We have serious challenges ahead as the Trump administration threatens the core values we hold dear. I, like many, am outraged and deeply concerned about the recent presidential memoranda and executive orders that give momentum to detrimental social policies, the Keystone XL and Dakota access pipeline, an expedited environmental review process with disregard for environmental degradation and climate change. Moreover, ultimately the lack of a social justice and humanitarian conscience on display in these early days of the administration's sweeping changes.
While many of us understand our actions in a global arena have far-reaching impact and consequences, often the people who suffer the greatest consequences of natural resource development are Indigenous Peoples, women, and children. Those who benefit are the elite few.
Last weekend, over 3 million women and allies marched all over the country and across the globe in solidarity to unite around many social justice issues that guarantee our freedom and rights, dignity, and well-being. We join many of you who are concerned about the President's actions that threaten our environment, freedom of information, women's rights, education, diversity and immigration. When I begin to feel utterly discouraged, these, and the many Indigenous Peoples movements occurring around the world fighting for justice buoy me up, as do the people standing up and saying we matter, our lives matter.
As Indigenous Peoples, we have always had to fight for our lands, territories, cultures, languages -- for our rights. So yes, we will stand strong and fight even harder with the strength of our friends and allies.
With your support, Cultural Survival will continue to work towards the full realization and implementation of the UN Declaration on the Rights of Indigenous Peoples, for Indigenous Peoples' right to self-determination, for the inclusion of Indigenous Peoples in global policy making, for the rights of women and children, and we will work for the protection of our life-sustaining environment. The time to act is now.
Standing with you in resistance,
Suzanne Benally
(Santa Clara Tewa and Navajo)
Executive Director
