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September 2023
News, Views, Events, and Actions
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Dear Relatives,
As the calendar days of summer wound down in September, IEN staff were busy organizing and amplifying our environmental justice demands, which includes demanding governments and the for-profit sector take accountability for their emissions and destruction against Mother Earth. From coast to coast, we continue to exclaim the need to #KeepItInThe Ground, phase out of fossil fuels, and work towards a Just Transition away from extractivism and exploitative capitalism towards a sustainable and equitable future for all sectors of society.
An example of these efforts includes our work in Jackson, MIssissippi, where IEN’s Program Director, Kandi White, added her perspectives as a Mandan, Hidatsa, Arikara woman to the Global Working Group Beyond Development Towards Systemic Emancipatory Transformations. Working with an array of individuals from all backgrounds and regions of the country, Kandi participated in discussions of debt and reparations in the US around historical injustices of slavery, land theft and genocide, climate change and how to move from theoretical discussions and translate them into concrete actions.
Moreover, our organizing efforts continued with IEN’s Mining Organizer, Talia Boyd, traveling to Montreal to participate in the Western Mining Action Network’s in-person steering committee and Indigenous caucus meeting, where we continued to strategize and bolster our collective work to stop mining. IEN has a long-standing partnership with the Western Mining Action Network, including our IEN-WMAN mining mini-grant program where grassroots communities impacted by mining can receive financial assistance to support their organizing efforts.
Further, world leaders - absent POTUS Joe Biden, Chinese President Xi Jinping, British Prime Minister Rishi Sunak, and French President Emmanuel Macron - were in New York City attending the UN Secretary General’s Climate Ambition Summit. Outside the Summit, included IEN Leadership Team members, IEN staff, and members of our network leading an astounding crowd of 75,000 allies and activists in the streets for the March to End Fossil Fuels. IEN was a co-organizer for the march and rally, and stood firm in our message to keep fossil fuels in the ground, reject false solutions like carbon markets and offsets, carbon capture and storage, climate geoengineering, hydrogen, and many others.
Throughout Climate Week, IEN co-hosted a two-day event at the New School, Peoples’ Climate Week Launch, with educational panels, breakout sessions, a teach-in assembly and even a movement social! Hundreds of relatives and friends joined our events and actively participated in rejecting #FalseSolutions. IEN also co-hosted a press conference with It Takes Roots to host a response to the false solutions being pushed at the UN Climate Ambition Summit. Looking forward, the next step for IEN and allies will be to carry the messages from the NYC Climate Week to the UN World Climate Summit, alongside the Conference of Parties/COP28 to be held December 7-8, 2023, in Dubai.
September 26-28, in Portland, Oregon, Wall Street investors joined the biggest timber corporations, carbon offset and biomass companies for their annual “Who Will Own the Forests?” conference. The signature “timberland investment conference” saw the biggest climate polluters, corporate forest clear-cutters and climate false solutions peddlers schmoozing over cocktails and catered foods, strategizing their continued profit maximizing, extractive clear-cutting, corporate land-grabbing, financializing Nature and pushing climate false solutions. In the face of Mother Earth’s climate emergency, to keep profits rolling in, these polluters and investors turn communities and the ecosystems we all depend on, into sacrifice zones. On Wednesday Sept. 27, at noon, IEN Carbon Pricing Educator, Thomas Joseph Tsewenaldin, and Keep It In The Ground Organizer, Brenna Two Bears, joined grassroots activists and leaders of the forest defense and climate justice movement outside the World Forestry Center for a massive demonstration to confront the Wall Street capitalists. Utilizing theatrical performance, marching bands, art and creative resistance and plenty of expert and community speakers, they delivered a strong message that we will rise up and fight back! We will not allow our forests, communities, or climate to be sacrificed for the rich to get richer. Add image: Discovery Museum photo
Across Turtle Island, events are being scheduled between October 9 and 12, for Indigenous Peoples Day. And, October 10, 2023 marks the 65th Anniversary of the adoption of the UN Universal Declaration of Human Rights.
And as we look northward across Turtle Island, during this time of year we see the beauty in the hills and highways in wonderful pallets of orange, red, and yellow. The air is crisp. Mother Earth calls us to come outdoors wherever you are in these moments. Time in the natural world can calm us, help us to appreciate this small planet that is our only home. The future can seem overwhelming and dark. But, there’s an amazing world that we must protect for future generations! One person in coalition with another, one group in coalition with others, yields an even stronger voice! Learn what’s happening in your region of the world and get outside, and make things happen!
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On the Road to COP28
Peoples’ Climate Week was a counter-space to mainstream NYC Climate Week events. The actions and events are another step to advance a Peoples’ Agenda to interrupt and disrupt the promotion of false solutions to climate change and other crises. The undeniable truth is that these false solutions are aggressively being advanced and in many cases, funded by corporate, governmental, and big NGO actors -- whose presence dominated the official proceedings of the NYC Climate Week for the UN Ambitions Summit, and UN Conferences of Parties.
This is a critical moment and urgency is needed by taking a clear paths to regenerative forms of economic, social equity and well-being are imperative if we are to stop the deployment of false solutions that not only extends the era of fossil fuels but increases demand for exponentially more…
As the Biden administration continues to green light mega-polluting fossil fuel projects and unproven and dangerous technologies, we will continue to mobilize around building on the power of the grassroots to leverage as much national and international pressure as possible to force Biden to change course.
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Joye Braun’s Legacy and the 10th Anniversary of the Sacred Ponca Corn Harvest
For the past decade that the Annual Sacred Ponca Corn Harvest, IEN Digital Organizer Morgan Brings Plenty, and Informational Technology Fellow Durin Mundal, watched as their mother and our sister Joye Braun worked closely with relatives from many nations - water protectors facing insurmountable odds by standing up to fight the Keystone XL Pipeline.
Mekasi Camp first had the dream to bring the Ponca Sacred Corn back to its ancestral land, over 10 years ago, as medicine and prayers to protect this land from the Keystone XL pipeline.
The resistance camp that took place on the Tanderup’s farm grew with the Annual Sacred Ponca Corn Harvest, a tree planted in memory of Joye Braun, and a permanent memorial to the Ponca Trail of Tears. Joye Braun and Mekasi Horinek worked together for years against the KXL as well as other proposed pipeline projects and being adopted into the Horinek family helped me grow knowing I have more family to rely on, not just in the movement. Morgan Brings Plenty
Throughout the entire trip, I was thinking of my mother and missing her dearly but seeing how she inspired so many others to continue their fights to protect their homelands and meeting and talking with those who loved her helped heal my heart. It was deeply moving for me to experience this trip and I’m glad my sister urged me to go. The connections we have and continue to make throughout our shared experiences run deep and the family ties we’ve made will never be broken. Durin Mundal
Click here to learn more: https://boldnebraska.org/harvest2023/
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Indian Country has been buzzing about the Inflation Reduction Act (IRA)
Now at a year in, Tribal Nations are still trying to access IRA funding. Review IEN's Analysis on the Climate and Energy Provisions of the IRA to see which provisions we recommend pursuing! Click to learn more here.
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White Mesa Community Spiritual Protest Walk
The Ute Mountain Ute Tribe, White Mesa Community, IEN, and other concerned community members are asking for your support and participation in the 2023 Spiritual Protest Walk to protect Bears Ears and the sovereign Indigenous Ute Mountain Ute Tribe, on Saturday, at 11 a.m. MDT. For more information call White Mesa Concerned Community (435) 459-2461. Learn More.
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Save the Date Crandon Mine Purchase
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The Colonial Urge to Commodify the Climate Crisis: Unpacking False Solutions
Thursday, October 26, 2023
3:00 PM 4:30 PM
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Community Spotlight Updates
Tonawanda Seneca - STAMP industrial park, wastewater pipeline fight
Hello friends,
Thanks to the many of you who have already called and emailed USFWS Regional Chief Scott Kahan to demand that the agency respect the demands of the Tonawanda Seneca Nation Council of Chiefs and withdraw the Right of Way permit for the STAMP pipeline through the Iroquois National Wildlife Refuge.
Unfortunately, the permit is still in effect. Let's keep up the pressure on Scott! Called already? Call again. Tell a friend to call. Send an email too.
So here's how to take action in defense of our wetlands and Indigenous sovereignty: Call Regional USFWS Chief Scott Kahan at 413-835-1931. Tell him that you are calling as a concerned community member to demand that the USFWS respect the demands of the Tonawanda Seneca Nation Council of Chiefs and withdraw the Right of Way permit for the STAMP pipeline through the Iroquois National Wildlife Refuge. While you’re at it, send him an email, too: [email protected].
Click here for more background info and a script. Or keep scrolling for our full action alert from Tuesday.
In solidarity,
Allies of the Tonawanda Seneca Nation
Follow us on Facebook and Instagram and check out our website!
PS - Check read the latest piece from J. Dale Shoemaker at the Investigative Post, published yesterday: Orleans County doubles down on pipeline opposition.
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Meeting of the Global Working Group Beyond Development
Kandi White, IEN Program Coordinator joined this meeting in Jackson, Mississippi and Louisiana from 8 to 15 September, 2023 - Learn more here.
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Dozens of climate groups prepare to protest international timber conference in Portland The planned action – and a counter conference – mark a first for the industry conference
Demonstrators began to gather the evening of September 26 at the World Forestry Center in Oregon to protest a large timber industry conference called “Who owns the forest?” (Courtesy of WRENCH/Cascade Forest Collective)
Among the speakers was Thomas Joseph, of the Indigenous Environmental Network, who will discuss issues with selling portions of private Northwest forests for carbon offsets and the global market for carbon credits.
He called the market a scam, saying there’s little oversight and accountability, and that offsets do nothing to stop companies from emitting greenhouse gasses.
“It’s a way to allow investors to put a price tag on our Mother Earth, to continue to commodify her,” he said. “We need to reduce emissions at the source, which means keeping fossil fuels in the ground and not thinking of market mechanisms or schemes for how we can just continue to capitalize on our forests.”
The conference has been held every year for more than two decades but this year, for the first time, it will face protests by more than two dozen environmental groups who oppose the corporate ownership and management of Oregon forests and what they say is the industry’s disproportionate contribution to global climate change. Environmentalists have planned a demonstration outside the World Forestry Center at noon on Wednesday, organized by the Pacific Northwest Forest Climate Alliance, which includes dozens of regional nonprofits such as Oregon Wild in Portland, Eugene-based Cascadia Wildlands and the Oregon chapter of the Sierra Club.
Alexandria Ocasio-Cortez tells climate marchers to be ‘too big and too radical to ignore’ – as it happened
Demonstration falls days before the United Nations climate ambition summit, at which Joe Biden is expected to be a no-show - Read the story here.
Grassroots speak out against tactics of governments, corporations in climate change fight
Tom Goldtooth, executive director with the Indigenous Environmental Network, said governments, corporations, big non-governmental organizations, and banks were putting forward “false solutions” for climate mitigation, such as carbon capture and storage, carbon markets and offsets, nature-based solutions, nuclear power, biomass energy, biofuels, and hydrogen energy.
“We have to stand up. Every speaker here comes from community. They come from organizations and alliances. We’re standing up. We’re speaking out (for) voices that have been marginalized and left out of the UN climate negotiations” said Goldtooth.
Read the story here.
Tribe getting piece of Minnesota back more than a century after ancestors died there - Read the story here.
Biden to block oil drilling in ‘irreplaceable’ Alaskan wildlands
In the wake of the Willow decision, such development would be banned in nearly half of the National Petroleum Reserve-Alaska, with oil leases canceled in an iconic wildlife refuge. Read the story here.
Our Story: The Indigenous Led Fight to Protect Greater Chaco
Our Story documents the ongoing Indigenous-led work to protect the areas of the Greater Chaco region in the American Southwest that remain unspoiled by oil and gas and to protect the health and well-being of those bordered by these extractive industries. Learn more and watch here.
Indigenous Peoples are being excluded from a global pool of climate cash The U.N. says the world is spending trillions on climate action and only a fraction is going to Indigenous communities. Read the story here.
US climate scientist risks felony by chaining herself to pipeline drill
Rose Abramoff was one of two protesters who helped temporarily shut down construction of Mountain Valley pipeline - Read the story here.
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JOIN OUR TEAM
The Indigenous Environmental Network is seeking an experienced and energetic Financial Manager to join our team. The Financial Manager will play a crucial role in providing financial resource functions for IEN. These functions include accounting, financial management and analysis, budget analysis, benefits and risk management. CLICK HERE TO learn more and APPLY! |
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There's always more to read, view, and learn - follow us on social media and the web - ienearth.org |
Established in 1990, the Indigenous Environmental Network (IEN) is an international alliance of Indigenous Peoples whose mission it is to protect the sacredness of Mother Earth from contamination and exploitation by strengthening, maintaining, and respecting Indigenous teachings and natural laws. IEN works with Indigenous grassroots community organizations, Tribal governments, Indigenous national organizations, multi-cultural alliances, Tribal universities and colleges, as well as Tribal Knowledge holders and spiritual leaders. We work to empower and build the capacities of Indigenous Peoples and front line communities to develop mechanisms to demand environmental justice, protect our sacred sites, land, air, water, the health of our people and all living things, and to build sustainable communities.
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