Honoring the resistance, struggles, and victories–both past and present this May Day. |
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Dear Relative,
Our team is excited to announce our first ecosystem newsletter focused on organizing, advocacy, and direct action. In the spirit of today’s Day of International Worker Solidarity, we welcome new, blooming movements this Spring. From Palestine to Mni Luzahan, we hope to spotlight our resilience and bring opportunities for deep organizing emerging across the globe.
Through this newsletter, we aim to build a trusted resource for our communities, share what we see on the ground, and weave in the lessons necessary to nourish and protect our commitment to our people and the land.
As we witness the rise of protests and solidarity encampments across the country and the threats against our community becoming bolder, we must come together to meet the current moment head-on. Whether you’re a seasoned organizer, new to Movement, or an activist looking for ways to plug in, we hope our offerings inspire you to join us in practice this season.
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Remembering Our Brother, Richard Bluecloud Castaneda
We honor and remember a son, husband, father, and our brother in the Movement. Richard exuded healing joy and radiant energy. His infectious smile and laughter truly brightened up any room. We’re keeping Richard’s family and loved ones close to our hearts and in our prayers.
Richard belonged to the Pima-Maricopa people from the Salt River Reservation. He graduated from the Institute of American Indian Arts (IAIA) and earned his Masters degree at the San Francisco Art Institute. He was a talented fine art photographer and multimedia artist. He came to photography through the art world, creating inspiring images, capturing beautiful portraits, professional photographs, and making a documentary. His art installations have been displayed in various galleries. At Standing Rock, he went from observing the Movement to being an active participant, standing on the frontlines, toe to toe with police and DAPL mercenaries, capturing moments of bravery and resistance. Other times he’d just be another cousin sharing stories, sitting around the fires, unafraid to pitch in in the kitchen, make coffee for everyone, or do whatever work was needed to help everyone make it through the long, cold nights.
He preferred to shoot on Canons, use long lenses, and be unobtrusive. What a gift he had, to see people in their unguarded and honest moments and to represent them in their best and most authentic selves. He saw people for who they truly are.
Richard, we will no longer see you on the frontlines, in the deserts, on the beaches of Hawaii, or in the sacred Black Hills. But your spirit lives on with the lasting imprint you have made in those places and we will always carry your memory in our hearts. It’s easy to think we have more time, and it’s such a hard lesson when we are shown otherwise, but you truly embodied what it means to live in the full beauty of every moment. The laughter and love you leave behind is a blessing and so many of us are deeply saddened by your passing. Thank you for all that you gave. Rest kola, rest. All of the tomorrows are yours!
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Join us in the call to #FreeLeonardPeltier
Our relative Leonard remains in a maximum security federal penitentiary facility at the age of 79 years old and his health is deteriorating rapidly; death is imminent.
Tribal Leaders across the globe are joining voices in imploring the Biden Administration to support the compassionate release of Leonard Peltier at the Department of Justice.
Leonard Peltier is in his 49th year of incarceration and is the longest-serving Indigenous political prisoner in United States history. Join us and tribal leaders across the globe by urging Attorney General Merrick Garland to support Compassionate Release! To learn more about compassionate release, read our latest blog with our partners at Native Organizers Alliance.
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Tell USFS: No Golden Crest Drilling!
The Black Hills Clean Water Alliance convened to speak out against the approval of the drilling permit for the Solitario Resources Golden Crest gold exploration project. The U.S. Forest Service recently made the decision to fast-track a drilling permit all while ignoring the visible objection and public resistance from the Black Hills community, the general public, and the Spearfish City Council. Watch NDN Organizer Taylor Gunhammer’s full statement and join us to Call and Email to let USFS know #NoGoldenCrestDrilling!
| | | | NDN LIVE: Building Movements During Times of State Repression | |
In case you missed us–NDN’s Tactical Media Director Lorenzo Serna joined our President/CEO Nick Tilsen, Mary Hooks (The Movement for Black Lives), and Lenna Nasr (Palestinian Youth Movement), for our live discussion about the tools and tactics utilized by the state to repress our movements.
From RICO and the rise of surveillance to mass arrests of protesters, our guests share the ways we can continue to resist, tear down, build and cultivate systems of care.
| | Upcoming Black Hills Sacred Lands Return Strategy Meeting on May 2nd! | |
Hesapa, known as the center of everything, is the spiritual homeland of the Lakota Nation. Our ancestors fought for these sacred lands which were stolen in 1877.
Led by the Treaty Councils, our Traditional Leadership, & the Tribal Governments, we come together to build the strategy to get the Black Hills back!
You can watch last month’s recap below.
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Our NDN team hosted their first ever Know Your Rights training in Mni Luzahan (Rapid City) with trainer Jason Sole from Humanize My Hoodie.
This training was a response to the targeting, killing, and incarceration of Native people by the hands of Rapid City Police, in addition to the unjust rulings for our relatives by the South Dakota State Attorney.
Looking to learn more about upcoming trainings and skilling up on keeping us safe? Join our network today!
| | DETROIT, MI 5/24-5/26: People's Conference for Palestine | Join organizations, collectives, movement leaders, community members, students and intellectuals, artists and cultural workers, and activists for a three-day convening to reflect, exchange, and strengthen ourselves and our fight for a free Palestine. | | Support the Wayusa School and Flavio’s LANDBACK efforts in Ecuador | |
Flavio Santi (Kichwa-Shuar), a plant medicine healer of the Ayuy Yu Clan and his community continue to be target of the state.
In their protection of sacred sites, lands, and waterways, Indigenous people in the Ecuadorian Amazon face the destruction of their homes, military intimidation, assault, illegal jailing, contamination of ancestral land and waters by petrol toxins, and the division of their community by oil company bribery.
Join us in supporting Flavio and his family in covering legal fees and funding the continued resistance against illegal mining.
| | Save the date for IP3 Action Camp in September! | |
IP3’s four day camps provide Nonviolent Direct Action and action skills training for Indigenous activists, organizers, community members, and Protectors of All Nations.
Stay up to date and learn about this year’s training tracks and workshops on their website.
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POLICY
People’s Response Act
“The People’s Response Act emphasizes an inclusive, holistic, and health-centered approach to public safety by creating a public safety division within the Department of Human Health and Services — because communities and experts agree that public safety is a matter of public health. It adopts a new approach to public safety that will save lives, and build systems of care that are rooted in improving the well-being of all communities.”
➡️ Read the full bill here.
➡️ Tell your Legislator to Sponsor the People's Response Act
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Community Action & Safety Guides
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Equality Labs' Anti-Doxing Guide For Activists: “An anti-doxing guide to support activists around the world who may be targeted for resisting white supremacy, Islamophobia, casteism, antisemitism, anti-LGBTQ+ harassment, or any form of authoritarianism.”
| | Whether you’re out on the streets demanding a #FreePalestine, the freedom of political prisoners, or on the frontlines to #StopCopCity, we continue to support and resource all those who continue to resist. Our power is nourished when we can see our struggles for justice as interconnected. Share these opportunities with your networks and community–we’re all in this together. | |
In Solidarity,
Korina Barry,
Managing Director NDN Action
NDN Collective
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