Dear Relatives,
May 17th is Native Nonprofit Day. This day gives us a chance to recognize the vital role that Indigenous nonprofits play in preserving culture, advocating for rights, and fostering community development. Indigenous organizations are often at the forefront of addressing critical issues, from education and healthcare to environmental stewardship and cultural preservation. As we celebrate Native Nonprofit Day, I find myself reflecting on some formative, early experiences which showed me that a small group of determined and committed people can make a critical difference.
My love for public service in the nonprofit sector began over twenty years ago, when I worked as a student volunteer at a small nonprofit on Morningside Heights in New York that served directly-impacted and under-resourced community and youth. I saw firsthand how the lives of many were impacted and ultimately transformed, due to the tireless efforts of volunteers, community organizers, staff, and dedicated leadership.
While I am inspired by my experiences in organizations and community organizing, I am first and foremost inspired by my own people in the Andes mountains of Peru. In the Sacred Valley, quinoa and amaranth grow freely, in vibrant and deep red hues fading into sun-bleached stalks. When quinoa is ready to harvest, the top of the plants droop over from the weight of its seeds. To harvest quinoa, it is done by hand and the community comes together to do this work with hand-held scythes to cut the stalks before sunrise. Thus, many hands make light work and the tradition of reciprocity, mutual aid, and lending a hand in time of need, has allowed Quechua people of the Andes to withstand centuries without the help of agricultural machinery. The harvest of quinoa is a testament to what strength, dedication, and selflessness can accomplish.
At the Water Protector Legal Collective, we are moved by a deep sense of accountability and responsibility to our own communities and all our relations, guided by the belief in the interconnectivity and sacredness of life.
As a legal holding line for the Earth and her protectors, we are honored to provide legal education and training, strategic litigation, representation, and research for Indigenous-led movements. We seek to provide trauma-informed, culturally safe, and relational legal training, representation, and advocacy for Indigenous Peoples on the frontlines of environmental justice struggles.
Like the quinoa harvest, we do this work as a labor of love with tireless dedication to #ProtectProtectors and defend the Sacred and rights of Indigenous Peoples across Turtle Island. We know there is always work to be done - the frontlines are everywhere.
We also know that this work cannot be done alone. At WPLC we are deeply inspired by the resilience, dedication, and innovation demonstrated by all Native nonprofits. Together, we not only uplift our Peoples but also contribute to the broader goal of creating a different world - one that is in harmony with the Earth and understands the critical times we are living through where climate disruption and social and political injustices abound. Systemic threats to Indigenous Peoples and the Earth require systemic changes.
We know a single thread can change the tapestry of the law - we are committed to indigenizing spaces of power and infusing the law with an Indigenous understanding of the world, informed by #HonoringTheTreaties, an international human rights framework, and a deep reverence and connection to the Earth herself.
Thank you for supporting our work. In 2023, your generous contributions allowed us to make significant strides in protecting the rights of Indigenous Peoples. In 2024, we are pleased to announce that we are now governed by a fully Indigenous Board of Directors, marking a new page in the history of our organization. We invite you to learn more about our organization and the work we are doing. Please share it with those you know - this is invaluable.
Together, we can make a significant difference.
Urpillay sonqollay,
From the heart,
Natali Segovia, Esq. (Quechua)
Executive Director and Senior Attorney
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