino – after conducting a months long investigation sparked by NDN Collective’s organizing, protesting, marching, and filing of a separate lawsuit – NDN Collective responded:

“A precious life was lost at the Grand Gateway Hotel. We continue to honor the memory of Blaine Pourier and pray for his family as we continue this fight,” said Sunny Red Bear, racial equity director at NDN Collective. “The Uhres must be held accountable, reminded that they are on Lakota land, and understand that the tragedy of death cannot be met with racist outbursts.”

Imaged Powered by NDN Collective.

On October 31st NDN Collective’s LANDBACK Campaign officially launched sales of the limited-edition LANDBACK Magazine, He Sapa: The Heart of Everything That Is, which pivots on the cornerstone work of the LANDBACK Campaign to reignite and continue the ongoing struggle to return the He Sapa (Black Hills) to the Oceti Sakowin (Lakota/ Dakota/Nakota) Nation. LANDBACK organizing has a powerful lineage. Nellie Red Owl (1907-1992) is featured on the cover as an acknowledgment of that lineage, her courageous actions, and her commitment to reclaiming the He Sapa.

“What started as just a wild idea shared with a few brilliant minds is now a work of art that represents the past, present, and future of LANDBACK as a global movement,” Krystal Two Bulls, LANDBACK Campaign Director. “We focus locally on the He Sapa: The Heart of Everything That Is. My hope is that it activates a whole new generation of organizers to step into the centuries-long mission that our Ancestors sacrificed their lives for. It has always been about our relationship to the land, and it always will be.”

Collective Abundance Fund Image Powered by NDN Collective.

In April of this year, NDN Collective launched a comprehensive community engagement process with Indigenous people in SD, ND, and MN that included an online survey, interviews with community leaders, and hosted community conversations. The intention behind this process was to better understand community definitions and measures of collective abundance, wealth gaps, and wealth-building activities.

On November 3rd, the group released a report based on the findings of that community engagement process. The report, which includes data from over 5,000 respondents and represents Indigenous people, including those from all 23 tribes in the tri-state area, highlights key findings.

“This effort is based on dreams and aspirations, with no limitations on what is possible.  Despite the capitalist economic system that doesn’t work for us, our people shared their visions for what a life of wealth and abundance looks like for them.  Rather than hoarding money as part of a system of extraction and dehumanization, we see the possibilities for collective family wealth and abundance and solidarity economies,” said Gaby Strong, NDN Foundation Managing Director.

2022 Cohort of Radical Imagination Artists (Top Ros – Right to Left): Josue Rivas; Gabriela Spears-Rico; Hubert Martínez Calleja; Miguel Ventura; Larry McNeil. (Bottom Row – Right to Left) Daniel Cespedes; Marques Marzan; Cesar Hernandez Andres; Chad Martin; and Hāwane Rios. Image Powered by NDN Collective.

On November 4th Today, NDN Collective announced the third Radical Imagination artist cohort who will receive grants intended to support Indigenous artists to imagine, design, and create projects proposing solutions to our most intractable societal problems.

“During this time of spiraling climate change and other forms of chaos in the world, the medicine of Indigenous arts is needed more than ever”, shared Tina Kuckkahn (Ojibwe), Director of Grantmaking. “The prayers in our songs, stories, dances and visual arts touch hearts and inspire the kind of change that is urgently needed at this time.”

Lorenzo Serna, Director of Tactical Media for NDN Collective, interviews Rebecca Nagle, Host, writer, and producer of This Land Podcast.

On November 9th, the United States Supreme Court heard Brackeen v. Haaland (2021), a case whose ruling could shake the entire foundation of the Indian Child Welfare Act (ICWA), impacting Native American children, families, land and Tribal sovereignty as we know it.
One person who has been following this case diligently is Rebecca Nagle, Cherokee journalist, host, producer, and writer of This Land Podcast.

On Thursday, October 27th, NDN Collective’s Director of Tactical Media, Lorenzo Serna, sat down with Rebecca for an NDN LIVE discussion on what the Indian Child Welfare Act is, how it is under attack, who is organizing these efforts, and what this means for ICWA and the sovereign rights of Tribal Nations across the so-called United States.

On Wednesday, November 9, NDN Collective joined Indigenous advocates and allies outside of the Supreme Court as oral arguments in the federal lawsuit, Brackeen v. Haaland (2021) began. Known as the “Brackeen case,” Brackeen v. Haaland is challenging the constitutionality of the Indian Child Welfare Act (ICWA), an act passed in 1978 to ensure that Native American children are kept with Native families.

The outcry of support for ICWA, Tribal sovereignty, and the intervening Tribes involved in this case brought relatives together from across Turtle Island. Before the hearing began on Wednesday, hundreds  gathered together in prayer, song, and medicine for the conversation taking place inside the doors of the Supreme Court.

Following November 9th Election results several members of NDN Collective responded.

“These historic wins show that many believe in the foundation and leadership of Indigenous people, particularly Indigenous women. Over the next few years, the fierceness of our communities will come to the forefront of important battles for our collective rights. We will continue bringing our struggles, solutions, and lived experience to the halls of power, all while operating from the fundamental principle that honoring Indigenous self-determination will create a more just and equitable world for all,” said Nick Tilsen, president and CEO of NDN Collective.

Image Powered by NDN Collective.

At this year’s United Nations Climate Change Conference (COP27) taking place in Sharm El Sheikh, Egypt, NDN Collective is partnering with the Indigenous Peoples’ Caucus to host the Indigenous Peoples’ Pavilion – a critical space for Indigenous communities from across the world to advance climate justice and showcase Indigenous-led solutions and strategies for addressing the many impacts of climate change.

“Attending the COP27 and advocating in this space is both a challenge and a burden for many Indigneous Peoples,” said Jade Begay, Climate Justice Director, NDN Collective. “Beyond the costs of travel, attendance and time, we often leave this conference with lackluster commitments from world leaders. But it is vital that we show up and continue pushing nation states and key negotiators to center Indigenous and human rights in climate agreements. We will continue to push world leaders to prioritize solutions rooted in justice and equity rather than market mechanisms or technological solutions that only act as band aids to the ever-growing climate crisis,” said Jade Begay, Climate Justice Director at NDN Collective.

Ahead of the United Nations Climate Change Conference (COP27) taking place in Sharm El Sheikh, Egypt, NDN Collective announced key events they will be leading during the first week of the conference, as well as issue areas they will be focused on during their time at COP27.

“One of NDN Collective’s main purposes at COP27 is to actively interrogate the barriers preventing Indigenous Peoples from being decision makers within these conferences and negotiations,” said Jade Begay, Climate Justice Director at NDN Collective. “For instance, the U.S. State Department plans to grant a badge to only one Tribal representative – which erases the diversity of Tribes and Indigenous communities in the U.S., and unfairly puts all Indigenous issues on one representative. The U.S. must work to ensure more inclusive and diverse participation for Tribal and Indigenous leaders across the board.

On November 7th, the International Indigenous Peoples’ Forum on Climate Change (IIPFCC) announced the official opening of the Indigenous Peoples’ Pavilion, a critical space for Indigenous Peoples from across the world to advance climate justice, uphold the rights of Indigenous Peoples, and showcase Indigenous-led solutions and strategies for addressing the many impacts of climate change.

“It is more critical than ever for world leaders to center Indigenous solutions to the growing climate crisis — but it will take sustained, organized power from our communities to get their attention over the noise of false corporate solutions,” said Nick Tilsen, President and CEO of NDN Collective. “The Indigenous Peoples Pavilion provides space and resources for Indigenous relatives from across the globe to share knowledge and strategize around getting real solutions in front of decision makers who can – and must – take bold action to save our shared planet.”

On Tuesday, November 8th, at COP27’s U.S. Center, Janene Yazzie, NDN Collective Southwest Regional Director, provided an essential Indigenous lens to opening statements at the Leaders Summit that kicked off the global conference. 

“We have to center rights and community wellbeing if we are really going to develop the holistic solutions and approaches that are necessary to truly enable effective action for a just transition for people and the planet,” said Janene Yazzie, NDN Collective Southwest Regional Director.

On November 10th at COP27, NDN Collective hosted a meeting between Ali Zaidi, the White House National Climate Advisor, frontline Indigenous and Black organizers, discussing IRA, mining, oil and gas leases.

“To effectively address the climate crisis, world leaders must seek out and engage with frontline communities who are already being forced to mitigate drastic changes to their environment and ecosystems,” said Jade Begay, climate justice director at NDN Collective. “In order to be effective, these conversations need to be in-depth, specific, and ongoing. We need to work collaboratively and continuously with governments to get to the root of issues folks are experiencing on the ground, and center the solutions we know are best for our communities.”

Image of NDN Collective Headquarters in Rapid City, South Dakota. Photo by NDN Collective.

Community Action Fund (CAF) prioritizes frontline, grassroots and community-based efforts that defend our people, communities and nations against negative resource extraction. 

Red Lake Treaty Camp embodies the purpose and intent of CAF, having held ground at The Red Lake crossing of the pipeline with powerful frontline organizing. CAF enabled Red Lake Treaty Camp to successfully provide campers with a solid space to create a strong impact on how locals viewed water issues and educated local and state law enforcement on treaty laws and rights. Defend was a core strategy Red Lake Treaty Camp worked towards over the course of the CAF grant, along with Decolonization, as ceremony also contributed to the success of the camp. 

Community Action Fund (CAF) is closed to applications for 2022 but will open again in 2023 to provide urgent response grants ($15,000-30,000) to groups and individuals most impacted by local challenges, ensuring that resources and decision-making ability lies with those most affected by the results and most equipped to solve immediate challenges. 

For more information on this grant and other NDN Collective grant opportunities available, please visit: Grants at NDN

Demetrius Johnson, NDN Collective LANDBACK Organizer took part in the “Rethinking Thanksgiving: From Land Acknowledgement to LANDBACK,” on Sunday, Nov. 20.

NDN Collective joined Tonatierra, American Indian Law Alliance, Sogorea Te Land Trust, and the Indigenous Solidarity Network in interrogating the colonial legacy of the ‘Thanksgiving’ holiday and sharing how to join efforts to protect land and water.

In the November 7th, Nonprofit Quarterly article, Community-Driven Philanthropy: Giving Away Assets, Not Grants, Crystal Echo-hawk, alongside co-author Favianna Rodriguz, discuss new models of philanthropy that center communities and the need to return resources to them which were stolen.

“Philanthropic leaders and donors must let go of their power. Philanthropists must not simply make investments, but return them, allowing for trust to be built in frontline communities, with no strings attached.”

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

On November 9th, following oral arguments in Brackeen v. Haaland (2021), Brandy Calabaza, NDN Collective Communications Associate went LIVE in front of the United States Supreme Court to touch base with ICWA advocates, attorneys and more on this groundbreaking case.

Ahead of this groundbreaking November 9th Brackeen v. Haaland hearing, Lorenzo Serna, NDN Collective Director of Tactical Media, sat down with Rebecca Nagle, Cherokee journalist and host, producer, and writer of This Land Podcast, for an NDN LIVE discussion on what the Indian Child Welfare Act is, how it is under attack, who is organizing these efforts and what this means for ICWA and the sovereign rights of Indigenous peoples across the so-called United States.

In April of this year, NDN Collective launched a comprehensive community engagement process with Indigenous people in SD, ND, and MN that included an online survey, interviews with community leaders, and hosted community conversations. The intention behind this process was to better understand community definitions and measures of collective abundance, wealth gaps, and wealth-building activities.

On November 3rd the group released Community Voices on the Collective Abundance Fund, a report based on the findings of that community engagement process.

Listen in as Lorenzo Serna, NDN Collective Director of Tactical Media, sits down with Gaby Strong, NDN Foundation Managing Director and Teresa Peterson, NDN Foundation Program Manager for the Collective Abundance Fund for an insightful conversation surrounding the community engagement report – focusing on the purpose of community engagement, the process for meeting with the various communities across the tri-state region and how this critical data will help to address the wealth gap on Indigenous terms.

ICWA Supporter stands outside the Supreme Court holding a sign for traffic to see. Photo by Steph Viera for NDN Collective.

Protect ICWA, Indigenous children and Tribal Sovereignty NOW! Use your cell phone as a tool! Text SIGN PCCPGW to 50409 and follow prompts. This will send a letter to your state officials.

Support and amplify the following organizations as they work tirelessly to protect ICWA:

Sign their petition to protect ICWA HERE.
Tell President Biden to take immediate action in defending Native children and sovereignty HERE.

The Associate Director of NDN Action provides support to the Managing Director of NDN Action and the overall action team. They will oversee and expand NDN Action’s Indigenous rights and policy advocacy operations, programs, and services.

The Project Manager is directly responsible for organizing, supervising, scheduling & planning of multiple internal construction and development projects to maximize cost efficiency and motivate contractors to complete each project assigned on time and under budget.

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 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 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.