September 2025 Indigenous and Climate/Earth, and Resistance Newsletter
Dear Community,
Honoring our responses to the adversity our planet, nation and communities face isn't to be done alone. For this reason, consider these many wonderful offerings which bring us together for healing our culture, our Earth. Yes this newsletter, is full of the Good Harvest.
Read and do what you can!
Contents:
Indigenous Matters
Climate/Earth Matters
Resistance Matters:
Please NOTE special events on the Fall Equinox Sept. 21 under Climate/Earth and the Labor Day protests on Monday Sept. 1st, under Resistance
Indigenous
September 3 Wed. 6-7:30pm MT Mending the Sacred Hoop Register for this talk, by donation
Kevin Abourezk, an award-winning Sicangu Lakota journalist, has spent his career documenting the lives, accomplishments and tragedies of Native American people. He will talk about his efforts to establish a Native American ecovillage near Lincoln, Nebraska, that would provide space for ceremonies and cultural activities, gardens, and housing for an urban Native population.
--September 13, Sat. 2-4pm MT; Roots of Injustice, Seeds of Change: Toward Right Relationship with Native Peoples Register.
In this 2-hour participatory program, we experience the history of the colonization of Turtle Island, the land that is now known as the United States. The story is told through the words of Indigenous leaders, European/American leaders, and Western historians through experiential exercises and small group discussions. We are invited to consider how we can build relationships with Indigenous peoples based on truth, respect, justice, and our shared humanity. Facilitated by TRR’s Native and non-Native teams. Appropriate for high school students and adults.
--September 16 Tues. 1 pm Webinar 3: Indigenous Stewardship of National Forests Case Study Report
Hear from the Tribes that contributed to First Nations’ upcoming report on Indigenous Stewardship of National Forests.
Register here.
--September 23 Tues. 10 am MT ‘Our Language, Our Legacy’ Webinar Series Continues from First Nations’ 2025 webinar series-- elevating the work Native communities are doing to revitalize and sustain their languages. Register
A three-part theme of “Truth, Solutions, and Action Across Indian Country" explores the historical and systemic forces that have led to language loss and why it matters. It then highlights community-driven solutions and invites viewers to take action as informed advocates and storytellers.
In the third webinar, Phyllis Sixkiller and Melissa Lewis with ᏧᎾᏍᏗᎢ ᎠᏂᏣᎳᎩ ᎤᏂᎦᏔ (Little Cherokee Seeds), showcase a powerful example of grassroots leadership in early-childhood language immersion. Register
Missed Webinar 2 of the series? Access here. the recordings and presentations
--September 27 Sat. in Longmont -- Grassroots Community Resilience Gathering with Harvest of All First Nations
If you are interested to participate in this event, and receiving updates, please sign up at the link below:
2025 Grassroots Community Resilience Hub Interest Form
NOTE: Harvest of All First Nations is unable to host the annual Corn Festival. We made this hard decision based on the political climate, funding and team capacity so we can all preserve the safety of our community.
--Incredible journey of Indigenous teens from local tribes down the now opened Klamath River after most dams were removed. Engaging photographic and written article from the Washington Post about this tremendous experience.
--Status of Tribes and Climate Change Report, Volume 2. Access the report Main themes in the tribal stories and report: Respectful, reciprocal relationships with our human and nonhuman relatives are essential for harmony and balance. Indigenous philosophies and IKS (Indigenous Knowledge Systems) are essential in responses to the climate crisis that aim to guarantee sustainable futures of harmony and balance, for all our relations, for the next seven generations.
Looking Ahead to Indigenous Peoples' Day -- save the date
--October 12 Sunday at the Dairy Arts Center, Boulder "Breaking Barriers to Native Education for All"
Climate/Earth
--September 2, Tues.--6pm Green Faith "From Earth Grief to Earth Courage" 75 min in a virtual space to honor the pain, root in our faiths, and find new inspiration for creating the world that we want. Register
--September 19 Friday 8:30 am –Green Faith Boulder invites you to tune in to KGNU.org Connections call-in show with host Kathy Partridge. Hear 2 dynamic panelists, Mike Lotte of Third Act’s working group on electrification and Berenice Garcia-Tellez working to bring electric vehicles and electrification to Latino/ Spanish speaking communities including to rural / mountain areas. This program is sponsored by Green Faith Boulder, and will include info about Sun Day on Sept. 21.
--September 21 Global Day of Listening -- from wherever you are and whenever it works for you on this day. Initiated by Pachamama Alliance -- More Info and 2 min. video invite here.
Recall a moment when you were deeply listened to --what if we listen to the Earth in that way?
Listening is the gateway to restore our deep relationship to Life and our successful survival, which is dependent on our mutuality with Earth and one another. Together let us create a field of listening and attunement to Life to see what is needed of us. Slow down and see what nature has to say.
--September 21 Sunday Sun Day -- a National day of actions and activities to promote renewable energy and electrification, especially before rebates and tax credits expire. Many organizations involved: Third Act, Green Faith, and others.
--September 21 Sunday for Sun Day 1 pm In Denver, join us at 1600 City Park Esplanade for an afternoon of speakers, presentations, demonstrations of solar power and family fun! We welcome everyone to join us to celebrate the power of the sun and wind on this Fall Equinox. sponsor Third Act Colorado and other partners.
--September 21 12 noon to 5 PM. The fourth annual NoCO Climate Meetup in Loveland at Centennial Park --over 30 different organizations and over 100 attendees. RSVP -here 977 West 1st, main shelter. Sponsor: Climate Reality Project
--September 23 6:30 pm Bill McKibben, author of Here Comes the Sun, recently published, speaks and signs books at Unity Church of Boulder. Yes, there is a charge: $41.16 --Ticket is good for admission and includes a hardcover copy of "Here Comes the Sun," to be distributed at the event. Info and tickets here.
--Visit this IMPORTANT timely energy information on how you can improve your Electrification in CO and website info-- to take advantage of the rebates/clean energy tax credits ASAP.
Use it or Lose it: clean energy incentives -- suggested steps from Climate Reality Project and ways to inform the community on how to get OFF Fossil FUELS!
END Subsidies for Fossil Fuels
the Robert Reich video that's already got thousands of views introducing a TON of everyday viewers to the deadly details and dangers of fossil fuel subsidies.
Video Links
YouTube: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=aDQXiNlM5iM
Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/p/DOYlJXHguzs
Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/RBReich/videos/1323187659441390
Bluesky: https://bsky.app/profile/rbreich.bsky.social/post/3lyfvffmocc2x
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Early September, I asked the Trees in a local Nederland forest what human beings should be doing on Earth right now: they answered:
"Respect the nature of and care for all Life on Earth -- and if you aren't doing that then what are you doing? ... but using the Earth for your own purposes without regard for the impacts."
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Resistance Matters
“Action isn’t a burden to be hoisted up and lugged around on our shoulders. It is something we are. The work we have to do can be seen as a kind of coming alive. More than some moral imperative, it’s an awakening to our true nature, a releasing of our gifts.” Joanna Macy
FOR PALESTINE’S PROTECTION: Stop the Genocide
Please visit these 2 websites following, read the suggested article, listent to this powerful webinar Watch here and Thanks for doing so!
We need to step out of the consciousness of PowerLESSness about stopping the US backed Israeli government insanity and Genocide of Palestinians.
Uniting for Peace is a strategy, which if adopted by 2/3 of the countries in the UN General Assembly, could create protection for the Palestinians.
Consider signing up on one of these following websites for ongoing information about stopping the Genocide.
Lifeline for Palestine is an emergency initiative to mobilize civil society to actually end the genocide in Palestine now. We’re calling on UN representatives in all nations, which already support Palestine, to enact concrete measures in an upcoming fall vote to compel Israel’s compliance with the International Court of Justice. This includes a UN protection force for food distribution and civilian protection.
People Against Genocide Everywhere and A step-by-step plan and timeline to stop the genocide in Gaza and to open all Aid Routes within 96 HOURS!
UN troops need to be sent into Gaza immediately and to achieve this, the global movement must mobilize around one demand: “UN Protection Forces into Gaza now.” ALL actions need to contain this demand. This is a global initiative, working on two fronts, 1) the UN and governmental fronts, and 2) the mass movement front.
Substantive article: "It’s time to unite behind a UN-mandated protective force in Gaza" from July 2025
Send a letter to your UN representative, urging their support in the General Assembly for immediate deployment of the Multinational Protection Force through Uniting for Peace. Send letters by clicking here.*Once inside the "take action" page, scroll down to see both emails.
--Saturdays 11 am-12 on Broadway and Canyon, Boulder; with Rocky Mountain Peace and Justice Center -- Anti-war protests for Peace and to stand up against Gaza/Palestinian Genocide.
--Various days: Longmont for Palestine
"Injustice anywhere is a threat to justice everywhere." - MLKJ, 1963
--Rep. Marjorie Taylor Green who is standing up to the AIPAC thing explains what's going on with Congress wooed by the American organization which lobbies for Israel. Minute 4 - 9 of [why we can't stop US support of the Genocide of Gazans ].
--September 20 Saturday, 12-4 pm The Peace Faire in Boulder's Central Park, Broadway and Canyon Boulder Rotary’s Annual Week of Peace Building in Celebration of the United Nations International Day of Peace.
--An International court declared that States must control fossil fuel extraction to meet their human rights obligations. The Inter-American Court of Human Rights issued an unprecedented Advisory Opinion that marks a turning point in the climate fight. This advisory opinion reinforces the urgent need for a Fossil Fuel Non-Proliferation Treaty. To endorse it here.
Resistance In the Realm of Education / and Offerings:
September 22 Mon. 5 pm Original Sins: The (Mis)education of Black and Native Children and the Construction of American Racism with Eve L. Ewing, Information and to Register. a Zinn Education Project program.
Why we need to attend to Education? Hear Jesse Hagopian, a Seattle-based educator who spoke in July 2025 about the war on education: for a copy: contact https://www.alternativeradio.org/ or call 1-800 444 1977 and ask for whatever form works for you transcript, mp3, etc FREE.
"...we fight for schools that don't just sort and rank children, but help them build solidarity, that don't just serve a capitalist economy, but serve meeting human needs, and don't just enrich a wealthy few ..., but actually expand our sense of belonging, our imagination, and help us build a world where nobody is disposable."
Vision for the Future of Education, from the Elders Action Network / Regenerative Elders Process / Education group [Bonnie is a member]: email BonnieSundance@gmail.com for the 6 pp. document in pdf.
--Bioneers website hundreds of videos, podcasts, articles, radio programs in support of the Earth and people: "It’s all alive. It’s all connected. It’s all intelligent. It’s all relatives."
--Work that Reconnects -- from Joanna Macy -- website and the spiral journey.
--School for The Great Turning offers online and in-person education that fosters personal empowerment and planetary care. Our courses encourage personal transformation towards becoming mutually beneficial members of the Earth Community.
Climate/Earth Matters from August newsletter
-- The Women's Earth and Climate Action Network (WECAN) --made recordings of the virtual Global Women’s Assembly for Climate Justice: Path to COP30 and Beyond,
This global public forum will brought together 125+ women policymakers, government officials, and community leaders from over 50 countries, across 25 panels to showcase a diverse array of visions, projects, policy frameworks, campaigns, and movement strategies to accelerate the transition to a healthy and just world. Schedule here.
--I attended 4 of the 6 days of the online Global Women’s Assembly for Climate Justice, from WECAN (Women's Earth and Climate Action Network, International) with over 100,000 people. Overview video: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=JMvy8Ww3msg
The schedule and list of women panelists is impressive. I summarize one of the panels at end of this newsletter.
Thank you for reading and sharing the Global Assembly's Call to Action The Call to Action, signed by 160+ organizations from 45 countries, emphasizes the need to meet the Paris Agreement goal of keeping long-term global warming below 1.5°C through policies that simultaneously prioritize social, racial, and economic justice for all in 10 detailed areas.
Please read additional remarks and see links below for more about WECAN's Assembly attended online by 100,000 people.
—How Women Will Defeat Authoritarianism with Erica Chenoweth (recommended by a friend)
Join us for an inspiring conversation with renowned author and political science scholar Dr. Erica Chenoweth as we discuss how women-led movements have challenged and defeated authoritarians in the past and what we need to be doing in this moment.
--From Red Earth Healing
"We are not here to patch the sails of the colonial ship as it sinks.
We are here to remember how to walk the earth barefooted, rooted in kinship and reciprocity. We are here to midwife the wild return.
The return of kinship is not a trend, but a remembering.
A remembering of how to walk in reciprocity.
Of how to pray with our hands in the soil.
Of how to speak across the species, across the veil.
Of how to be human in a web, not a throne.
I hope for a day when I write about the peace that came after. When these words no longer rise from the ashes of collapse, but from the fertile ground of what we have tended together.
Until then, I write with dirt under my fingernails and grief in my chest."
[Read the full post here]
— Shannon M. Willis and Red Earth Healing
—WECAN Global Women's Assembly: (Bonnie's highlight notes from June 24)
The session on Global Voices for Climate Justice in a time of Uncertainty
This video introduced the theme and summarizes the overall issues for women: please watch 2.5 min. or all 4.5 min.
I paraphrase some of what panelists had to say: (not in order).
Several of the presenters were attending the June 2025 London Climate Action Week and spoke from there.
Susana Muhamad, Former Minister of Environment and Sustainable Development of Colombia, Colombia. "Shifting from Fossil Fuels is not enough. At the heart -- the economic system and structure has to shift [out of its colonial extractivism context]. We must tackle the contradiction of development in the Amazon especially of Fossil Fuels. Green capitalism which still seeks to use extractivism for renewable energy won't solve the climate problem; rather shifting from mainstream fossil fuel to a bioculture with Life and diversity at the center.
Hindou Oumarou Ibrahim, Coordinator of Indigenous women and peoples association of Chad (the fifth-largest country in Africa and the twentieth largest nation by area.), She spoke to inspire thousands of us listening: "All together and backing each other up, we can go fast as women leading. Indigenous people are a solution." [Bonnie sees this WECAN network as an antidote.}
Rachel Kyte, UK Special Representative on Climate: "We have to show up and be in solidarity with each other. Women's voices need to be heard, including BIPOC, LGBTQ and Indigenous.
Osprey Orielle Lake: Dismantling hierarchy and supremacy, addressing those issues [of how power is held].
—Steps to Consider: See this website: Our Sacred Earth under Menu tabs