Dear Friends,
We at Midcoast Indigenous Awareness Group (MIAG) send love your way in this challenging and transformative time. We have been grateful for the pause, which has allowed for some of us increased time for personal reflection and sharing. We have been grateful for the changes in our own and other’s habits, as well as the clearer skies, the increase in birdlife, the small but clear sounds of earth, life and waters coming alive and healing. At the same time we have an increased awareness of the continuing inequities among us and their disastrous and unacceptable consequences.
With all of this in mind, MIAG is inviting those of us who are able and willing to consider donating part or all of our government issued stimulus checks to native led and recommended organizations and projects (see list below).
We see this sharing to be a small offering toward bringing things into a much needed balance, a tiny step towards repairing the continuing harm that has resulted from the mostly unacknowledged genocidal beginnings of what we now call the "united states" and "maine", as well as contributing to a healthier future.
As residents of the land of the Peoples of the Dawn, honoring Wabanaki sovereignty benefits us all. We have seen how the waters, lands, and all the beings thrive when under Wabanaki leadership. Many of us have experienced how Wabanaki knowledge and technologies have benefited our lives. We need Wabanaki leadership to help us learn how to live on this land and care for it for generations to come.
Wishing you all health and wellbeing. Thank you for reading this email. Please forward it widely and share its message!
With humility and gratitude,
MIAG
P.S. Please let us at MIAG know if you would like support or input as you reflect on this decision. We would be pleased to think out loud with you. Some of us have appreciated the guidance of the following questions, paraphrased from and inspired by words of Seth Woody.
-Has the crisis of COVID-19 diminished my ability to support myself or my family financially?
-Do I have the resources I need to support my health, my housing and my general wellbeing?
-Do I continue to enjoy a stable and secure lifestyle because I benefit from the inequities created by the long history and continued presence of colonization and racism in our society?
We are thankful to our Wabanaki friends for suggesting the following list:
-Indigenous Women of Wabanaki Territories:
https://iwwt.ca (donation link at bottom of homepage)
-Wabanaki Health and Wellness: http://www.wabanakihw.org (donation button on home page)
-Wabanaki Women's Coalition (all 5 of the Wabanaki Domestic and Sexual Violence Advocacy Centers are member programs): https://www.wabanakiwomenscoalition.org/donate/
-Wicuhkemtultine Kinship Community and Learning Center:
https://spiret.org/land-peace-foundation-donation/
-Maine Wabanaki-REACH: http://www.mainewabanakireach.org/donate
-Sunlight Media Collective:
http://sunlightmediacollective.org/index.php/donate
The following organizations were suggested by our Wabanaki friends as needing support, but do not have a set up for online donations. These are respected organizations that could use your support if they speak to you.
-The Elder's Garden
Write checks to the Penobscot Nation Housing Department, ATTN: Elder's Garden, 12 Wabanaki Way, Indian Island, ME 04468
-The People's Garden
Write checks c/o Tami Connolly, 11 West Street, Indian Island, ME 04468
-Passamaquoddy Tribe at Indian Township Food Pantry
Write checks c/o Janet Lola, PO Box 301, Princeton, ME 04668
-Aroostook Band of Micmacs Food Pantry -Write checks to: Aroostook Band of Micmacs, 7 Northern Rd. Presque Isle, ME 04769
-Houlton Band of Maliseets Food Pantry
Write Checks to Houlton Band of Maliseets Food Pantry, 88 Bell Road, Littleton, ME 04730
-Penobscot Nation Food Pantry
Send checks to 12 Wabanaki Way, Indian Island, ME 04468
-Wabanaki Public Health:
Write checks to Wabanaki Public Health, 157 Park Street, Suite #26 Bangor, ME 04401
We are also including the following organizations from a Dine/Navajo friend. We recognize that the pandemic has hit Navajo country particularly hard. We are offering these organizations to donate to in solidarity, not in competition, if you are moved to assist.
-Navajo and Hopi Families Covid 19 Relief Fund https://www.gofundme.com/f/NHFC19Relief
-Flagstaff/Kinlani Mutual Aid
https://kinlanimutualaid.org/needs-list-donate/
We at Midcoast Indigenous Awareness Group (MIAG) send love your way in this challenging and transformative time. We have been grateful for the pause, which has allowed for some of us increased time for personal reflection and sharing. We have been grateful for the changes in our own and other’s habits, as well as the clearer skies, the increase in birdlife, the small but clear sounds of earth, life and waters coming alive and healing. At the same time we have an increased awareness of the continuing inequities among us and their disastrous and unacceptable consequences.
With all of this in mind, MIAG is inviting those of us who are able and willing to consider donating part or all of our government issued stimulus checks to native led and recommended organizations and projects (see list below).
We see this sharing to be a small offering toward bringing things into a much needed balance, a tiny step towards repairing the continuing harm that has resulted from the mostly unacknowledged genocidal beginnings of what we now call the "united states" and "maine", as well as contributing to a healthier future.
As residents of the land of the Peoples of the Dawn, honoring Wabanaki sovereignty benefits us all. We have seen how the waters, lands, and all the beings thrive when under Wabanaki leadership. Many of us have experienced how Wabanaki knowledge and technologies have benefited our lives. We need Wabanaki leadership to help us learn how to live on this land and care for it for generations to come.
Wishing you all health and wellbeing. Thank you for reading this email. Please forward it widely and share its message!
With humility and gratitude,
MIAG
P.S. Please let us at MIAG know if you would like support or input as you reflect on this decision. We would be pleased to think out loud with you. Some of us have appreciated the guidance of the following questions, paraphrased from and inspired by words of Seth Woody.
-Has the crisis of COVID-19 diminished my ability to support myself or my family financially?
-Do I have the resources I need to support my health, my housing and my general wellbeing?
-Do I continue to enjoy a stable and secure lifestyle because I benefit from the inequities created by the long history and continued presence of colonization and racism in our society?
We are thankful to our Wabanaki friends for suggesting the following list:
-Indigenous Women of Wabanaki Territories:
https://iwwt.ca (donation link at bottom of homepage)
-Wabanaki Health and Wellness: http://www.wabanakihw.org (donation button on home page)
-Wabanaki Women's Coalition (all 5 of the Wabanaki Domestic and Sexual Violence Advocacy Centers are member programs): https://www.wabanakiwomenscoalition.org/donate/
-Wicuhkemtultine Kinship Community and Learning Center:
https://spiret.org/land-peace-foundation-donation/
-Maine Wabanaki-REACH: http://www.mainewabanakireach.org/donate
-Sunlight Media Collective:
http://sunlightmediacollective.org/index.php/donate
The following organizations were suggested by our Wabanaki friends as needing support, but do not have a set up for online donations. These are respected organizations that could use your support if they speak to you.
-The Elder's Garden
Write checks to the Penobscot Nation Housing Department, ATTN: Elder's Garden, 12 Wabanaki Way, Indian Island, ME 04468
-The People's Garden
Write checks c/o Tami Connolly, 11 West Street, Indian Island, ME 04468
-Passamaquoddy Tribe at Indian Township Food Pantry
Write checks c/o Janet Lola, PO Box 301, Princeton, ME 04668
-Aroostook Band of Micmacs Food Pantry -Write checks to: Aroostook Band of Micmacs, 7 Northern Rd. Presque Isle, ME 04769
-Houlton Band of Maliseets Food Pantry
Write Checks to Houlton Band of Maliseets Food Pantry, 88 Bell Road, Littleton, ME 04730
-Penobscot Nation Food Pantry
Send checks to 12 Wabanaki Way, Indian Island, ME 04468
-Wabanaki Public Health:
Write checks to Wabanaki Public Health, 157 Park Street, Suite #26 Bangor, ME 04401
We are also including the following organizations from a Dine/Navajo friend. We recognize that the pandemic has hit Navajo country particularly hard. We are offering these organizations to donate to in solidarity, not in competition, if you are moved to assist.
-Navajo and Hopi Families Covid 19 Relief Fund https://www.gofundme.com/f/NHFC19Relief
-Flagstaff/Kinlani Mutual Aid
https://kinlanimutualaid.org/needs-list-donate/