Take Action
Resources Specifically Tailored to Unitarian Universalist Congregations
Potential Unitarian Universalist (UU) Initiatives for Action About American Indians at the Congregational Level—Excellent resource by James W. Loewen (author of Lies My Teacher Told Me and Sundown Towns) which provides background information and suggests ways for UU congregations to carry out social justice work regarding American Indian social justice issues.
Cradle Club through the Unitarian Universalist United Nations Office—The Unitarian Universalist United Nations Office is working with the Southwest Indian Relief Council's Cradle Club to provide supplies for baskets to be given to Native American mothers of newborn babies in need. Includes links to a step-by-step guide and proposal for UU congregations.
Unitarian Universalist Service Committee JustWorks Camps—Through JustWorks camps, participants work directly with people in local communities on direct-service projects. Short-term (usually week-long) projects help participants examine and understand the root causes and damaging effects of injustice, with an eye to promoting intercultural understanding. The UUSC offers JustWorks Camps at various sites, including reservations. Check the schedule for availability. To read one JustWorker's account of participating in a 2006 JustWorks Camp at Rosebud Reservation, see Opening Up in South Dakota.
Advocacy/Activism
Subscribe to the Friends Committee on National Legislation's Native American Legislative Update—The Friends Committee on National Legislation runs an excellent listserv which keeps activists informed about current issues and lets them know about online action campaigns in which they can take part.
National Coalition on Racism in Sports and in the Media—The National Coalition on Racism in Sports and the Media (NCRSM) was established in 1992 by leaders of the American Indian Movement in order to organize against the use of Indian images and names for logos, symbols or mascots in professional and collegiate sports, marketing and the media. Check out their Action Items/Current Events page to see if there is a current campaign in your state that you can participate in.
Volunteer/Conduct a Supply Drive
Re-Member—Re-Member is a non-profit organization which works with the Oglala Lakota Nation on Pine Ridge Reservation, South Dakota. Volunteers comprised of individuals and groups (adult and youth) work at the Re-Member facility on Pine Ridge for one week at a time. Volunteers participate in various work projects across the Reservation, helping to rebuild relationships, homes, and lives.
Backpacks for Pine Ridge—The Pine Ridge Reservation in South Dakota is the poorest place in America with a median income of $3,500.00 a year. The school drop out rate is soaring at an estimated 70% and the schools on the Reservation fall into the bottom 10% of funding. Since 2004, Backpacks for Pine Ridge has been delivering new backpacks filled with school supplies to a village on the Reservation. In 2008 the program is expanding to provide backpacks and school supplies to the children in three villages.
Pretty Bird Woman House—A women's shelter and education program on Standing Rock Sioux Reservation in South Dakota. Pretty Bird Woman House can always use financial contributions as well as material donations of diapers, shampoo, towels and washcloths, sheets and blankets, etc. More information about making donations is available on their blog.
Last updated on Friday, July 25, 2008.
