By Anjanette Wilson | Associate Director, Donor Relations
Greetings to our friends of the MMIP Epidemic and Healing Survivors,
We hope that you have been keeping well and that you have a moment to pause, know and acknowledge all that you made possible. You have made such a big impact for our unique grassroots healing programming for Indigenous Peoples that puts the families of Missing and Murdered Indigenous Peoples first.
You helped us raise $4,396 in our first 5 months! Together we are fighting to save lives and remind families that in this ongoing epidemic of violence, their murdered and missing relatives are more than statistics and that they are not suffering - or searching - alone.
All the support and gifts from supporters like you helped us put together bead kits and send beading materials across the nation (and even to Canada)! Our bead kits included a Medicine Wheel pattern in Traditional Tlingit Dangel style, four different colors of size 11 Preciosa seed beads, thread, needle, earring wire, bead cloth surface, and instructions on weaving steps from Gillian with Pacific Thread in Canada and beads from a local Washington bead supplier Wendy with Bead Boppers.
Just earlier last month, we hosted our first beading class with a handful of participants! Our beading classes are facilitated in multiple skill levels to meet folks where they are. Through these classes, we hope to build tribal relations to bring light to our Peoples needs and strengths. We are truly grateful for those that joined us and for supporters like you that helped make it possible to host this event!
Your support is still very much needed. This year, we hope to host monthly beading classes full of our Indigenous kin. We have expanded our beading classes to reflect the different levels of beading many have, so that everyone is included no matter the experience.
Reliable supporters like you ensure that we can continue to advocate for policy change, demand more resources and capacity, and wake people up to how certain extractive industries contribute to so much harm to our people. Our supporters help sustain our work in community building, cultural learning and growth for identity pride.
Today we want to thank you for believing in us and supporting our MMIP work. Since launching our project, we have learned a lot. We have learned that our beading classes make space for healing circles, liberating storytelling sessions, and community building. There are many of our kin who are isolated and who have survived residential boarding schools and separation from their communities who deserve healing and care. Our monthly beading classes make space for healing and community care.
Because we are losing our community members at an alarming rate, we are expanding the programming with contributions like yours that nurture the delivery for more resources to Indigenous communities whose voices have been silenced. Your support helps us deepen our work to end this violent epidemic.
"As an Indigenous woman who has been on both sides of this epidemic, I want to thank you for helping me being a little joy and some much needed support. Some healing and love to those still having to live with the consequences of having a missing or murdered relative or being a survivor. Your generosity is helping fuel love and hope. I cannot say thank you is the correct wording. Gratitude is overflowing. But thank you will have to do, My People would say Gunalchéesh." ~Tlux’shaa’du’stee (*Liz Marin), Program Director
We acknowledge all you have made possible, and are humbled. Our work is grassroots and community funded, and it is our sincere wish that you know how much you matter and make possible. Every dollar counts in our goal to provide immediate essential tangible care, therapy community sessions, critical funds, and mental recovery for people to support themselves and their families during these hardships.
For more project updates, please join our community newsletter The Collective to receive information on our collective work across our programs!
Many thanks and wishes for a safe and peaceful time of year!
In kinship,
The Team at Seeding Sovereignty
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