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Centering Indigenous Perspectives: How Headwaters reminded me that solidarity benefits everyone
By Alfred Walking Bull | they/he | Sicangu Lakota | 2023 Wellspring Fund Grantmaker
Growing up in the Rosebud Sioux Tribe in South Dakota, I learned that generosity must be the first of our core values. Both at home and in school, I was reminded that of the other three values of bravery, fortitude, and wisdom, none are possible without a generous spirit. In order to be brave, we must be generous with ourselves and others; in order to be fortitudinous, we must be generous with our love and patience; in order to be wise, we must understand what it is to have nothing, to be willing to ask and receive, and to build ourselves up enough to give. Philanthropy is Indigenous.
Headwaters Foundation for Justice has an extensive history of centering Indigenous people in its giving and philanthropy practice. My responsibility as a community grantmaker was to carry on that history. What I was honored to be able to do was to hold courageous conversation with the other community grantmakers about how our people find ways to be resilient within the structures that currently exist while simultaneously using those structures to decolonize.
The Broad Word We Use is Solidarity
What was encouraging about the Headwaters approach was the intentional Indigenous inclusion I saw in my grantmaking committee. As one of three Indigenous voices on the seven-person committee, it was a rare moment to build relationships with other Indigenous community members while being an advocate and resource.
When we can support Indigenous people to deconstruct the systems of oppression at every opportunity, no matter how grassroots or grand the scale, we benefit from that act of solidarity.
We cannot abide injustice against other BIPOC folks on occupied and stolen Dakota and Anishinaabe land.
I had previously worked in philanthropy at a 2SLGBTQ+ community foundation in communications, so I was familiar with the ecosystems within philanthropy. Being able to fully participate in this lifecycle of grantmaking at Headwaters was a transformational experience that helped me to fully appreciate the role of community in philanthropy.
Contextualizing the Nation’s Ignored Crisis
Funding opportunities for Indigenous peoples in the U.S. represent so much more than just one aspect of life for us on a daily basis. We are the nation’s ignored crisis because the weight of the injustice is put on us to bear, when in reality, it is the responsibility of non-Indigenous people to meet on both legal and moral bases.
Tribal nations are considered political and legal entities and not just a factor of race in the U.S. Our sovereign governments are recognized in the founding documents of this country as distinct political groups that must be negotiated with to secure the peace and prosperity of the U.S. In Article I, Section 8, Clause 3 of the U.S. Constitution, Congress has the authority to regulate commerce with tribal nations. This is why we have a Bureau of Indian Affairs, the Indian Health Service, and an Office of Indian Education.
However, the reality for tribal communities in the United States continues to be bleak. The Indian Health Service is just one aspect of how Indigenous communities in the United States and its colonies continue to fight for the bare necessities. While health care is a treaty obligation for most tribal nations, it continues to be one of the most underfunded departments within the federal government. That is to say nothing of education, land and resource management, hunting and fishing, environmental protections, or any one of the myriad concerns that impact Indigenous communities.
Whenever I think about generosity, I’m reminded of my parents, Ralph Walking Bull and Lorraine Iron Shell-Walking Bull. They’ve been in the spirit world for over a decade now, but their experience and wisdom guide me in how we show up for others. We are not a transactional people, we are a people who lead with our values of generosity, bravery, fortitude, and wisdom. I’m grateful to Headwaters Foundation for Justice for continuing to invest in our communities and make space for Indigenous perspectives in authentic ways.
Wopila tanka eciciyapelo
Great thanks
40 Calls to Action for 40 Years of Headwaters
In Alfred’s words, learn about the 4 organizations that the Wellspring Fund grantmaking committee selected:
- Dream of Wild Health uses its ecosystem-based approach to make food justice and food sovereignty an accessible reality that benefits everyone through its Indigenous Food Network.
- Centro de Trabajadores Unidos en la Lucha (CTUL) organizes workers across racial identities to fight against low-wage worker exploitation.
- Inquilinxs Unidxs por Justicia/United Renters for Justice advocates for and empowers all renters, especially Black, Indigenous, and People of Color renters, for just and healthy housing with dignity.
- Greater Minnesota Workers Center is crucial in building power outside of the Twin Cities so that when low-wage immigrant and refugee workers fight against xenophobia and racism for fair labor practices, they know they’re not alone.
Learn more about the Tending the Soil (TTS) coalition that Alfred is a part of!
- Check out this Star Tribune article on what’s on the horizon for this powerful group of power-building nonprofits and labor organizations.
- Join TTS member, CTUL, at their Worker Solidarity Committee meetings. Building off of a recent win for worker rights and worker dignity, the November meeting is happening this weekend (11/3)! Get involved by emailing ally@ctul.net
Native voices and intersectionality
- You’ve heard of Hot Ones, but have you heard of Wings with Wayne? Check out their latest episode with Wambli Quintana, a Tribal youth leader.
- Excited for some art? Illuminative created a virtual gallery, “A Celebration of Indigenous Queer Intimacies”, honoring intimate and intricate 2-Spirit and LGBTQ+ Connections
- Learning about what “Two-Spirit” means? Them’s InQueery series includes a introduction to the history of the term Two-Spirit.
Excited about community grantmaking?
- If you are interested in becoming a community grantmaker for the next Wellspring Fund, we’d love to connect! Please reach out to Kate Vickery at kate@headwatersfoundation.org to learn more.