What’s good relatives? We hope you all had a restful Winter Solstice, peaceful holidays with family, and a great start to the new year. As IP3 approaches its fourth year as a nonprofit (501c3), we remain grateful for and committed to the communities we serve, and for the many blessings this work has brought since our founding in 2004. We acknowledge and appreciate the commitment and sacrifice it takes to work for the self determination of Indigenous communities here and abroad, and recognize it is that sacrifice that keeps us pushing for a better tomorrow. With that said, 2023 was a year spent deep in community, and we are thankful to share some of those moments with you as we begin 2024.

Autonomías en Práctica Gathering

In March of 2023, Indigenous Peoples Power Project gathered in ceremony with Indigenous activists and thought leaders across the globe to discuss Autonomous Social Movements, Collective Heath, Food Sovereignty, Indigenous Languages, Healing Economies, Anti-Capitalist, Anti-Colonial Autonomies and a variety of other topics as a means to collective Indigenous liberation. This four day conference, held in San Cristóbal de las Casas, Chiapas, Mexico included presentations, panel discussions, and break out groups from Indigenous groups here and internationally to share in healing strategies for those on the frontlines. IP3 was honored to facilitate a group discussion, sharing our work in Nonviolent Direct Action strategies, skill building, training, our history as an organization, and our shared vision for the future of environmental and social justice.

Greenpeace Action Camp

In April of 2023, IP3 trainers and staff gathered near Phoenix, Arizona with over 125 activists across the country to offer training in the Creative Resistance track. The Greenpeace Action Camp brought together activists and organizers who recognize the intersectionality inherent in the environmental and social justice struggles to train them on skills in the activist ABCs: Arts & Creative Resistance; Blockades; and Climbing. The camp was more than just an opportunity for learning, it was an opportunity for IP3 to build deeper relationships with activists from all walks of life, learning skills to take back to their communities, and to bring our Indigenous centered Creative Resistance curriculum to a diverse group of environmental and social justice activists internationally.

Ȟe Sápa Action Camp

In May of 2023, IP3 staff along with members of our board and network took part in training and participating in NDN Collective’s Ȟe Sápa Action Camp in the Black Hills of South Dakota. The week long camp included four training tracks, Arts & Creative Resistance, Blockades, Tactical Media, and Climbing, where Indigenous activists from across Turtle Island and Hawaii built on a foundation of both theoretical and technical direct action skills. After 4 days of training, participants experienced a mock action to “Save The Black Hills Snail,” where those who are new to direct actions took part in a real world direct action scenario.

Skoden Talks With The Homies Season 3

At the beginning of 2023, IP3 was excited to announce an extended partnership with our friend and talented host, Sage Chanell, former Miss International Two Spirit, and co-chair of the Central Oklahoma Two Spirit Society and mentor of the Oklahoma Youth Two Spirit Program. With featured guests Landa Lakes, Victor Ortix, YoNasDa Lonewolf, Mo Mike, Monaeka Flores, Steph Viera, Lady Shug, Eva Cardenas, and Lanakila Mangauil, Skoden Talks With The homies is a powerful and casual conversation with activists, artists, entertainers, and community organizers working to uplift and empower communities across Turtle Island. Through this platform, we highlight the ongoing work of Indigenous communities in such areas of Climate justice, Restorative Justice, Gender visibility, Political organizing, media representation, and cultural livelihood. You can catch Skoden Talks live on Instagram, and get to know past guests on the IP3 YouTube channel.

Deep Roots Camp

In June of 2023, IP3 staff and Creative Resistance trainers participated in Deep Roots Camp: Trainings for Forest & Climate Action. Workshops included organizing and participating in direct action, creating vibrant protest art, decolonization & forest defense, Know Your Rights, organizing with affinity groups, and more. The camp was followed by regional actions strategically targeted to preserve mature forests and build grassroots power. With the Creative Resistance track being hosted by IP3 trainers, they taught the importance of messaging, owning your narrative and helped build skills and techniques to create a visual voice for movement work that included hands-on training in wheat paste, screen printing and banner making.

A March Toward Justice

On July 4th, 2023, Indigenous Peoples Power Project staff, in solidarity with NDN Action Network and hundreds of Rapid City, SD community members were invited by NDN’s Tactical Media team to take part in a March Toward Justice, calling for accountability of the South Dakota police state that continues to disproportionately target, criminalize, and kill Indigenous residents. Among issues faced by Indigenous residents of Rapid City, 100% of all public school expulsions are Indigenous students according to the Civil Rights Data Collection. From 2001 to 2023, there have been 79 police involved shootings statewide, 75% of those fatal shooting victims were Indigenous people, and while South Dakota’s Indigenous population is less than 10%, they make up 60.03% of the Pennington County inmate population. IP3 is grateful for this opportunity to work alongside Indigenous protectors and media personnel, and standing in solidarity with Indigenous residents of Rapid City, South Dakota.

2nd Annual Kayaktivist Camp

On July 20th, 2023, IP3 in partnership with Mosquito Fleet hosted our 2nd annual Kayaktivist Camp at our headquarters on the Willamette River of Chinook Territory Portland, Oregon. This training was an opportunity for trainers in the IP3 network to sharpen their kayak skills, gear, safety, strategy, tactics, banner drops, roles and responsibilities along with a variety of other kayak skills used in direct actions on the water. IP3 is proud to continue our Kayak Track as it’s a first of its kind and coming at an important time as we are seeing a beautiful revitalization of water traditions and culture. We are excited to offer this skill as we see folks continue to defend their home waters and water everywhere.

Paddle Tribal Waters

On July 17th, 2023, IP3 staff and Creative Resistance trainers participated in Paddle Tribal Waters: Empowering Indigenous Youth in the Klamath Basin, and shared knowledge in creating banners and imagery for direct actions on the water. Maqlaqs Paddle Club, with support from Ríos to Rivers, World Class Kayak Academy, and Otter Bar Kayak School, launched a transformative kayak and river advocacy training program for 15 indigenous youth from the Klamath Basin. Paddle Tribal Waters aims to nurture a deep connection to ancestral waters, develop leadership skills, and promote environmental conservation. With support from NRS, this program works to empower the next generation to be stewards of their heritage and advocates for river preservation.

IP3’s Skedit Action Camp

On September 12th, 2023, and after a long and eventful four year wait, Indigenous Peoples Power Project returned to our annual action skills training camps with participants from across Turtle Island. Between September 12th through the 16th, IP3 staff, community members and trainers gathered with Indigenous activists and organizers on Duwamish / Muckleshoot Territory, otherwise known as Seattle, Washington to skill up in Nonviolent Direct Action, Creative Resistance, Climbing, Kayaktivism, and Blockades. The event was held at Heron’s Nest, a Landback, Outdoor Education, and Restorative Justice project perched above the Duwamish River in the urban heart of the industrial Duwamish River Valley, where IP3 and camp participants were warmly welcomed by Duwamish tribal elders, sharing in community, ceremony, and solidarity through 5 days of action skills training. 

IP3’s Landback Project

In December of 2023, Indigenous Peoples Power Project (IP3) has been blessed with the opportunity to cultivate a deeper relationship with the land in our home base, Multnomah and Chinook Territory or so-called Portland, OR, purchasing 4.7 acres of farmland property, and now need your support in making our LANDBACK moment a long-term reality! This land project is the next phase in our growth as individuals, a network, and community, and will help us build and grow through 2024 and beyond. This will be a space to develop skills to fight harmful systems and an intentional place to nurture Indigenous land practices for a decolonized future. Your support will further us as Indigenous peoples who are creating this space for our communities and comrades to do just that- train, learn, rest and heal. To learn more and to support IP3’s Landback Project, please visit our Landback Project page here. We are grateful for any support you can give, and for your contribution in making this longterm vision a reality.

Looking Forward in 2024

Along with the beautiful experiences and community connections we’ve made through our work in 2023, IP3 has been hard at work behind the scenes and have committed to building deeper connections in our communities in 2024 and beyond. While we settle into the land and our new home in February, we will be hard at work building out new programs in Intergenerational Training, Healing & Wellness, Food & Land Sovereignty, and will be releasing new Nonviolent Direct Action training materials to continue our work in protecting the sacred. If you and/or your community are interested in learning new skills for your own direct action campaigns, please reach out to us anytime using our Training Request Form. We extend our deepest gratitude to our board of directors, collaborators & sponsors, community partners, supporters, and the entire IP3 network for your dedication. Many blessings to you and yours, and we look forward to seeing you all again in 2024!

In Solidarity,

Indigenous Peoples Power Project

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