Rachel Snow’s legal fund - ongoing defamation case

I am a grandmother, mother, and member of the Stoney Nakoda Sioux Tribe in Morley Alberta.  My nation is comprised of three bands: the Bearspaw, the Chiniki and the Wesley (Goodstoney at Treaty). I am Wesley- Goodstoney Band.

In 2018, I assisted our Nation’s elders, the people and the land in defeating a land designation vote.

For this action- one band council- not my own -is suing me. I have been in this battle for two years. The Chiniki band has the people’s band funds to use for legal help. I do not.

I am a law school graduate from the College of Law, University of Saskatchewan, but I do not practice mainstream law.  I am the first and only Stoney law school graduate. Rather than practice mainstream law, I have chosen to educate our people to return to our traditional governance structures and the spiritual laws that once guided our people. These laws include protecting the land.

My work is from the grassroots level. I have assisted other First Nations with policy or governance issues, and I also assist our own individual people in understanding mainstream law. I speak to treaty and ongoing national actions.

I recently assisted two other women from Chiniki band - one of them, an elder from being evicted from her home. The retribution was swift. 

Now my own court case requires action by January 2021.

I do not like to ask for financial help. It is the poor and other grassroots for whom I advocate that usually step up to help me.

The funds necessary to fight or go to trial or to obtain civil representation vary but it is upwards of $10,000.00.

I do not seek this amount. I manage with the help of other indigenous lawyers to self represent but still require some funds to do this work, and research mostly on my own.

I ask for your support through, prayers, good energy and funds if you are  able to contribute. Ish nêyês. Thank you.