Alaska: redoil

Concerns over unsustainable oil and gas development with environmental and cultural impacts on Alaska Natives have stimulated the formation of a network for tribal leaders and concerned tribal members of Alaska Natives villages and tribes to come together. In June 2002, the Indigenous Mining Campaign Project (IMC-Project) of the Indigenous Environmental Network (IEN) facilitated a group of Alaska Natives to come together in Cordova, Alaska to share experiences and develop strategy for addressing the detrimental impacts of oil and gas development within their traditional homelands. This meeting in Cordova resulted in the formation of an Alaska network named, Resisting Environmental Destruction on Indigenous Lands (REDOIL).

The REDOIL network consists of grassroots Alaska Natives of the Inupiat, Yupik, Aleut, Tlingit, Gwich'in, Eyak and Denaiana Athabascan tribes who have formed a network to address the human and ecological health impacts of the unsustainable development practices of the fossil fuel industry in Alaska. REDOIL strongly supports self-determination rights of tribes in Alaska as well as a just transition from fossil fuel development and promotes the implementation of sustainable development on or near Indigenous lands.

Arizona : Black Mesa Water Coalition

"Youth Empowerment while building sustainable communities." The BMWC ia a youth led inter-tribal and multi-cultural organization BMWC utilizes the skills and talents that individuals contribute to the group BMWC events have been successful by letting leadership form naturally.

http://www.blackmesawatercoalition.org

CA, NV, OR, ID: Western Shoshone Defense Project

"To affirm Newe (Western Shoshone) jurisdiction over Newe Sogobia (Western Shoshone homelands) by protecting, preserving, and restoring Newe rights and lands for present and future generations based on cultural and spiritual traditions. We are who we are because our nation survived here. It is written on our earth."

http://www.wsdp.org

NWT Canada:   Arctic Youth Alliance

From time immemorial, the Gwich’in of the Northwest Territories had relied on the natural resources of their surroundings. The clean air, waters, and plants provided a strong foundation to the survival of life in this fragile ecosystem. The animals and fish provided a valuable food source to a people that relied on such an environment. The Porcupine Caribou Herd, Dall sheep, Moose and of the various fish species, the Whitefish, Arctic Char, and Trout inhabits the Peel Watershed that have enabled the continuation and survival of the Gwich’in cultural way of life. This area is considered sacred for the abundant resources of food and as well as of a great historical importance. There are numerous sacred burial sites within the Peel River watershed. Among these sites are traveling routes that have been used for thousands of years. To this day the glaciated waters and the ecological area of the Peel River Watershed provide an important resource for the Gwich’in Nation of the Mackenzie Delta region of the Northwest Territories. Currently this area is under threat from a consortium of both indigenous and non-indigenous developers working with big oil and government to develop and Natural Gas Pipeline that will connect the rich gas reserves of the McKenzie valley with the US Gas market. Recently, there has been an action call from the Yukon territorial government to open up specific areas within the Peel River drainage to oil, gas, and mining activity. This event gives the right of way for large-scale development projects to proceed by industrial corporations to do exploratory work within these sacred areas. This is a major concern to the Gwich’in people and to the other Indigenous People within the Yukon Territory that rely on the Peel River Watershed area as a means of cultural existence. The Arctic Youth Alliance consists of grassroots youth from across Denendeh and the Beaufort Delta (the Northwest Territories).  The Dene Youth Alliance is structured to link, support, and network with other organizations that share common values and struggles at the local, national, and international level. AYA Mandate The mandate of the Arctic Youth Alliance is to advocate for the rights of the Indigenous Peoples of Denendeh and the Beaufort Delta by encouraging dialogue between youth and elders, and through raising awareness of the environmental, political, economic, cultural, social, spiritual and health related impacts of development.  Specifically, the Dene Youth Alliance is engaged in dialogues and education regarding the proposed Mackenzie Gas Project. IEN has been supporting the Arctic Youth Alliance to stop this obscene development from taking place.

http://www.deneyouthalliance.ca/

Maine: Passamaquoddy Bay Defenders

Tribal members of the Passamaquoddy tribal nation are in opposition to a proposed Liquefied Natural Gas (LNG) terminal. The newly formed tribal grassroots organization called, “Ntulankeyutmonen Nkihtaqmikon” which means “We take care of the homeland”. They are defending their traditional homelands from a proposed $350 million LNG terminal at Pleasant Point, located on their Passamaquoddy tribal reservation in Maine, otherwise known as Sipayik . IEN has been supporting “Ntulankeyutmonen Nkitaqmikon” with technical support in their local campaign to stop the proposed LNG terminal.

Nulankeyutomenon Nkihtaqmikon (We Take Care of Our Land) – is trying to raise money for the legal fees they’re incurring in litigation over protecting a sacred site. It is very urgent and that we help them raise a lot of money as soon as possible.

Nulankeyutomonen Nkihtahkomikumon (We Take Care of Our Land) is a community-based group focused on protecting our rights to design and create ecologically responsive projects on Passamaquoddy ancestral lands. Voting on Descendant’s rights is not Passamaquoddy: “Join us in defending descendant’s rights and protecting Passamaquoddy cultural and ceremonial gathering grounds. Split Rock, Maine is being targeted for heavy industrial development. Split Rock is not an appropriate site for a Liquefied Natural Gas (LNG) terminal. This significant rock formation provides a sanctuary for Passamaquoddys, and access to ancestral waters. Our ancestors paid a heavy price for our survival and their values of generosity, reciprocity, and ingenuity are not lost on us. Your action today to support those who serve the front line of defense against the exploitation and pollution of Passamaquoddy Bay is not only needed, it’s essential. Thank you for taking action to preserve Split Rock as a cultural and ceremonial ground. Help us continue to work toward permanent protection of these special waters and unspoiled lands. Donate today to our legal defense fund. Vera Francis, Coordinator Additional ResourcesMore Information about LNG (Liquefied Natural Gas)

We Take Care of Ourselves http://www.wetakecareofourland.org/