(edited on Oct 11, 2021 to reflect updated needs and information!) Donate to help support Indigenous organizers who are working on mutual aid and resistance efforts across Turtle Island!  The world has watched Native People take a stand to defend the waters of ancient Anishanabe territory wetlands. Enbrige Oil is barreling ahead with the construction of a pipeline, unparalleled even by other monster projects such as the ETP’s Dakota Access Pipeline. These industrial endeavors are marketed to Americans as a viable pathway for economic growth and efficiency.  In reality, they are just another battle that indigenous people face in a long chronicle of genocide, abuse, and the commodification of natural resources on their lands. Dedicated Native organizers have pledged their bodies, minds, and hearts to be safe keepers and caretakers of the Earth.  As many of their elders and relatives before them, they stand as the voices of the water and all of Turtle Island.   In the past two years, we’ve been given an opportunity to imagine a better existence and reconsider our priorities.  We hope that you will donate to support the following eight indigenous organizers who value the Earth like we all ought to, uphold entire communities, and bravely protect our planet. Last year, collectively we were able to raise over $10,000 to enhance the reach of these organizers. They were very grateful to receive the help and we hope that we can assist them even more this year. Please share this fundraiser widely. The Support Indigenous Organizers During COVID-19 &amp; Beyond Fundraiser will support the following people**:  Cherri Foytlin Cherri helps run a food forest that provides food and indigenous medicinal plants to families across South Louisiana.  She also helps provide a residential and safe space for water protectors and social justice leaders across the country.  Over the past year, Cherri has focused on mutual aid efforts in the areas around her most hard hit by climate and covid disaster.   Jen Deerinwater Jen is a citizen of the Cherokee Nation of Oklahoma, Bisexual, Two Spirit, multiply-Disabled journalist, speaker, and organizer.  She is the Founding  Executive Director of Crushing Colonialism, an Indigenous media project.  Her journalism addresses the wide range of issues her communities face, amplifying the experiences of Native, disabled, and 2LGBTQIA+ people. More of these perspectives in media have always been needed, but are now especially crucial to center the communities most impacted by the public health, economic, and political crises of our time.     Mama Julz Mama Julz is the founder of the Mothers Against Meth Alliance (M.A.M.A.), which confronts the devastating impacts of drugs, violence, and sex trafficking brought by TransCanada to her territory. M.A.M.A.’s work is focused on advocacy, community action, drug education, and the distribution of rehabilitation resources that reflect the traditions and customs of the Lakota, Nakota, and Dakota people.  Mercury Bitsuie  Mercury, a member of Diné Land and Water, has been supporting Navajo elders in Black Mesa and so-called Sanders, AZ for many years.  The focus of his work has been to haul clean water to people in an area where the Church Rock Uranium Spill (1979) has permanently contaminated the watershed, and to haul wood to elders who live with no electricity, and rely on wood stoves for heat.     Victor Puertas Victor is a member of the Yagua nation, one of the many Indigenous Nations of the Amazon area of so-called Peru. Colonization, land theft, civil war and environmental destruction brought him and his family to the U.S. Victor provides support and solidarity in any way possible; much of his work focuses on the intersections of land and water defense, indigenous self-determination/autonomy, and migrant justice.  He is currently working with Diné Land and Water, an indigenous, grassroots organization that is delivering basic supplies, and hauling water and wood for elders living in the Navajo Nation.  Kira Young Kira is an indigenous, eco-feminist insurgent working on resistance efforts through grassroots, rights-based, political organizing. Kira has also been working with her husband, Mizhikia, on food sovereignty and energy sovereignty projects in rural Frederick county VA and in the Eastern Panhandle of WV. Mizhikia, a member of the Prairie Band Potawatomi Nation, is a former, hot-shot, search and rescue paramedic, suffering from pulmonary fibrosis as a result of his first responder duties. Their son Connor became a Standing Rock veteran at 11 years old, caring for younger children in camp. The Young family needs a tractor to continue their food sovereignty efforts as well as their community garden and community garden food bank. Flare  Flare will be sending their portion of what’s raised to Dine Land &amp; Water. Timothy Cominghay Timothy is an enrolled member of the Standing Rock Sioux. After the NoDAPL occupation he worked for nearly 2 years helping guide the over 800 falsely arrested individuals through the legal system. Since then he has been working with various individuals and organizations to empower indigenous peoples. Currently he is splitting time between resisting the Line 3 tar sands pipeline at the headwaters of the Mississippi River, and organizing mutual aid for the indigenous and new american communities in Grand Forks, ND.  *These 8 Indigenous organizers participated in Appalachians Against Pipelines’ “Appalachian Climate Action Camp” in March 2020, which was the inspiration for this fundraiser.  **There are 2 other Indigenous organizers who may receive support from this fundraiser. We will add their info here as it becomes available.

Anonymous

Sarah Cross

Catherine Battey

Davis Pfund

Bela Silver

hannah brady

Maya Weber

Sallie Chaballier

Alex Chaballier

Shannon Nolan

McKenna Rowe

Support Indigenous Organizers During COVID-19

Support Indigenous Organizers During COVID-19

Still $7,782 to go. Help us build momentum.