We would like to offer a land acknowledgment, a statement that pays respect to the Indigenous people who live here, and who had their land stolen from them by colonizers. It is only the very first, barest step in what we can do to support Indigenous people today. The following acknowledgment of what to keep in mind as we participate in this digital space is written by Adrienne Wong of SpiderWeb. You can find more about her work here.
Since our activities are shared digitally to the internet, let’s also take a moment to consider the legacy of colonization embedded within the technology, structures, and ways of thinking we use every day. We are using equipment and high-speed internet, not available in many indigenous communities. Even the technologies that are central to much of the art we make, leaves significant carbon footprints, contributing to changing climates that disproportionately affect indigenous people worldwide. I invite you to join us in acknowledging all this, as well as our shared responsibility to make good of this time and for each of us to consider our roles in reconciliation, decolonization, and ally-ship.
Below are some organizations working to support Indigenous Peoples that can use your support:
The American Indian College Fund
The American Indian College Fund invests in Native students and tribal college education to transform lives and communities.
Cultural Survival
Cultural Survival supports a movement of empowered Indigenous Peoples organizing their communities to engage the international processes, national policies and human rights bodies to respect, protect, and fulfill their rights. Cultural Survival is Indigenous-led and has a diverse board of directors bringing experiences from the Indigenous and non-Indigenous worlds to inform our perspectives and scope of work.
Native American Rights Fund
The Native American Rights Fund (NARF) has provided legal assistance to Indian tribes, organizations, and individuals nationwide who might otherwise have gone without adequate representation.