The Keepers of the Earth Fund (KOEF) is proud to announce that in 2023 we awarded over half 1,000,000 {dollars} in small grants to help Indigenous tasks on points associated to group empowerment for land defense and autonomy; the transmission of Indigenous knowledge; traditional medicine and Indigenous spirituality; food sovereignty and Indigenous economies; and the numerous types of resistance to mining for the “inexperienced” power transition.
In whole, 72 Indigenous tasks and collectives have been financed for a complete quantity of $543,605. The funds have been despatched on to Indigenous communities, collectives, and grassroots organizations in 21 international locations.
At Cultural Survival, we worth cultivating long-term relationships with our companions. Subsequently, we awarded 22 grants to organizations that had obtained grants in prior years, representing one-third of this yr’s whole. Following our programmatic precedence of supporting Indigenous ladies and youth, 16 organizations led by Indigenous ladies and 9 tasks both led by or instantly supporting Indigenous youth have been financed.
The Keepers of the Earth Fund is an Indigenous-led fund at Cultural Survival designed to help Indigenous Peoples’ advocacy and group improvement tasks globally. Since 2017, we have now supported 310 tasks in 41 international locations by way of small grants and wrap-around help totaling $1,603,307. Grants go on to Indigenous communities, collectives, organizations, and conventional governments to help tasks designed by them and in accordance with their Indigenous values. Predicated on the United Nations Declaration on the Rights of Indigenous Peoples, Cultural Survival makes use of a rights-based strategy in our grantmaking methods to help grassroots Indigenous options by way of the equitable distribution of assets to Indigenous communities.
The demand for minerals comparable to nickel, lithium, cobalt, and copper is predicted to skyrocket as international locations transition from fossil gasoline economies. Indigenous territories include important quantities of untapped heavy metallic reserves around the globe, placing Indigenous lands and communities in danger. Of 5,097 mining projects globally that contain some 30 minerals utilized in renewable power applied sciences, 54% are situated on or close to Indigenous Peoples’ lands and territories. In america, 97% of nickel, 89% of copper, 79% lithium, and 68% of cobalt are situated inside 35 miles of Native American reservations.
Every single day, Indigenous leaders danger their lives to guard their territories from mining. From 2010-2020, there have been 495 human rights allegations made in opposition to all 115 firms concerned in transition mineral extraction. In 2022, 41% of attacks in opposition to Indigenous Peoples have been associated to mining.
Meet our grant companions residing in resistance to transition mineral mining for the “inexperienced” power transition.
Worldwide Indigenous Fund for Improvement and Solidarity Batani – (Dolgan, Nenet, Nganasan, Evenk, Enet, Sami), USA
Actions associated to the transition to the inexperienced financial system are posing a direct menace to the land and ecology of Taimyr Peoples in Siberia, whose Indigenous and human rights are being violated by the Norilsk Nickel Mine. As a result of troublesome political state of affairs in Russia, Batani works from Turtle Island for the protection of ancestral lands. Along with the Securing Indigenous Peoples’ Rights within the Inexperienced Economic system (SIRGE) Coalition, Batani is working to safe worldwide cooperation for the Taimyr Indigenous communities to create a system to guard their rights.
Pink Chacha Warmi – (Kolla, Quechua Aymara, Atacama, Chicha, Afro-descendant), Argentina
The Chacha Warmi Community was created in 2016 by a bunch of ladies from numerous Indigenous communities within the Puna and Yungas area of the province of Jujuy, and is made up of ladies and non-binary individuals, primarily migrants, who take pleasure of their Indigenous identities. With an anti-racist, anti-patriarch, anti-extractivist, and anti-colonialist strategy, they help Indigenous communities of Jujuy who’re dealing with numerous issues associated to the protection of their surroundings, human rights, kids’s rights, and Indigenous ladies’s rights. With the help of a KOEF grant, they’re offering authorized, administrative, and technical recommendation to communities, and organizing trainings and workshops on the impacts of mining extractivism, financial autonomy, gender violence, racism, group land tenure, and safety of territories.
Analysis and Utilized Applied sciences Middle for al Qullasuyu (CITAQ) – (Aymara), Bolivia
The group of Ayllu Yaribay have engaged in salt manufacturing because the time of the Incas, however with the economic exploitation of the Uyuni Salt Flat, the demand for his or her salt has declined drastically. The producers of Ayllu Yaribay have had problem satisfying the iodization, milling, and packaging processes which can be required for the business manufacturing of salt. In 2023, CITAQ, with the help of the Keepers of the Earth Fund, is working to strengthen the group’s conventional strategies of salt cultivation with the operation of a brand new mill, iodine dosing machine, and packaging machine. As well as, trainings will likely be performed to boost consciousness concerning the rights of Indigenous Peoples and the protection of territory in opposition to threats of mining exploitation.
Copiapó Commune – (Colla), Chile
Copiapó Commune is made up of 53 representatives of the Colla Indigenous Peoples, whose territory, situated within the rural sector of El Bolo close to the Maricun Salt Flat, is underneath menace by lithium, copper, and gold extraction actions. With the help of a KOEF grant, the group will construct a Home of Reminiscence to boost consciousness concerning the struggles they’re dealing with whereas additionally strengthening their cultural heritage and incorporating the participation of youth and youngsters with oral storytelling actions concerning the group. In doing so, the group goals to remodel the colonial perspective of Chilean museums.
Wixárika Regional Council for the Protection of Wirikuta (CRW)– (Wixárika), Mexico
Confronted with the continued menace of mining exploitation in Wirikuta, the ancestral territory of the Wixárika Peoples, the Wixárika Regional Council has been combating since 2011 for his or her safety and land rights by way of political administration, authorized protection, and regional group group. With the help of a KOEF grant, the Council is monitoring the nomination of their territory as a UNESCO World Heritage Web site to make sure that the Wixárika persons are included into the administration plan for the sacred web site.
Ekvn-Yefolecv – (Maskoke), USA
The Ekvn-Yefolecv collective goals to develop the agriculture and aquaculture operations in a Maskoke group in Alabama, the place the river, waters, and land are threatened by a proposed open-pit graphite mine. With the help of a KOEF grant, they are going to enlarge their sturgeon aquaculture facility and enhance bison and small ruminant pasture paddocks. These expansions will strengthen the group’s meals sovereignty and make sure the well being of the group by making a regenerative supply of revenue for generations to come back.
Native Village of Ambler Conventional Council – (Nunatchiaq, Ipnatchiaq, Katyaak, Sinġaqmiut, Laugviik, Qiqiktaġruk, Napaaqtuġmiut, Nuurvik, Akuligaq, Shungnak), USA
The Native Village of Ambler Conventional Council created the Giving Voice for Our Kuuvanmiut Tradition Challenge in response to a proposed street that might be constructed on high of Tribal lands and pose a menace to the Alaska Native communities’ cultures, subsistence, and lands. With the help of a KOEF grant, the Council plans to rearrange a gathering with state and federal officers to debate the issue, submit written feedback, and conduct in-person or digital consultations concerning the communities’ issues.
Individuals of Pink Mountain – (Paiute, Shoshone), USA
A proposed open-pit lithium mine in Peehee Mu’huh (Thacker Cross), Nevada, is threatening the sacred land of the Paiute and Shoshone Tribes. Atsa Koodakuh wyh Nuwu (Individuals of Pink Mountain) are responding by making a undertaking to guard their sacred land by way of organizing consciousness elevating occasions within the area, offering academic cubicles, publications, billboards, and interesting at conferences to unfold the phrase about their battle.
Angosto El Perchel Indigenous Neighborhood – (Kolla), Argentina
The Angosto El Perchel Indigenous group is made up of 79 households within the Quebrada de Humahuaca area. You will need to the group to advertise collective participation and dialogue with different close by communities to handle problems with environmental and water safety and large-scale extractivist actions, amongst others. A grant from the Keepers of the Earth Fund will allow them to construct a multipurpose sports activities heart to carry conferences, assemblies, and different group actions in order that kids, youth, and adults can actively take part and strengthen their networks.
Union of Yagecero Docs of the Colombian Amazon (UMIYAC) – (Inga, Kamentsa, Siona, Cofán, Corebajú), Colombia
The Union of Yagecero Docs is a community of Indigenous non secular authorities belonging to 5 Indigenous Peoples within the Andean-Amazonian Piedmont. Their goal is to strengthen the social ties of Indigenous ladies residing in communities affected by the armed battle, who’ve been compelled into confinement and have seen their conventional methods of life weakened. With the help of the Keepers of the Earth Fund, the ladies of UMIYAC will maintain three conferences within the territories of every collaborating Indigenous Peoples, in addition to a normal assembly to change experiences and data, construct collective reminiscence, weave tales of braveness and resistance, and assemble plans for safeguarding every city within the context of threats to their territory resulting from mining and violence.
Laevas Sameby Neighborhood – (Saami), Sweden
Min Ođđa Giron is a Saami undertaking of the Laevas Sameby and Gabna reindeer herding communities within the metropolis of Kiruna, Sweden. Mining actions, deforestation, and local weather change have impacted the reindeer inhabitants. Following the latest discovery of uncommon earth minerals on their conventional territory, the specter of additional mining enlargement led the group to take motion to guard their land. With the help of a KOEF grant, the group created the Min Ođđa Giron undertaking and commenced organizing youth-led demonstrations and gatherings, workshops, and capability constructing trainings to halt mining actions, demand compliance with their proper to Free, Prior and Knowledgeable Consent.
Marka Tahua Neighborhood – (Aymara), Bolivia
The Uyuni Salt Flat is comprised of a number of islands, one in every of which has turn into a vacationer attraction. On this undertaking, the Marka Tahua, made up of 13 Aymara communities, will develop tourism on a second island, both Qujiry or Isla del Pescado, that can prominently function Aymara tradition. The group will first guarantee primary providers and manage the administration of the undertaking, and later will set up two scenic viewpoints. The event of culture-focused tourism strengthens the financial sovereignty of the group, whose livelihood is threatened by the enlargement of lithium mining in its territory, in a means that’s harmonious with Pachamama and thus suitable with the Aymaras’ mannequin of buen vivir.
Gavilán Neighborhood – (Huötüja), Venezuela
Within the Cataniapo River basin, unlawful mining has turn into one of many worst issues dealing with native Indigenous communities, who’ve been invaded and even displaced from their territories by miners. With the help of a KOEF grant, the Huötüja Gavilán group seeks to defend and shield their surroundings by way of entrepreneurship. Conventional planting, harvesting, and manufacturing of merchandise derived from bitter cassava is another supply of revenue for the group with minimal environmental affect. Individuals will likely be skilled in entrepreneurship and consciousness elevating workshops concerning the issues brought on by unlawful mining.
Aldeia Cinta Vermelha Neighborhood – (Pankararú, Pataxó), Brazil
Going through issues stemming from mining, the individuals of Aldeia Cinta Vermelha have been discussing the way to strengthen their coaching and cooperation between villages. With help from the Keepers of the Earth Fund, this Pataxó group in Minas Gerais will proceed their coaching about Indigenous rights and impacts of mining for transition minerals. They’ll meet with leaders and can maintain dialog circles to change experiences with different impacted communities. The undertaking will strengthen the collective group and the safety of their territories.
Union of Huötüja Indigenous Peoples and Communities of Pendare (UPCIHURPA) – (Huötüja), Venezuela
Mining has been affecting the Indigenous inhabitants of Parhuaza area for years, as compelled migration and environmental degradation have created divisions among the many Huötüja Individuals. UPCIHURPA is engaged on a mass communication and public consciousness marketing campaign concerning the impacts of mining, meant to achieve as many individuals as attainable, with a collection of workshops and talks on Indigenous rights and the dangers of mining enlargement of their area. The preliminary group of individuals will likely be entrusted with repeating the knowledge of their communities.
Three Defenders of Land and Indigenous Rights
The necessity for emergency help for defenders of Indigenous Peoples is rising globally. This yr, Cultural Survival has offered emergency funds to a number of Indigenous rights and land defenders, together with three Indigenous leaders who face critical threats associated to their group work securing land and Indigenous rights. The violence in opposition to them consists of bodily assaults, imprisonment, and political persecution. Keepers of the Earth funds have been utilized for medical and psychological care, authorized protection, safety and meals, and different pressing particular person, household, or collective wants.
