Advancing Indigenous Peoples' Rights and Cultures Worldwide, since 1972

November is Native American Heritage Month in the United States, and at CS, we recognize that our headquarters is on Native land. You may be aware that less than half of one percent of foundation dollars goes directly to Indigenous Peoples. The problem is nuanced and rooted in hundred years of colonialism, intergenerational trauma, our own sense of self-worth, and of course philanthropy itself, which was birthed by colonial structures. The abundance of financial wealth that exists in this world has direct historical roots to extractive land grabbing and its dispossession from Indigenous Peoples and the exploited free labor of Black people. Cultural Survival is committed to an equitable redistribution of resources to Indigenous communities — not just during Native American Heritage month, but everyday, and this is reflected in our grantmaking and support to Indigenous grassroots organizations. 

One of our U.S. partners, the Eastern Woodlands Rematriation, is a network of Maliseet, Mi'kmaq, Passamaquoddy, Penobscot, Nipmuc, Wampanoag and Narragansett womxn working to restore the spiritual foundation of Indigenous livelihoods through sustainable food and economic systems. A KOEF grant expanded their Wabanaki Apothecary Apprenticeship Program, which focuses on herbalism and sharing Elders’ medicinal knowledge through a network of exchange. Our emergency COVID-19 grant supported their work to ensure food and traditional medicine for their communities in these times of crisis. More than 25 families in their network were supplied with food, traditional medicines and received materials to plant crops

Another U.S. partner of ours is Ekvn-Yefolecv, a Maskoke ecovillage and aquaculture project in Alabama, which aims to create opportunity for Maskoke kin to revitalize Maskoke language, traditions, and their worldview while committing to environmental sustainability. Our KOEF grant supported their aquaponics facility, working towards the reintroduction of a fish sacred to the Maskoke Peoples into the Coosa watershed.

Change is happening thanks to you! We are so grateful for your ongoing financial support and ask that you join us once again in supporting Indigenous solutions and Indigenous rights by giving early for #GivingTuesday. Even a $10 donation goes a long way in supporting Indigenous grassroots solutions, and with your help, we can make this world a better place for all of our relations. 

In solidarity and gratitude, 

Galina Angarova (Buryat)
Executive Director