womenwhokickass:

Waziyatawin: Why she kicks ass

• She is a Dakota writer, teacher, and activist from the Pezihutazizi Otunwe (Yellow Medicine Village) in southwestern Minnesota.
• She is a Canada Research Chair in Indigenous Peoples in the Indigenous Governance Program at the University of Victoria, and is recognized as a leading indigenous intellectual.
•  Her research interests include indigenous women’s roles in resisting colonialism, recovering indigenous knowledge, and truth-telling as part of restorative justice.
• She is also the founder and council member of Oyate Nipi Kte, a non-profit organization dedicated to the recovery of Dakota traditional knowledge, sustainable ways of being, and Dakota liberation (www.oyatenipikte.org).
• After receiving her Ph.D. in American history from Cornell University in 2000, she earned tenure and an associate professorship in the history department at Arizona State University where she taught for seven years. She currently holds the Indigenous Peoples Research Chair in the Indigenous Governance Program at the University of Victoria in British Columbia.
• She is the author, editor, or co-editor of six volumes including: Remember This!: Dakota Decolonization and the Eli Taylor Narratives (University of Nebraska Press 2005); Indigenizing the Academy: Transforming Scholarship and Empowering Communities(University of Nebraska Press 2004); For Indigenous Eyes Only: A Decolonization Handbook(School of Advanced Research Press 2005); In the Footsteps of Our Ancestors: The Dakota Commemorative Marches of the 21st Century (Living Justice Press 2006); What Does Justice Look Like? The Struggle for Liberation in Dakota Homeland (Living Justice Press 2008); and, her most recent volume, For Indigenous Minds Only: A Decolonization Handbook (School of Advanced Research Press, 2012).
• As an activist, Waziyatawin gained public attention in 2007 when she was arrested multiple times while protesting the Minnesota sesquicentennial celebration. The protests aimed to raise awareness of broken treaties and colonial violence, including the hanging of 38 Dakota men during the Dakota War of 1862 (the largest mass execution in American history).
• In 2011, she travelled to Palestine with a group of indigenous and women of colour scholars and artists including Angela Davis, Chandra Talpade Mohanty, and Ayoka Chenzira. Afterwards the group published a statement endorsing the boycott, divestment, and sanctions (BDS) movement. She has drawn connections between the Israeli-Palestinian conflict and colonialism in North America.

(via nitanahkohe)

peyoteflower:

Mixtec weaver creating a pozahuanco

Good morning, Racializens!

(Source: platanos-fritos, via wocsurvivalkit)

womenwhokickass:

Monica Chuji: Why she kicks ass

• She is Kichwa from the Sarayaku, Sucumbios province, in the Amazon basin, and a leading figure in the Confederation of Indigenous Nationalities of Ecuador (CONAIE). 
• She was appointed communications minister by Correa, and became his public spokesperson. But when Correa sent army troops to put down a protest against oil drilling in the village of Dayuma (Orellana province) in December 2007, Chuji protested, called for an investigation, and finally resigned. Her resignation letter decried the government’s “criminalization” of social movements. 
• She joined the 2008 constitutional assembly for the ruling party, Alianza Pais, and sat on the commission for Natural Resources and Biodiversity throughout the tense negotiations on water, oil and mining. Chuji left the Alianza Pais as soon as the assembly finished its work—with others following her lead.
• The Confederation of Indigenous Nationalities of Ecuador (CONAIE) and other groups criticize Correa’s support for large-scale mining and development megaprojects. Social movements unsuccessfully pushed for the inclusion of constitutional provisions that would recognize communities’ right to “prior consent” before mining or oil exploitation projects take place on their land. Another pressing issue is the Manta-Manaus project, which would build a multimodal transportation infrastructure between the Ecuadorian and Brazilian coasts, causing massive destruction to the Amazon rainforest. Indigenous Assembly Members also clashed with Correa’s allies over a proposal to make Kichwa Ecuador’s second official language. The dispute was settled by a compromise making Kichwa “an official language of intercultural relation” along with Shuar, the implications of which are unclear.
• At the International Service for Human Rights’s seminar entitled “Traditional Values and Human Rights” she outlined the concept of ‘sumak kawsay’ (or living in harmony and living fully), a worldview of indigenous Bolivian and Ecuadorian peoples, related to human rights. She said the cultural values of these indigenous peoples were based on principles of dignity and equality, and recognition that people are part of nature. Integral to this value system is the display of respect towards all individuals and a deep connection to nature. She stressed the importance of these traditional values being extended to all areas of life, including the philosophical, ethical, spiritual and economic dimensions.
• She was also the Foundation President Communication, Education and Rights of “Tukui Shimi” (All Voices) the Human Rights Consultant, collective rights and multiculturalism of OHCHR-UNDP-UN Ecuador, Dirigenta Federation of Organizations of the Kichwa Nationality of Sucumbíos-FONAKISE, Andean Project Trainer Promotion of Human Rights of Indigenous Peoples and Afro Descendants, OHCHR and UNDP., Coordinator “Kichwa Women Training with Emphasis on Human Rights and Advisor on Human Rights and International Relations of the Confederation of Indigenous Nationalities of Ecuador, CONAIE.
• She was found guilty of spreading libel about Minister Vinicio Alvarado in an interview published in the newspaperEl Comercio; Chuji was sentenced to one year in prison and a $100,000 fine; Chuji’s appeal is still being considered. However, after the sentence was imposed by the court at Pichincha penitentiary, Alvarado exercised his prerogative to pardon Chuji on 28 November. She however, rejected his “forgiveness”.

(via secretarysbreakroom)

urbannativegirl:

Excitement is building for Jeff Barnaby’s ‘Rhymes for Young Ghouls’ feature film starring Young Mohawk Actress Kawennáhere Devery Jacobs. Read about it here. 

urbannativegirl:

Ojibway boxer Mary Spencer is one to watch! Not only is she a successful athlete, she also works with youth. What’s not to love? Check out the full post here. 

“When I talk to kids, the main thing I like to share is: Whatever your dream is, even if it seems wild and crazy, pursue it” Mary Spencer

girljanitor:

Sunny Clifford, a 26-year-old Pine Ridge Tribal park ranger, has launched a Change.org petition that seeks to improve the quality of women’s lives by making Plan B available—and affordable—throughout Indian Country. Just months after the Native American Women’s Health Education Resource Center (NAWHERC) published a startling February 2012 report, “Indigenous Women’s Dialogue: Roundtable Report on the Accessibility of Plan B as an Over the Counter (OTC) Within Indian Health Service,” Clifford’s petition is over 100,000 signatures strong and well on its way to meeting its goal of 150,000 signatures. But with just three voting days left, Clifford’s campaign greatly needs your support.

(via nishnabin)