152. We Can Help to Buy Indigenous Land Back

The Indigenous "Land Back" movement in the US and Canada has gained momentum in recent years across many Indigenous groups, representing a broad fight for decolonization, protecting their culture, and taking care of the environment.

Today we will talk about the movement and how WE can support these efforts!

Links from today’s episode:

Landback
https://landback.org/

Land Back Movement
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Land_Back

A Tribe Called Red: “Land Back” Song
https://youtu.be/67F7WbcTQKA

The Native Roots Network
https://www.nativerootsnetwork.org/

Be•le Bo•m: Land Back Initiative
https://www.nativerootsnetwork.org/land-back-pg

ICYMI another episode you might enjoy:
Episode#132 Boycotts, Buycotts, and Public Shaming

Connect With Genet “GG” Gimja:
Website https://www.progressivepockets.com
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Transcript

Welcome to Progressive Pockets! I go by GG, that’s short for Genet Gimja. This is a show about the power of our wallets. I think we have more power than we’ve been led to believe. And so on this show you’ll hear really practical tips on little decisions we can make every day that can shape the world around us. A lot of times the way we talk about money in our American culture is individualistic. It’s about creating a safety net for me and for my family. And there are reasons why we have developed this culture. We’re not inherently selfish people. But this show is about taking a step back and thinking about how our money can be a part of the solution for our communities. Today’s episode is a perfect example of that. I want to share a big idea, something we can do with our money.

We can help to buy indigenous land back. I’ll say it again, we can help to buy indigenous land back. I told you it was going to be big! LOL

I recently heard a presentation by someone working with the Native Roots Network and I realized this is a topic that has somehow never been covered on this show before. 

The Native Roots Network has a very interesting project they are working on now, and it is part of a national movement, a land back movement. So I want to share about this land back movement in case you aren’t familiar.

The Land Back movement is led by Indigenous people and focuses on reclaiming their ancestral lands and restoring their sovereignty in the US, Canada, and other places. This movement has been around for generations and shares some ideas with movements related to the Hawaiian Kingdom, the Palestine Right of Return, and other global efforts.

This Indigenous Land Back movement in the US and Canada has gained momentum in recent years. This term “Landback” became popular in 2018 after it was formally introduced by Arnell Tailfeathers, a member of the Blood Tribe in Canada. The phrase "Land Back" has become a rallying cry for many Indigenous groups, representing a larger fight for decolonization, protecting their culture, and taking care of the environment.

The Land Back movement has some key things they want to do.

Reclaiming Territories: Supporters want to return lands that Indigenous peoples historically occupied, which are often claimed through treaties or historical rights. This includes both public lands, like national parks, and private lands that were taken without permission.
Restoring Sovereignty: The movement highlights the importance of Indigenous communities getting back control over their traditional lands so they can govern themselves and take care of natural resources in a sustainable way.
Cultural Revitalization: Land Back is closely connected to keeping Indigenous languages, traditions, and practices alive, which are deeply linked to specific landscapes.

Just as interesting as the goals are the methods. If you look at how Indigenous activists are doing this work you’ll notice that they are using:

Decentralized Leadership: each land back initiative is based on local contexts and needs. So there is a diversity in the way that they are making decisions and governing the land.

Legal and Political Actions: activists are using a variety of methods including legal challenges, negotiations with governments, and public protests. And it is working. In 2020, a Supreme Court case McGirt v. Oklahoma, reaffirmed tribal jurisdiction over large areas of land in Oklahoma.

And finally, Community Engagement: Activists are also focused on community-based projects that promote food sovereignty, environmental protection, and cultural education. It’s a sophisticated movement with a foundation of grassroots involvement, and that is crucial for fostering solidarity among Indigenous peoples and their allies.

There are many organizations that are working within the Landback movement. Earlier I mentioned the Native Roots Network. They are an organization that is based in the US and focused on fostering Indigenous leadership and promoting cultural sustainability while addressing pressing social and environmental challenges like trying to reclaim their lands.

They are currently working on something called the Be•le Bo•m Land Back Initiative. They have been working to secure donations and grants, large and small, to buy back their own land for $3.8 million. It is 1,200 acres located in northern California. It is rural, predominantly poor, and facing increasing extreme heat, wildfires and community unwellness. And they have a really beautiful plan for this land. The location is culturally and historically important to the Wintu people. There are some undisturbed cultural lands that they would like to keep protected. There is space for an indoor community center and an outdoor community center. There are plans for a cooperative with housing and a cafe. There are gardens, meeting spaces, as well as a facility to teach and practice traditional food and fiber gathering and processing. There’s a digital fabrication space.

They raised enough money to put in an offer for the land at the end of 2023 and that was eventually accepted and then there were tons of inspections and more inspections and lots of meetings within this community and then the last huge hurdle was getting fire insurance. And finally that was completed too. So now they are taking stewardship of the land and beginning all of these big plans. They are cleaning the land up, trash and some plants that don’t belong there.

This land is the exact spot where this community experienced ethnic cleansing. A volunteer militia in 1862 got on their horses and went riding north, executing any Native person they found, including ranch hands, maids, cooks, and children.

People died. And yet, the survivors are still there, dreaming and building. So being able to reclaim this land is huge.

And it might be something you can help with. So I’m going to share lots of links in the show notes and I may also dedicate an issue of the newsletter to this topic.

To recap, here’s what we covered today:
There is a global landback movement that is happening right now. It is about returning stewardship of indigenous lands back to indigenous communities.
This movement is decentralized, meaning different indigenous communities are leading different initiatives in ways that make sense for their people and for their land.
You and I can help indigenous communities to buy their land back. You can google landback initiatives in your area, or you can start with some of the links I provide you in the show notes.

If you have more time today, here’s another episode to check out, it is episode 132 and it is called “Boycotts, Buycotts and Public Shaming.” That episode feels related to me because it is about how powerful grassroots movements can be.

I bet you have a friend or colleague who is also interested in the landback movement. Please share this episode with them and let them know there’s plenty more where that came from. Word of mouth is still how podcasts grow.

Let’s end with a quote…
“Without justice there can be no love.”
That quote comes to us from bell hooks.

Let’s talk again soon!