Dear Relatives,
 

Since mid-2023, we have been adding more reports from the frontlines of community power and self-determination. Gatherings, online educational outreach, analysis on the growing landscape of civil society’s collaboration between Indigenous, Black, Latino, LGBTQ, and less-defined disadvantaged and underrepresented rural and urban communities. It’s no small effort, we all take this responsibility seriously as organizers engage across diverse cultural landscapes, we gather, write, edit, and compile this information every month. We hear from long-time and new subscribers how they look forward to reading the Newswire every month.
 

IEN has been at the forefront of collaboration and in many cases solidarity in actions that will either positively serve everyone or in opposition to threats that have and will continue to harm a majority of our relatives everywhere.
 

In this edition of the IEN Newswire, you’ll find information regarding the UN Facilitating Working Group’s latest meeting, a blog by Brenna Yellow Thunder, and webinars from our Keep It In The Ground (KIITG) campaign on impacts to Indigenous Peoples from the unbelievably egregious actions by the new administration’s second act of cruelty, and advancing the worst of social and racial disparities. This administration’s short-sighted and greed-fueled elimination of regulations and laws, as limited as those protections have been in the past, has at least limited and slowed the scorched earth policies and actions from the natural resources extraction industries and economic prosperity illusions peddled by them, until now.
 

The news of these actions from the self-appointed elite is coming at us at an unbelievable speed, with a daily onslaught of scenes from our nightmares. Not that we haven’t expected these actions, if the select few who have driven the climate into crisis gain complete control of the levers of power. Not that we haven’t been shouting the facts and evidence from the mountaintops for decades before this. Despite the efforts from industry’s opposition, we’ve made inroads and alliances, successfully debunked their false narratives, built frameworks for advancing protections, collaborated on education outreach, and assisted in training community grassroots leaders, and sharing examples of ways to create and maintain healthy systems that allow us all to prosper and thrive.
 

We continue to honor the promise we’ve made since the first email newsletter went out, that we wouldn’t bombard you with too many emails, and additional emails during the month would be more targeted to your preferences. We have also kept our promise never to share your information with other organizations because we couldn’t guarantee that your information wouldn’t be sold to less-than-honest data brokers. We will continue to honor your trust in us.
This would also be a good time to share our Newswire with family and friends. Links for sharing can be found in the footer of all editions. 
 

We hope you will continue support our work by sharing our Newswire, engaging on social media, and taking action when called and can do so. Remember, everyone can contribute something; every effort, action, and step forward done in a good way counts toward a prosperous and peaceful future for the Next Seven Generations.



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Keep It In The Ground
 

: [link removed] above to read the blog.
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Indigenous Water Ethics
 

Mona Polacca, Coordinator attended the UN Water Conference Meeting of the President of the UN General Assembly (PGA) and related multi-stakeholder events on July 9 & 10 2025
 

The high-level 2026 United Nations Water Conference : [link removed] to Accelerate the Implementation of Sustainable Development Goal 6: Ensure availability and sustainable management of water and sanitation for all was be held in the United Arab Emirates from 2–4 December 2026, co-hosted by Senegal and the United Arab Emirates.The President of the United Nations General Assembly (PGA) convened a one-day meeting to promote the achievement of Sustainable Development Goal 6 and to agree on the themes of the Interactive Dialogues for the Conference on Wednesday, 9 July 2025 in the General Assembly Hall.  The co-hosts of the Conference (Senegal and UAE) hosted a “Multi-stakeholder preparatory meeting” focusing on reflections on the themes of the interactive dialogues and accelerating SDG 6 in the afternoon of 9 July.
 

A stakeholder brainstorm session was held in the morning 10 July 2025 and to collect inputs from stakeholders for the preparations for the Conference. There were at least five Indigenous Peoples representatives from the Indigenous Major Group, International Treaty Council, & IEN (2 -NZ, 1-Philippines, 1-India, 1-MX, 2-US). The purpose of attending was to call for the participation of Indigenous peoples at the World Water Week 2025, including the lead up to the event, and to propose recommendations for advancing Indigenous participation and voices in all global water governance processes. It will take a strengths-based approach while also providing greater visibility of Indigenous efforts and activism around water. 
 

Mona and the IITC representative requested and had a private meeting with the UN Special Rapporteur for Water, Pedro Arrojo-Agudo at our hotel on July 8. We discussed the insider's perspective on which countries are supportive of Indigenous/Human water rights. We also asked him to introduce us to the Co-Chairs of the 2026 UN Water Conference.  Which he did! The specific points made to the Co-Chairs were that in the few instances where Indigenous peoples were invited to participate in global water forums, Indigenous representatives have remarked about the absence of Indigenous values or worldviews in the deliberative processes for instance at the 2023 United Nations Water Conference. was able to provide Indigenous peoples a platform to engage in discussions around water. However, the challenges and successes of this effort are not entirely captured, and absent from mainstream water discussions. One of the key points offered is the direct implications for Indigenous Peoples and that inclusion must be considered in all deliberations regarding water management & SDG which reference inclusion of Indigenous Peoples.
 

The participation of Indigenous peoples at the World Water Week 2026, including the lead up to the event, and to propose recommendations for advancing Indigenous participation and voices in all global water governance processes. It will take a strengths-based approach while also providing greater visibility of Indigenous efforts and activism around water.
 
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Indigenous Just Transition
 

On July 10, 2025 Mary Crow was a guest speaker at the Firefly Earth Living Skills Retreat held in Barnardsville, NC.
 

Along with Bigwitch Indian Wisdom Initiative founder, Tyson Sampson, who demonstrated traditional Cherokee foods and traditional Art and craft, and everyone spent the day making bean bread and white oak baskets. In the evening Mary spoke about Indigenous Just Transition and how non natives can support our work at IEN.
 
 

 

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Indigenous Sovereignty
 

: [link removed] above to read the blog.
 
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Storm Damage to IEN’s Headquarters and Teaching Garden in Bemidj
In the early morning hours of June 22, 2025, a powerful storm came through Bemidji, causing serious damage to our Indigenous Environmental Network (IEN) headquarters and the Teaching Garden that so many of us have poured love, time, and care into over the years.
 

With hurricane-force winds reaching up to 120 mph and rain coming down in sheets, the storm tore through our community with intensity we haven’t seen in years.  Like many across the area, we were impacted by widespread power outages that disrupted our communications and daily rhythms. Our office building, as well as some of our homes, took a hit, roof damage led to water coming into workspaces, and we’re still assessing the full extent of the impact on our infrastructure, archives, and equipment.
 

What’s been hardest to see is the damage to our Teaching Garden, a living, breathing space rooted in Indigenous food sovereignty and community learning. Several raised beds were destroyed, structures were knocked down, and heartbreakingly, we lost several of our trees. Trees that had stood with us through seasons of planting, ceremony, and teaching. These weren’t just trees; they were relatives. Their loss is deeply felt. Click here to view pictures and learn more. : [link removed] in the Ground
 
Weheard from leaders in tribal communities to discuss Executive Order 14154- Unleashing American Energy : [link removed] impacts on tribal communities. This executive order dismantles and revokes previously established key environmental Executive Orders and policies. This is the second in a series on the Executive Orders : [link removed]; keep an eye out for a panel discussing developments in proposed destruction in Alaska.



TELL DOE: HANDS OFF NEPA & ENVIRONMENTAL JUSTICEThe Department of Energy took a troubling step to roll back key National Environmental Policy Act (NEPA) protections.

On June 30, DOE issued an Interim Final Rule : [link removed] guts enforceable public participation, exempts many energy projects from environmental review, and sidelines the voices of frontline and Tribal communities, all under the guise of “streamlining.”

This rule weakens hard-fought safeguards and opens the door to unchecked development.

We’re pushing back with an environmental justice–centered comment letter, and we need your support. This letter is led by: GreenLatinos, WE ACT For Environmental Justice, Climate Justice Alliance, and Indigenous Environmental Network.

Help us show strong opposition. This letter is led by: GreenLatinos, WeAct, Climate Justice Alliance, and Indigenous Environmental Network. It is open to allied organizations.
SIGN ON HERE:Google Form : [link removed] the full letterhere. : [link removed]: End of Day AUGUST 3rdOpen to environmental justice, Indigenous, and allied organizations.

~~~~~~~~~Target Wells Fargo
Sign up to co-sponsor the petition by filling out this form : [link removed]. The petition is already co-sponsored by STMP, Rainforest Action Network, Stand.earth, Hip Hop Caucus, the Gulf South Fossil Finance Hub and more - so you'll be in good company! You can view the petition here : [link removed] & promote it using this amplification toolkit. : [link removed]
Join the August 15th National Day of Action. Fill out this form : [link removed] and an organizer will be in touch to plug you into the weekly organizing calls!
Even in this moment of huge political challenge, it's critical big banks don't get to simply walk away from their climate targets without consequences. So, if you are able to, co-sponsor the petition : [link removed] and sign up to join the national day of action : [link removed] let's hold Wells Fargo accountable this summer.
~~~~~~~~~Don’t let Trump weaken LNG safety rules
Right now, the Trump Administration is preparing to rewrite rules for LNG, which could weaken safety requirements and lead to more incidents. With your input, we can demand strong safety standards that prioritize community input, worker safety, and transparency of the risks associated with living near LNG export infrastructure.

Send a comment to the Secretary and Acting Admin at PHMSA via Earthworks : [link removed].

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Indigenous climate leaders could make history at COP30 in Brazil
Activists and allies are working to ensure Indigenous voices are heard in the global conversation Click here to read more : [link removed]. 

Florida tribe joins the fight against “Alligator Alcatraz” - The Miccosukee Tribe in Florida joined environmental groups on Tuesday to sue the federal and state agencies that constructed an immigrant detention center known as the “Alligator Alcatraz” and located in the Everglades National Park.  Click here to read more : [link removed].

: [link removed]
Click / tap here or above to learn more and apply : [link removed].



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IEN Staff & Management



The Indigenous Environmental Network - PO Box 485 - Bemidji - MN - 56619

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