Introducing Indigenous Environmental Network

For every candidate Climate People places, we donate 1% of the placement fee to an environmental nonprofit of the candidate's choosing. We hand-selected five stellar nonprofit organizations that fully exemplify our diversity and inclusion initiatives — one of which is the Indigenous Environmental Network.

We wanted to find an organization that fights for not only the livelihood of the planet but for the equality of all of those who inhabit it. We believe it's crucial to have a diverse, equitable, and inclusive workforce in order to meet the challenges faced by climate change. We strongly believe in the mission of The Indigenous Environmental Network and are honored to help fund their initiatives.

Meet Indigenous Environmental Network (IEN)

IEN is an alliance of Indigenous Peoples whose shared mission is to protect the sacredness of Earth from contamination and exploitation through respecting and adhering to Indigenous knowledge and natural law.

Established over 30 years ago, they have worked diligently to set new standards for environmental and economic justice. They educate, empower, and protect on the local, national, and international levels.

"Indigenous Peoples are Rising Up in Solidarity to defend our rights as Indigenous Peoples; to protect the Sacredness of, the Territorial Integrity of, and Rights of (Grandmother) Mother Earth; and the Rights of Future Generations. We are building solidarity from the Global South to the North to fulfill our sacred duties, listening to the teachings of our elders and the voices of our youth and women, to act wisely to carry out our responsibilities to enhance the health and respect the sacredness of Mother Earth, and to demand climate justice now."

IEN operates with 12 specific goals behind all of its initiatives.

These goals work to:

1. Educate and empower Indigenous Peoples to address and develop strategies for the protection of our environment, our health, and all life forms – the Circle of Life.
2. Re-affirm our traditional knowledge and respect of natural laws.
3. Recognize, support, and promote environmentally sound lifestyles, economic livelihoods, and build healthy sustaining Indigenous communities.
4. Commitment to influencing policies that affect Indigenous Peoples on a local, tribal, state, regional, national and international level.
5. Include youth and elders in all levels of our work.
6. Protect our human rights to practice our cultural and spiritual beliefs.
7. Educate and empower Indigenous Peoples to address and develop strategies for the protection of our environment, our health, and all life forms – the Circle of Life.
8. Re-affirm our traditional knowledge and respect of natural laws.
9. Recognize, support, and promote environmentally sound lifestyles, economic livelihoods, and build healthy sustaining Indigenous communities.
10. Commitment to influencing policies that affect Indigenous Peoples on a local, tribal, state, regional, national and international level.
11. Include youth and elders in all levels of our work.
12. Protect our human rights to practice our cultural and spiritual beliefs.

IEN's work is broken up into four buckets:

• Indigenous Rising Media
  Indigenous Rising Media is a media project created by the Indigenous Environmental Network. The outlet serves as a collective that produces content by and for Indigenous Peoples.
  
• Mining Mini-Grant Program
  This program provides grant assistance to communities threatened by mining in the United States or Canada.
  
• Indigenous Feminism
  Indigenous Feminism is a webinar series of conversations with Indigenous women on feminism and what it means for our communities and nations.
  
• United Nations - Climate Change Conference of the Parties
  Indigenous Environmental Network has been participating in the United Nations Conference of the Parties on Climate Change since the root of the sessions.

The Indigenous Environmental Network is also working on various campaigns that support Indigenous peoples while uprooting and rewriting the systems of oppression. They can't do it alone, any and all donations will help keep them on the front lines, extend their reach, and make even more of an impact.

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