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Dear Relatives,
As we navigate the heart of the Winter season, we pause to acknowledge the contradictions we face in a season meant to slow down, reflect, and rest as we come to a head with the challenges our people are up against and the need to sustain our power long-term.
In this issue of our newsletter, our thought leaders share their take on building resilience, fostering creative resistance, and mobilizing for collective action. When we can share the tools, strategies, and stories from our local, national, and international efforts–we can turn challenges into opportunities for growth and connection.
At the core of our being is the power of self-determination and revolutionary optimism–a deep love and conviction for a liberated future. Our people’s hope and determination allow us to shape power, build defense, and nurture the solidarity needed for radical change. The active creation of a world where our communities thrive, where we honor our ancestors, and safeguard the future of generations to come. Check out our team leads as they imagine, share, and remind us that our greatest strength lies in our ability to come together, learn from one another, and adapt to the ever-changing landscape.
| | Indigenous Leadership and Shared Vision |
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How can we collectively work toward shared visions of care, resistance, and wins through Indigenous leadership?
- Share power among leaders and create space for diverse voices, including elders and youth.
- Build solidarity across movements and communities.
- Prioritize self-care and wellness to prevent burnout.
- Develop skills like food growing, first aid, and digital security to prepare for crises.
| | Policy Issues and Indigenous Sovereignty |
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What domestic and global policy issues (e.g., Indigenous sovereignty, Palestine, climate disasters) should our people be most concerned about as we approach the first year under the Trump administration?
- Indigenous sovereignty and self-determination are critical.
- Climate change and corporate co-optation of international mechanisms (e.g., the Conference Of the Parties) are major threats.
- Indigenous-led solutions are essential for addressing global challenges.
- Building stronger alliances with international movements to fight against global oligarchy.
| | Building Alliances with International Movements |
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How can we build stronger alliances with international movements to address policy issues and support disproportionately impacted Indigenous communities?
- Recognize that we are all fighting the same oppressive systems.
- Share resources and strategies across movements.
- Focus on collective care and mutual aid as a foundation for resistance.
| | Grounding and Collective Care |
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How can we collectively ground ourselves to navigate the challenges ahead?
- Ground through ceremony, connection with medicines, and healthy practices.
- Build small, trusted community pods for mutual support and safety planning.
- Learn essential skills like food growing, first aid, and digital security.
- Focus on solidarity and shared resources across movements.
| | Tools and Strategies for Mobilizing Engagement |
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What tools, technologies, documentation, and strategies have the potential to be most effective in mobilizing the engagement committee this year, and how can we continue to leverage them?
- Continue using existing tools but adapt as social media platforms shift toward capitalist interests.
- Build direct communication lists (email, text) to ensure control over messaging.
- Acknowledge that platforms use content for their own goals, which may be against your movement.
- Focus on providing trusted, actionable information to empower communities.
- Combat misinformation by supporting independent journalists and telling your own stories.
| | Community Care as a Core Pillar |
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How do you see community care evolving as a core pillar of our movements, especially as we face ongoing challenges and uncertainties?
- Community care is becoming a daily necessity, especially for elders and those with chronic illnesses.
- Decentralizing life-saving skills (e.g., first aid training) is critical.
- Healers and helpers are often targeted, but their work is essential for survival.
- Community care is rooted in Indigenous practices and mutual aid, which is vital for long-term sustainability.
- The goal is to move away from paternalistic care models and toward reciprocal, community-based care.
| | Harnessing Energy for Movement Growth |
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What strategies do you see for harnessing this energy year-round and ensuring our movements keep growing?
- Build capacity for newly activated community members.
- Provide political education to connect issues across class and race.
- Focus on long-term strategies rather than reactive responses.
- Maintain joy and hope while addressing urgent issues.
- Reframe narratives to counter misinformation and disinformation.
| | Balancing Urgency and Long-Term Strategy |
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How can we balance the urgency of immediate actions with the need for a long-term, sustainable organizing strategy?
- Understand that not everything can be addressed at once.
- Identify current priorities and opportunities for others to get involved.
- Protect the spirit and energy of the movement to sustain hope and creativity.
- Reframe challenges to avoid feeling overwhelmed by the "big machine."
| | Vision for Indigenous-Led Organizing |
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What is your vision for the future of Indigenous-led organizing, and what steps can we take today to move toward that vision?
- Empires fall, and we are witnessing the collapse of colonial systems.
- The vision is to protect our people, resist oppressive systems, and reclaim indigenous rights, culture, and knowledge.
- Steps include sharing knowledge, building capacity, and defending ourselves by any means necessary.
- Build alternative economies and food systems, even in the face of militarized opposition.
| | Creative Resistance and Storytelling |
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How can Indigenous creativity and storytelling serve as a form of resistance that challenges oppressive systems and envisions the world we want to see?
- Creative resistance includes songs, prayers, and art that have been resilient for thousands of years.
- Art helps express truths and inspire hope.
- Storytelling connects us to elders, land, and spirits, ensuring our message endures.
| | Lessons from Past Creative Resistance Efforts |
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What lessons from past creative resistance efforts can we apply to ensure our movements remain resilient and adaptive through this year and beyond?
- Acknowledge losses and learn from them to strengthen future efforts.
- Art and creativity have historically been powerful tools for resistance and connection.
- Focus on building skills and passing them on to others.
- Maintain humor and joy as part of resistance.
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Victory! #ProtectPactola
After two years of organizing to protect the Black Hills from mining, the Dept of Interior announced that Sec. Deb Haaland signed “Public Land Order 7956”, which finalized protections for the Pactola Reservoir–Rapid Creek Watershed from mining and development for 20 years! This could not have been possible without our partnership with the Black Hills Clean Water Alliance, Rapid Creek Watershed Action, and Sec. Haaland and to the team within the DOI for making this critical call to protect the land and water. Wopila!
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Simply put, mining and the pollution it causes will NOT be allowed in the Pactola Reservoir area, our main drinking water source in Rapid City and beyond. We will now work to gain the required Congressional approval to make these protections permanent. This is a win for Mother Earth, Tribal sovereignty, Indigenous rights, religious freedom, and, not least importantly, for the countless organizers and community members who fought for these protections. There’s more work to be done in ensuring the protection of ALL of the Black Hills, however, this is a step in that direction.
The Protect The ȞESÁPA campaign is a continuation of the 150-year struggle for Indigenous rights in the Black Hills; and now as we grow the power of Tribes, Indigenous communities, and our allies to decide our shared environmental future instead of powerful oligarchs, we are building a more just world for future generations of all people and Unci Maka (Grandmother Earth in Lakota).
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President Biden Grants Commuted Sentence for Leonard Peltier
NDN Collective called Leonard Peltier just outside of the Coleman, FL prison after the news was confirmed to ask if he had a message for Indian Country.
With high spirits and a message of gratitude, Lekší Leonard is returning to his homelands of Turtle Mountain Anishinaabe territory! This grant of clemency resulted from 50 years of intergenerational grassroots organizing in Indian Country. Together, we witnessed the unveiling of extensive evidence of prosecutorial misconduct and constitutional violations committed during Peltier’s case. We have collectively overcome overwhelming odds to put an end to the worst aspect of this injustice: Leonard’s confinement in a maximum security prison where he’s denied healthcare, access to ceremony, and the ability to create the art he loves.
Please continue to hold Leonard in your hearts and say prayers for all that comes next for him. Stay tuned for more updates.
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President Biden Grants Commuted Sentence for Leonard Peltier
“[Leonard Peltier’s] struggle has become a struggle about the story and history of Indigenous people in this country, and how we have been treated by this colonial government. All of the organizing that has happened has lit a fire under all of us. It has given us hope again. Because so many of us have been told over and over that the release of Leonard Peltier and his justice and his freedom and his liberation is a day that our people are never going to see.”
NDN Collective’s CEO and Founder, Nick Tilsen, gave an update on Native American Calling on Leonard Peltier’s reaction, what Leonard Peltier coming back home means for Indian Country, and the work that NDN Collective is holding for Leonard as he transitions home. To listen to that full interview visit Native American Calling’s website.
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Be part of NDN Collective’s Know Your Rights Community Network!
This Network was created to support, train, and empower our communities in response to the overwhelming state violence against our relatives and people.
We must build a Network to inform and protect our communities as we witness the increased targeting of Indigenous, Black, Asian, and Brown communities by the Immigration and Customs Enforcement (I.C.E.), police, and sweeping executive orders from fascist regimes.
As Indigenous Peoples’, we have been here before. Our ancestors prepared us for this moment. Equip yourself with tools, downloadable resources, and trainings by joining our Know Your Rights network today.
We keep each other safe.
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Sustaining our Movements: Donate For the People Campaign
“We fight on and fund the frontlines – which is why we’re best positioned to use the infrastructure we’ve built to support those most vulnerable in these turbulent times. Indigenous People have endured the test of time, political regimes, wars, and countless struggles – yet we are still here.
This campaign will help our movement, communities, and Tribal Nations navigate the challenges we find ourselves in today,” said Nick Tilsen, NDN Collective Founder and CEO.
To donate and learn more ways to give, visit our website today!
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Help keep #WETSUWETENSTRONG
“The Wet’suwet’en Hereditary Chiefs have repeatedly affirmed in our balhats (feast hall) that there are to be no pipelines cross our yintah (land). In 2018 Justice Church granted Coastal GasLink, a fracked gas pipeline company, an injunction to trespass and complete their work without resistance. The Wet’suwet’en fought back. After a series of militarized raids and catch and release, charges were laid in 2021 that saw several Wet’suwet’en and indigenous allies face off with the colonial court system.”
As their court date is coming up, supporters are asking to donate to their legal and solidarity fund. To learn more about the case and additional ways to support, visit their website. #WETSUWETENSTRONG
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Sign up for an upcoming webinar: "The Fabric of Repair: Braiding Narratives of Liberation for Black and Indigenous Movements."
Join NDN and the Black Liberation-Indigenous Sovereignty (BLIS) Collective on Wednesday, 2/19 for a webinar featuring speakers! This session will update our research efforts, share our research agenda moving forward, and explore how we can build momentum and cultural consensus around the need for reparative and redistributive policies and practices.
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Equip yourself with tools and downloadable resources #KnowYourICE
As we witness the increased escalation of Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE) and Customs and Border Patrol (CBP) removal operatives against our communities, neighbors, and relatives, it is imperative that we educate ourselves and our communities about our rights and organize to be prepared to assert and defend our rights and that of our relatives – we keep us safe! Please share, save, and download this resource to have on hand when needed. This resource has been translated for our Spanish-speaking relatives.
Preparese con herramientas yrecursos dercargables #ConozcaSuICE
A medida de presenciar la incrementación de operativos por parte de Immigración y la patrulla fronteriza en encontra de nuestras comunidades, vecines y parientes es imperativo que nos eduquemos como comunidad para proteger y estar organizarnos para defender los nuestros derechos y los de la comunidad - el pueblo salva al pueblo! Favor de compartir, guardar y descargar este recurso para tener a mano en caso de que se necesite.
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The Black Hills Clean Water Alliance is looking for their next Lead Organizer
Our friends at BHCWA are hiring a Lead Organizer in Rapid City! The Lead Organizer will work with experienced organizers and other professionals to develop new skills and increase existing skills. They will also train and work with local residents in various parts of the Black Hills to improve the effectiveness of community organizing efforts.
To request the full job description and apply, visit their website.
| | | | As we move forward, we remember that our work is not just about reacting to our challenges but building a foundation rooted in trusted relationships, sharing skills, and amplifying our stories. We can continue to resist oppressive systems and create spaces of hope and resilience. Together, we are stronger and can shape a future that honors our collective wisdom and strength. Remember, you play an integral part in this journey—your strength, creativity, and commitment keep our movements growing and thriving. | |
Miigwech (thank you),
Korina Barry,
Managing Director of NDN Action
NDN Collective
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