The COVID-19 pandemic has exposed so many failures of our corporate capitalistic government and economic system. “The crisis began before the virus, and the crisis will continue beyond the vaccine” as Jason Livingston said. #CapitalismIsThePandemic. Click here for a story about the #CapitalismIsThePandemic event recently in New York City.
https://kislingjeff.wordpress.com/2020/05/07/capitalismisthepandemic-flies-over-new-york-city/

We demand an end to the colonial-capitalist economy supported by institutionalized white supremacist and heteropatriarchal systems that have devastated our lands, climate, and peoples through ceaseless resource extraction, land occupation, border imperialism, misogyny, homophobia, enslavement, and genocide. This viral pandemic is part of a much larger problem as explained by Buffalo-based media artist, Jason Livingston, who conceived this action, “The crisis began before the virus, and the crisis will continue beyond the vaccine.” 

Seeding Sovereignty

To this day we have not come to grips with fundamental injustices our country was built on, the cultural genocide and theft of land from Native Americans, the enslavement of African Americans and the legal justifications of bestowing rights and privileges on white land-owning men. The consequences of these injustices continue to plague our society today. And will continue to impact us until we do what is necessary to bring these injustices to light and find ways to heal these wounds.

And as I’ve often quoted my friend Ronnie James:

I’m of the firm opinion that a system that was built by stolen bodies on stolen land for the benefit of a few is a system that is not repairable. It is operating as designed, and small changes (which are the result of huge efforts) to lessen the blow on those it was not designed for are merely half measures that can’t ever fully succeed.

So the question is now, where do we go from here? Do we continue to make incremental changes while the wealthy hoard more wealth and the climate crisis deepens, or do we do something drastic that has never been done before? Can we envision and create a world where a class war from above isn’t a reality anymore?”

Ronnie James

We need to shift away from our capitalistic system to one that embraces indigenous ways of living. Not only to find answers to the failures of the current system, but also to address the urgent need to deal with our environmental catastrophe. I use shift intentionally, because that is the name of a project of Seeding Sovereignty. To do this very thing-shift to indigenous leadership.

How do White people learn about indigenous solutions? One way is to hear indigenous people discussing their ideas. I’ve learned a great deal from these live ‘Shift the Narrative’ interviews.

One of the most profound things I’ve personally learned as I listen to these women leaders is how it feels, for a change, to not be the gender that is in control. As quoted above, demand an end to institutionalized white supremacist and heteropatriarchal systems.

See the information below about the next episode on May 14th, a discussion about border imperialism and Indigenous Peoples, ICE raids during COVID-19 and legislation affecting migrants rights in the US.

Topic SHIFT the Narrative

Description SHIFT the Narrative is a live, online interview series produced by Seeding Sovereignty that covers different aspects of Indigenous political engagement and current issues in Indian Country through interviews with expert guest speakers.

Join us as we interview Nellie Jo David, Tohono O’odham Nation and Carolina Rubio MacWright, Colombian Latinx, to discuss border imperialism and Indigenous Peoples, ICE raids during COVID-19 and legislation affecting migrants rights in the US. Nellie Jo will discuss the U.S./Mexico border’s effect on O’odham way of life and maintaining connections between O’odham (people) while walls, integrated fixed towers, and militarization threaten to divide them during these pandemic times. Carolina will cover her work as an immigration attorney and activist and we will delve into legislation and voting for change.

Stay ahead of the curve! Join Sikowis and S.A. as we interview expert guests every second Thursday! Conversations will surround work in Indian Country such as getting out the vote, organizing to change policy, issues of sovereignty, running for office, and much more.

SHIFT is Seeding Sovereignty’s political engagement program focused on empowering Indigenous voices, values, and leadership; Particularly womxn, youth, LGBTQIA+, and Two-Spirit folx during this critical 2020 presidential election and beyond. We increase Indigenous voter turnout and respond to key issues within Indian Country by uplifting community concerns and initiatives both on and off the reservation. We support those who seek to Indigenize Congress as well as those that question our relationship with the US political system.

Above all else, we rally behind Indigenous-led environmental and climate justice movements as the fight for land sovereignty is at the center of every issue we face. Land defense is a force that has a long history of inciting political engagement–a force that Seeding Sovereignty believes catalyzes real, lasting change.Time

May 14, 2020 03:00 PM in Central Time (US and Canada)