Springing Into Actions-Education & Celebration

Aaniin (Hello),

My name is Gaagigeyaashiik- Everlasting Wind (Dawn Goodwin). I live on the White Earth Reservation and am a member of the Mississippi Band of Anishinaabeg/Ojibwe. I am one of four co-founders of R.I.S.E. Coalition. I want to include some background on our coalition and the scope of work we do and highlight the current fundraising campaign.

R.I.S.E. (Resilient Indigenous Sisters Engaging) COALITION

Vision: We are the women calling upon you to rise and protect all that is sacred.

Mission: To educate others about climate change, environmental protection, water protection, and treaties to empower and inspire our communities to take action for the protection of our environment and the people.

We also focus on providing opportunities for our communities to participate in cultural activities for healing due to multi-generational historical trauma in hopes to bring more people to action and onto a positive life path.

Co-founding Sisters: Debra Topping, Sherry Couture, Karen Durfee & Dawn Goodwin

Four Women brought together through their passion to protect the balance of the four sacred elements - nibi, aki, noodin, & ishkode (water, earth, wind, fire)

The sisters in R.I.S.E. Coalition met one another during the Line 3 Minnesota Public Utilities Commission (MN PUC) public commentary hearings, where Debra Topping of Nagajiwanong (Fond du lac) took note of the positive qualities of each of her newfound sisters.

Our determination to protect Treaties, the lands, and our inherent rights was our inspiration to co-found R.I.S.E. Coalition during a 2019 retreat in a little cabin located near lake Gitchi-Gami. As we sat around a fire, our discussion led to the development of this coalition of sisters protecting all that is sacred.

As resilient sisters, we’re engaging, active, and present, at numerous layers of tribal, state, and local governments. We also network with other nonprofit environmental organizations such as; Indigenous Environmental Network, Sierra Club-North Star Chapter, MNIPL, Honor the Earth, 1855 Treaty Authority, Niibi Center, and MN350.

It is nearly time for Sugar Bush, our Anishinaabeg New Year and the warming days have us preparing for cultural activities, environmental protection actions, and educational events. Our new fundraiser is focusing on community involvement.

We are fundraising for:

We would like to spotlight the Gitchi-Gami Celebration on March 19th, The location is the Sacred Heart Music Center in Duluth, MN. from 10 am-10 pm; gathering the people together to share, educate, plan, and celebrate as we prepare for the upcoming seasons. WE INVITE YOU TO JOIN US!

We will share food, music and dance. Our goal for this is $10,000.

Cultural activities: Sugarbush, sewing, food sovereignty projects such as a seed swap and plant exchange/giveaway, and Elders Spring Celebration are some of the activities we want to bring to the people. We continue to learn, grow and share experiences with inter-generational participation as we reclaim cultural lifeways while also having conversations about sustainable choices, climate change, and local mining, commercial agriculture and water concerns. Our goal is $30,000 to continue this work through the next year.

Environmental advocacy: participation and sponsorship of Waadookowaad Amikwag, copper-nickel mining education and direct actions (popups and Landback), Spirit of Water-July 15, 2023, Relay For Our Water #2, and Rights of Mississippi Canoe Journey to name some of the events. Our goal is to raise $10,000 for mining education and events.

Waadookawaad Amikwag - this group of citizen scientists and indigenous people has been monitoring the environmental damage caused by Enbridge during their Line 3/93 replacement project. While state agencies continue to shirk their responsibilities, this group has been on the ground taking water samples, photographs and imaging, and observing the activities of contractors upon the land as they continue to attempt fixes for the three aquifer breaches they account for. Thermal data indicates up to 26 other areas of hydrological damage. We plan to continue on the ground monitoring, water testing, education, and advocacy along with gathering other scientific evidence. We need to raise $10,000 for these endeavors.

Our total fundraiser campaign is $60,000. Miigwech for your continued support of our efforts to educate and protect all that is sacred.