Shea Vassar

Our Commitment to the Next Generation

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Native youth are a vital part of grassroots organizing. That’s why this summer, we participated in different opportunities that gave some from the younger generation the opportunity to learn about the tools necessary to engage and organize in their communities.

National UNITY Conference in San Diego

We brought 20 Native youth from 9 Tribal Nations and villages across 9 states to this year’s National UNITY Conference in San Diego! This cohort had a wonderful time being around other Native youth leaders while also participating in the workshops (including the one we facilitated!)

Here are a few testimonials from those in attendance:

Maia (Arizona) YOUTH PARTICIPANT

“My favorite part of attending UNITY was seeing how small and powerful Indian Country is. I found new relatives in each workshop and saw that we all share similar goals for our communities. One thing I learned about myself at UNITY was discovering a deeper perspective on advocacy — balancing when to step forward and how to do it well. Since coming home, my favorite tools to use have been creating more spaces for youth to speak up and be heard.”

 

Neezhoni (Alaska) YOUTH PARTICIPANT

“The time I spent with NOA was nothing short of amazing. To have people who want to hear and listen to your voice and what you have to say is so crucial as an Alaska Native youth. Being with other Native youth from all over was such a feeling of accomplishment. I’ve always wanted to see Native youth gathered to learn, to listen, and to speak without fear of being unheard. Learning about other cultures was amazing, and sharing mine was too.

After my time at UNITY with NOA, I went back to my little village in Alaska and shared what I had learned. I learned to be brave, to remember that sometimes you might be the only person in the room representing your people, to be more understanding, to remember that there will always be people out there rooting for you. Connecting with other people as a Native person is fundamental in the way we move forward, and it’s important to share your knowledge with others. Thank you to NOA for rooting for me!!!”

 

Star (Oklahoma) NOA STAFF

“NOA took a group of 16 youth from our key states, ages 14–21, to San Diego for UNITY 2025 “Voices of Hope.” For the diverse group we hosted, some had only ever experienced Indigenous peoples from their own community or had limited access to other Native peoples in general. All of them were amazed by the opportunity to connect with Native youth from all over, as well as to step up to the table and truly be part of discussions about Indian Country.

NOA also facilitated a session of our own called “Buffalos in the Storm,” where we discussed effective/ineffective and violent/nonviolent tactics and forms of protest in the current political climate, and how best we as a community navigate the political storm ahead.”

 

Wolf (Michigan) NOA STAFF

“I learned a lot at UNITY, but my favorite part had to be the Northern Tribes Games breakout room. It was so cool, and I had a lot of fun there. I also learned that when I’m invested, I can really put myself out there and grow a lot. I also learned how I can start my own youth council so I can use what I learned to help others or build something new in my community.”

Protect the Sacred Youth Summit 2025

We were invited by our friends at Protect the Sacred to lead a training during their annual Youth Summit. NOA is honored to lead workshops with young organizers and establish that initial introduction to Indigenous grassroots strategies.

This year we gathered Shiprock, New Mexico, at the brand-new Shiprock E-Ship Hub. The summit was led by Change Labs.

 

Shea Vassar

NOA’s Recent Trip to Wind River

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The Native Organizers Alliance Training Team recently traveled to Wind River Indian Reservation to conduct a pre-training visit in preparation for the upcoming May training session in partnership with the Greater Yellowstone Coalition. This visit is an integral part of our protocol, aimed at engaging with the community to better understand local issues and how we can tailor our training to meet the specific needs of the community.

 

Judith Le Blanc (Caddo) and Lonnie Provost (Dakota) have worked with Wes Martel at the Greater Yellowstone Coalition for numerous years on issues around water and land protections,  Tribal sovereignty, and allowing Native voices to have a say in National Parks such as Yellowstone National Park.

 

Last November, Wes reached out to NOA. He updated the team about the Pilot Butte Conveyance Act that was being introduced by Wyoming Senator John Barrasso. The community formed a coalition to address the issue and organized meetings and protests at Senator Barrasso’s office.

 

The visit yielded valuable insights into the dynamics of the unique ecosystem, culture and protocols of the Wind River community. Feedback from local community members highlighted the importance of incorporating treaties, sovereignty, Tribal governance, advocacy and organizing tools into our training.

The team also learned about the significance of buffalo in Eastern Shoshone and Northern Arapahoe culture, emphasizing the need for a respectful and informed approach to conservation that honors traditional practices. This aligns with our commitment to ecological efforts but also acknowledges the cultural identity of the community.

 

These upcoming trainings, starting with the first later this month, will be a series of trainings that Native Organizers Alliance will hold in partnership with the Greater Yellowstone Coalition and the community on Wind River Indian Reservation to further support the community’s efforts to organize.

 

This pre-training site visit was a crucial step in building trust and understanding with the Wind River community. Moving forward, it is essential that we integrate the feedback and perspectives gathered during this visit into the training. By doing so, we can ensure that our initiatives not only support ecological objectives but also empower indigenous voices and enhance cultural resilience.

Shea Vassar

A Reflection on the May 2024 National Organizer Training

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Last month I had the honor of joining the Native Organizers Alliance for the National Organizers Training in Federal Way, Washington which is the traditional land of the Cayuse, Umatilla, Walla Walla, and Puyallup. I’ve worked for NOA since 2022 but the timing never aligned for me to join this five day long trip that weaves together principles that are vital for grassroots organizing with traditional values. Everything happens for a reason and I believe I was supposed to be a part of this cohort. 

The organic connection between all of us as individuals was a beautiful thing. There was an understanding that we were all there for the same reason: to learn and grow so that we could return to our own communities with new tools that make our work more meaningful. 

There is a good balance between the various modules that have been uniquely and intentionally curated by the NOA Training Team. Some topics were heavier than others, but each day started with prayer and ended with reflection. Most importantly: every participant is equally valued. We all brought a different perspective to the space which only added to the tapestry of the work we are involved in around Indian Country.

I am so grateful to have been a part of this May 2024 cohort. My experience was spiritually fulfilling and will impact the work I am involved in through NOA. And I can’t wait to see what everyone else in the cohort is up to over the years! Overall, I left the National Organizer Training with renewed hope. 

A big thank you goes out to Judith and Robert, who are great examples of strength and humility, as well as the rest of the Training Team who took the time away from their families and communities. This experience is one I won’t forget.

Wado (thanks in Cherokee) for reading,

Shea Vassar Gomez

Shea Vassar

Native Organizers Alliance 2023 in Review

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Download our 2023 Annual Report here.

It’s a new year! And while we are preparing for the upcoming events of 2024, we also know it is important to reflect on the various accomplishments of the previous 365 days.

While so much of our organizing includes on-the-ground trainings, email campaigns, and education, Native Organizers Alliance was included in 26 panels, webinars, podcasts, and interviews.

Here’s a look at just some of the projects we were involved in throughout 2023: 

 Training Program

Our Native Community Organizer Training is for Native leaders, nonprofits, and organizations both in rural and urban communities. During these in-person sessions, we share new skills and strategies that are vital for effective organizing.

In 2023, we held 1 National and 7 State-Based or Regional Trainings for a total of 245 total training participants.

Save Oak Flat

In Spring 2023, we were notified of a Trump-era deal, which would hand over Oak Flat in Arizona to a notoriously devastating mining corporation. We organized an email campaign that supported the San Carlos Apache and Apache Stronghold, who are on the ground and working towards permanent protections for Oak Flat. Thankfully, the Biden administration listened, pushing that approval.

The constant attack on Oak Flat is why we also have shown support for Rep. Raúl Grijalva’s Save Oak Flat from Foreign Mining Act. Let’s keep up the fight to protect Oak Flat for future generations!

Re-Indigenizing National Parks

At Native Organizers Alliance, we’re working with Tribes, Native communities, and grassroots organizers across the country to grow the movement to re-Indigenize and protect national parks. In 2023, we used social media and our email list to push for co-management legislation as well as programs that would teach the Indigenous histories of the land where these parks exist.

We also organized a letter program to President Biden to establish a new national monument to protect the Grand Canyon. Tribal leaders and organizers were able to celebrate the years of work put towards this designation when the White House announced Baaj Nwaavjo I’tah Kukveni:

“Ancestral Footprints of the Grand Canyon National Monument will conserve nearly 1 million acres of public lands surrounding Grand Canyon National Park. The new monument protects thousands of cultural and sacred sites that are precious to Tribal Nations in the Southwest – including the Havasupai Tribe, Hopi Tribe, Hualapai Tribe, Kaibab Band of Paiute Indians, Las Vegas Paiute Tribe, Moapa Band of Paiutes, Paiute Indian Tribe of Utah, Navajo Nation, San Juan Southern Paiute Tribe, Yavapai-Apache Nation, Pueblo of Zuni, and the Colorado River Indian Tribes.”

The White House on August 8, 2023

Honoring Chaco Initiative

Many of our partners are fighting to protect Greater Chaco Canyon in New Mexico, a sacred place with deep cultural significance for Indigenous people. While steps have been taken to protect certain areas of Greater Chaco from industrial exploitation, more needs to be done to truly safeguard the safety and well-being of this cultural landscape and surrounding communities. We will continue to uplift this need and support The Honoring Chaco Initiative.

This legislation is a first-of-its-kind effort to change the paradigm of public lands management in this sacred landscape and finally prioritize the health, economic, and environmental justice, equity, and sustainability of the region.

All Our Relations Snake River Journey

Native Organizers Alliance was honored to be a part of the Indigenous-led 2023 All Our Relations Snake River Journey. Traveling through Washington, Oregon, and Idaho in September and October the campaign set out to build community and demonstrate the momentum of public support for restoring salmon to abundance and upholding treaty promises to Northwest Tribes.

Read more about our time on the journey here.

Free Leonard Peltier

Leonard Peltier is the longest-incarcerated political prisoner in our country. The fight for Leonard Peltier’s freedom continues to this day. In the fall, we brought together a coalition of organizations to bring renewed pressure on the Biden Administration to act.

We rallied for support via a petition with 70,000+ names that was then delivered to the White House by Congressman Raúl Grijalva.

Indigenous Futures Survey

The Indigenous Futures Survey is an annual survey that aims to capture Indigenous people’s voices, perspectives, and concerns for use in developing policy, understanding socio-economic trends, and highlighting important issues impacting Indian Country.

This information will help inform Tribal leaders and members of Congress about issues facing Indigenous People and inform so much for the upcoming Native Vote 2024.

The success of this year’s IFS is only possible because of the 10 fellows who worked in their communities with local organizations. Each fellow is part of our ‘moccasins on the ground’ approach and their work is important in the continued community and power building that makes grassroots organizing possible.

This year’s survey is co-led by IllumiNative and Native Organizers Alliance, with Kauffman and Associates, Inc. supporting the survey development and analysis.

DAPL and the Draft Environmental Impact Statement

After many years of delays and a fatally flawed Draft Environmental Impact Statement (DEIS) written by a member of the American Petroleum Institute — a clear conflict of interest — the Army Corps of Engineers finally took public comments on this dangerous violation of the sovereignty of the Standing Rock Sioux Tribe.

Through our channels, we were able to submit over 101,000 comments on this DEIS. The fight against DAPL might have begun in 2016 but we will continue to stand in support of Tribal sovereignty until this pipeline is no longer a threat to the area.

 

Jennifer Fairbanks

Native Community Organizer Training Participant Q&A

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For the Native Organizers Alliance National Native Community Organizer Training in May, 19 participants were brought together in Federal Way, WA for a week of sharpening grassroots organizing skills using traditional Indigenous values. The curriculum is designed to create a foundation for Native power building for social change and strengthening sovereignty.

We’ve asked April Fournier (Navajo), Program Manager at Advance Native Political Leadership, to share her reflections and learnings from the week with us.

NOA: What was your level of understanding of organizing prior to the training? How familiar were you with grassroots organizing prior?

AF: Going into the training I would say that I was fairly informed, but didn’t have a lot of depth in my knowledge of organizing theory and strategy. I had been involved with different movements, but not enough to have deep knowledge. I would say a little more than a surface understanding.

NOA: What were your key takeaways from the training that you feel can be applied to your work?

AF: SO MUCH! Being able to put into words the way in which we operate from an Indigenous Model of Teaching and Organizing. We operate knowing all things work in relation. We have to recognize where power and influence exist in order to understand where power can be shifted. We also have to be strategic and engaging with our communities and come at this work in a good way. When we come into this work with our ancestors on our shoulders, our community in our heart, and the generations who come after us in our minds we change the game.

NOA: What tools or resources do you feel were most beneficial to you and your work?

AF: The Power Mapping activity was so powerful, being able to understand who we should spend our time on when we’re engaging with decision-makers was a really important exercise. It shapes the whole campaign and how we think about energy investment. If someone is a low-impact non-decision maker, why spend time and energy engaging them. We have finite resources, invest them accordingly. Bringing it all together in a group to develop a strategy was also really great, we have to do that regularly so flexing those muscles and putting the learning into action really helped cement what we spent the week learning.

NOA: What was your overall experience of the training? Any particular aspect you enjoyed the most?

AF: I’ve not ever had the chance to sit in community with so many Native leaders. Spending a week in this space, connecting, learning from and teaching, laughing and feeling. It was incredible. It also allowed us to really focus on the work and the content. So often we don’t have the time or space to remove distractions and really sit with information or each other. Taking the time and honoring this space felt really special.

NOA will be holding an additional National Training from November 13-19 along with several state-based trainings later this year. Watch our website for application announcements.

NativeOrganizersAlliance

2022 Native Community Organizing Training

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November 13 – 18, 2022

Federal Way, Washington

Native Organizers Alliance is excited to announce that applications are open for the second 2022 National Native Community Organizing Training in November! 

Our national training is rooted in Indigenous values and traditional knowledge, framed in a way that will help to sharpen the skills needed in create effective grassroots movements today.

Applicants will join Native leaders and organizers from across Indian Country for a week of skill-building, connection, and learning.

Apply Today!
2021 NOA National Training in Federal Way, WA

Agenda

The seven-day (five full days, two half/travel days) agenda includes: 

  • Practices and history of Native community organizing
  • Spiritually directed Native power building for social change
  • Designing Native community grassroots campaigns

Who should apply?

We encourage the following to apply:

  • Native leaders from reservations, rural, or urban communities;
  • Native community organizers
  • The staff of Native nonprofits and Tribal entities.
Apply Today!

Applications are due by 11:59 PM EST on October 27, 2022.

The cost of housing, transportation, and most meals are covered by the Native Organizers Alliance. Participants are responsible for additional costs. Organizations, tribal governments, groups, or individuals who can contribute to defraying the costs of this training will provide the opportunity to go beyond 25 participants.

Space is limited and unfortunately, not all applicants will be accepted.

2021 NOA National Training in Federal Way, WA

info@nativeorganizing.org

3518 S Edmunds St, Seattle, WA 98118