by Laura Paskus

For centuries, the Diné people have raised their families and livestock on the high desert lands of the Navajo Nation in New Mexico, Arizona and Utah. They have survived even the most difficult of conditions. But as drought has dragged on, more or less for two decades—and the climate continues to warm—some are saying the tribal government needs to better protect its water resources and undertake more long-term planning.

“When you’re living in the desert, you don’t expect it to get even worse,” said Russell Begaye, a Navajo Nation Tribal Council Delegate from Shiprock, NM. He pointed out that reservoir levels are dropping, farming plots are becoming sandier, and the rain- and snowfall have declined.

Read full story here.

by Shondiin Silversmith - Navajo Times

Dozens of people marched along Highway 66 in Gallup for the Native people who lost their lives in the city.

At least 60 people marched down Route 66 through Gallup on April 4 holding up black and yellow signs with bold letters stating, “Stop Racist Violence Against Natives.”

Printed underneath were the names of Native people who lost their lives due to unnatural causes in the City of Gallup since 2013.

“We hold the City of Gallup responsible for these deaths and for its continued negligence and active discrimination against Native people living in Gallup — especially the poor and homeless,” stated a press release.

To read the full article, subscribe by going to www.navajotimes.com or pick up your copy of the Navajo Times at your nearest newsstand!

by Mauna Kea Protectors - Intercontinental Cry

APRIL 7, 2015 - We applaud Governor Ige for stepping forward to take some kind of action in this crisis.

His call for a one-week halt to TMT’s construction is a victory for the Mauna Kea Protectors, clear evidence that he recognizes the worldwide groundswell of public support we have for halting further desecration of our sacred mountain. Mahalo, Governor Ige.

However, it is not enough to pause for a week. We need a commitment from the Governor or TMT to stop the desecration until our legal appeals can work their way through the courts to the State Supreme Court.

Read full article here

By Adrian Burragubba

We, the Wangan and Jagalingou people, are the TRADITIONAL OWNERS of the land in Queensland’s Galilee Basin. Coal company Adani wants to use our ancestral lands for their Carmichael coal mine.

We do hereby firmly REJECT a Land Use Agreement with Adani for the Carmichael mine on our traditional lands.

We DO NOT consent to the Carmichael mine on our ancestral lands.

We DO NOT accept Adani’s “offers” to sign away our land and our rights and interests in it. We will not take their “shut up” money.

We will PROTECT and DEFEND our Country and our connection to it.

We call on Adani to IMMEDIATELY WITHDRAW from this damaging project on our land.

Read more and sign the petition here.

Idle No More supports and acknowledges the Mauna Kea Hui, protecting the Sacred Mauna Kea and surrounding water against construction of a Canadian funded proposal to build a massive 18-story telescope.  The structure will reach 20 feet underground and also  include a  21,000 square foot office building, road and parking lot all on conservation lands on Mauna Kea’s summit. This mega-telescope is called the Thirty Meter Telescope (TMT).

Welcome to #INMroots Number Five!  The title of this newsletter “Reconnecting Through Resistance” honours a Saami protest and manifesto.  The goal of the #INMroots newsletter is to share news stories that promote Indigenous rights and sovereignty and the protection of land and water. The newsletter will share our stories and actions, and honour resistance, while celebrating the world that we are protecting.

Never forget!
#‎GulfSouthRising

April 20 marks the fifth year since BP's Deepwater Drilling Disaster fouled our shores causing an ecological and human health disaster that continues to this day. Frontline & impacted communities across the Gulf Coast region invite you to join us for this historic week of actions in its observance.

Send emails - Sign the petition

Guarani Kaiowá communities of the border between Brazil and Paraguay are seriously threatened, despite constitutional rights, the Convention 169 of the ILO, that Brazil had signed in 2002, the sponsors of the industrial agribusiness and monocultures, supported by the police and the Brazilian government want to evict these communities after March 16. In complete violation of the laws and surely with a maximum risk to cause dozens of deaths, the Brazilian government and agribusiness entrepreneurs continue with the idea of stripping all native peoples from their ancestral lands.

Action 8: Mourning Star - #‎FreeWestPapua" attracted the largest community of performers and supporters; we came together to demonstrate solidarity for the people West Papua at Auckland's iconic #‎PasifikaFestival on Saturday 14 March 2015. After five public 'interruptions' in the Samoa, Tonga, Fiji, Cook Islands and on the periphery of the Aotearoa village, the women turned heads, opened eyes, engaged hearts and minds... thank you....

by Niillas Holmberg and Jenni Laiti
All Photos by Johannes Samuelsson

Sápmi, our homeland, has been colonized and exploited. We, the Saami people, have been dislocated and disconnected from the land and from each other. We are struggling to hold on to the remains of our self-determination, our territorial and cultural rights. Without having the rights to exist and determine our future, we are unable to live as a distinct society. Sápmi encompasses northern Norway, Sweden, Finland and the Kola Peninsula of Russia. The Saami people are the only Indigenous people in Europe. However, our Indigenous rights remain unrecognized and the Saami issues are still not taken seriously on national political agendas. A result of this situation is that we are not living; we struggle to survive.