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.

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE

March 16, 2015

Youth and Elders joined by Grassy Narrows Drum Groups for public demonstrations at Weyerhaeuser, MNR, and Kenora Forest Products

Kenora—Today, Members of Grassy Narrows First Nation—Youth groups, Band Councilors, Drum Groups, Elders and others—are engaging in a multi-stage protest against logging in their territory.

People from Grassy Narrows First Nation are demonstrating to remind the Province and Logging Industry that Grassroots People from Grassy Narrows remain firm in their commitment to protect the land from industrial logging, and to demand that the Province remove all lands in Grassy Narrows Traditional Territory from the Ministry of Natural Resources and Forestry’s (MNRF) Whiskey Jack Forest Management Unit, and that Weyerhaeuser and Kenora Forest Products (KFP) publicly commit to not taking any wood from Grassy Narrows Traditional Territory.

Welcome to #INMroots Number Four!  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.

We are all invited to add to this newsletter. Post your story now!The deadline for the next newsletter is midnight on Sunday March 15th. We will accept all submissions that are connected to Indigenous and environmental issues as long as they do not condone or promote violence or lateral violence or include hate speech.  

The next newsletter will be published on Monday March 23rd, so check your inboxes!

If you see a news story on your social media networks that is worth sharing, please tag #INMroots.

President Obama -- Thank you for VETOING Keystone XL - Now please uphold your commitment to indigenous youth and REJECT it before Big Oil and their cronies try to pull more tricks. TransCanada's permit in South Dakota has expired and there is no approved route. Oceti Sakowin and non-native youth in South Dakota are united in asking you reject the pipeline.  SIGN THE PETITION NOW!

Why is this important?

Submitted by Cherri Foytlin

This is my full speech from the foot of the Edmund Pettus Bridge in Selma, Alabama, on Sunday, March 9, in commemoration of the 50th Commemoration of Bloody Sunday. Due to time constraints, the original was cut down to one minute, so I am sharing my full thoughts here.

Good afternoon! My name is Cherri Foytlin, I am the mother of six beautiful children, and I live in Rayne, Louisiana.

I would like to first recognize the land with which we are now standing as Muskogee Creek lands. I would like to remind you that the country known as the United States of America began with acts of genocide and that the blood of people of color spilled on this ground began 283 years ago. Violence in Selma against people of color did not begin or end 50 years ago – Selma is now!

Contact Person: Nick Estes 
Phone Number: 605-680-0669 
Email: contact@therednation.org

Albuquerque N.M.—An Albuquerque-based group called The Red Nation and about 100 area supporters, including City Council President Rey Garduno, gathered downtown despite freezing cold weather and record-setting snowfall to call on the city to abolish Columbus Day. The coalition of local community organizations, city officials, faith groups, and Native community members also gathered to pay homage to the 42nd Anniversary of Wounded Knee when the American Indian Movement, allies, and Oglala Lakota Nation staged a 71-day armed takeover of the village of Wounded Knee in Pine Ridge, South Dakota.

Welcome to  #INMroots number three!  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.

We are all invited to add to this newsletter. Post your story now! The deadline for the next newsletter is midnight on Sunday March 1st. We will accept all submissions that are connected to Indigenous and environmental issues as long as they do not condone or promote violence or lateral violence or include hate speech.  

The next newsletter will be published on Monday March 9th, so check your inboxes!  If you see a news story worth sharing on your social media networks, please tag #INMroots

Protect Oak Flat Today and Everyday

WHEREAS, the U.S. Congress did pass the Southeastern Arizona Land Exchange and Conservation Act as part of the national defense budget; and

WHEREAS, this Act takes away Oak Flat, a most holy and spiritual area known to us as Chich'il Bildagoteel and gives it to Resolution Copper, a foreign mining conglomerate;

WHEREAS, today, we are gathered to protect Oak Flat, because we want the world to know that we are here to pray for Oak Flat, and that through the power of our prayers and the strength of our purpose we hope that Congress will realize the error of its ways and repeal the Act;

WHEREAS, today, I call upon everyone and all nations - tribes, natives and indigenous people - to join with us to commence our fight to take back Oak Flat;

Brought together and supported by the Native Youth Sexual Health Network, the Two-Spirit and Indigenous LGBTQQIA Mentors, Elders, and Grandparents Support Circle is an effort to increase access to identity-affirming culture and support.

What we do:
The Circle aims to share information about community and cultural activities, including ceremonies, gatherings, events and workshops, to provide peer support and help facilitate access to culture in ways that are safe and affirming of our identities.

Welcome to the second Idle No More grassroots newsletter which will now be called #INMroots!   Thanks to everyone who submitted ideas for the newsletter name.

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, actions, and honour resistance while celebrating the world that we are protecting.