Episode 10: Funding Indigenous Resistance
About This EpisodeIndigenous organizers are at the forefront of revolutionary movements for sovereignty, environmental justice and land rights, movements that confront our largely ignored history of Native genocide and broken treaty promises. Yet, foundations, many who claim to support marginalized and underrepresented communities, spend just 0.4% of their annual funding on Native communities. Native causes are overlooked and underfunded by philanthropy. In this podcast, we hear from Indigenous organizer and tribal attorney, Tara Houska, and two social justice funders, Edgar Villanueva and Jason Franklin. We explore the tensions that arise when Indigenous activists seek grants to support their radical work and encounter funders that are hesitant to fund direct action, largely uneducated about Indigenous history, disconnected from struggles at the frontline, and financially linked to the industries that profit on the devastation of Native lands. HostsAbhinaya Narayananis a medical student in the UCLA PRIME program and a Master in Public Policy student at the Harvard Kennedy School. Her background is in community organizing, policy, and advocacy to fight for social, racial, and economic justice for marginalized communities.Oscar Echeverriais a medical student in the UCLA PRIME program and a Master in Public Policy student at the Harvard Kennedy School. His background is in community health and health disparities work, along with advocacy for racial justice and health equity.Nneka Onwuzurikeis a joint Master in Public Policy and Master of Business Administration student at Harvard Kennedy School and Harvard Business School. Her background is in creative writing, institutional fundraising, and donor organizing for local social justice organizations.Learn MoreFollow our interviewees on Twitter:Edgar Villanueva: https://twitter.com/VillanuevaEdgarTara Houska: https://twitter.com/zhaabowekweJason Franklin: https://twitter.com/fundingchangeKeep up with their work:What is Line 3? Winona LaDuke Explains Line 3Take action to Stop Line 3Keep up with the Giniw CollectiveLearn more about Native Americans in PhilanthropyLearn more about the Solidaire NetworkProtest Law, Divestment, and the Vision for Climate Justice:The Red New Deal, an indigenous vision for climate justice: “A Red Deal” by Nick Estes (Jacobin)Bans on critical infrastructure protest: “States Are Using the Pandemic to Roll Back Americans’ Rights” by Ronald J. Krotoszynski, Jr. (The Atlantic)State-by-State US Protest Law TrackerStop the Money PipelineDakota Access Pipeline Resistance:Timeline of key events: “Key Moments In The Dakota Access Pipeline Fight” by Rebecca Hersher (NPR) Investigation of private security, state power, corporate dollars, and surveillance: “Oil and Water” a series by The InterceptSupport NoDAPL Political PrisonersSupport Indigenous Justice Organizations:Honor the Earth website and TwitterIndigenous Environmental Network website and TwitterInternational Indigenous Youth Council website and TwitterWater Protector Legal Collective website and TwitterMusic“Waves” by Pictures of the Floating WorldFrom the Free Music Archive CC-BY-NC-SA
