INDIGENOUS ENVIRONMENTAL NETWORK

Hellooooooo... Here's me introducing this fundraiser for Indigenous Environmental Network for $2650 to match the 2650 miles of the Pacific Crest Trail.

So I've decided to hike the PCT next year, a ~5 month trip from Mexico to Canada. The trail cuts through the ancestral lands of dozens of Native American tribes*. Native American peoples have been systematically silenced, robbed of their lands, and killed by colonizers. They also are some of the hardest hit communities in the face of climate change. That's why I'm raising money for Indigenous Environmental Network--to facilitate a just transition in our society as the US moves away from fossil fuels.

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=7MzrRYwhQCo&t=3s
https://www.ienearth.org/

Indigenous Environmental Network (IEN), started in 1990, is an alliance of Indigenous Peoples whose shared mission is to protect the sacredness of the Earth from contamination and exploitation by strengthening, maintaining, and respecting Indigenous teachings and natural laws. IEN works with Indigenous grassroots organizations and tribal governments to demand environmental justice and to build sustainable communities.

IEN’s activities include building the capacity of Indigenous communities and tribal governments to develop mechanisms to protect sacred sites, land, water, air, natural resources, health of their people and all living things, and to build economically sustainable communities. They organize campaigns, direct actions and public awareness, building the capacity of community and tribes to address environmental justice issues, develop initiatives to impact policy, and build diverse alliances.

So help IEN and Indigenous communities out and donate!

*Kumeyaay, Cupeno, Tongva, Shasta, Chinook, Yahaviatam Serrano, Fernandeno, Kitanemuk, Kawaiisu, Tubatulabal, Southern Mono Monache, Central Sierra Miwok, Nisenan, Mountain Maidu, Konkow Maidu, Atsugewi, Okwanuchu, Northern Wintu, New River Shasta, Karuk, Cow Creek Umpqua, Takelma, Molalla, Confederated Tribes of Warm Springs, Wasco and Wishram, Yakama, Snoqualmie, Okangan, Chelan, Methow, Nlakapamux2 (https://thetrek.co/pacific-crest-trail/nativelandspct/)

WE REACHED $600 IN ONE DAY! lets double it! 
The following four minutes contains over 600 files - my goal is to donate a dollar per file (or more!) 
https://vimeo.com/482942881 

Over the last several years I have had the privilege to travel to some of the most biodiverse regions of the world, meet some of the most incredible people, and study the ecosystems that allow us to live healthily. Throughout these adventures, I have been reminded of how dire of a situation we face in regard to global climate change. Through these adventures, I have also learned about the devastating impacts colonialism, forced removal, and ethnic cleansing has left on indigenous people and our natural world.

When I think of a way in which we can combat the crippling effects of climate change, several come to mind. One of these is through the ways in which Indigenous people understand and interact with the natural world. I have seen the Indigenous Environmental Network as an organization that looks at environmentalism and social justice in a unique and impactful way. This organization has the mission to protect the sacredness of Mother Earth from contamination and exploitation by strengthening, maintaining, and respecting Indigenous teachings and natural laws. IEN works with Indigenous grassroots organizations and tribal governments to demand environmental justice and to build sustainable communities – read more at https://www.ienearth.org/.

I hope that you are able to donate a dollar or two and share this video and donation link.