Indigenous Communities and the Progressive Movement
Session Type(s): Panel
Starts: Friday, Aug. 3 5:15 PM (Eastern)
Ends: Friday, Aug. 3 6:30 PM (Eastern)
Post-Standing Rock, Indigenous communities have emerged as powerful global forces and voices for environmental and social justice. We are on the frontlines of fights for social, environmental and climate justice. We are mobilizing, litigating and advocating to strengthen rights, self-determination and sovereignty. And we are becoming an increasingly powerful voice in electoral politics, with an unprecedented number of Native women running for office as part of the Blue Wave in 2018. How can the progressive movement strengthen partnerships with these resurgent communities? And how might Indigenous movements, communities and voices reshape progressive politics in the 21st century?
Moderator
Prairie Rose Seminole
As North Dakota’s Native Vote director, Prairie Rose works around the country with the Native American Leadership Program, with Wellstone Action to train and empower leaders, activists, campaign workers, and those seeking elected office.
Prairie Rose has served as a District 45 delegate to the North Dakota Democratic Convention since 2008 and as the Native American liaison to the DEM-NPL Executive Committee. In 2010 she ran for State Representative in North Dakota’s 45th legislative district.
Prairie Rose believes in and emphasizes the interconnected nature of humanity and faith and the responsibility we all have to ensuring social accountability in communities of respect and opportunity – an understanding that lies at the core of her being. She brings her personal experience, as well as the perspectives of a wide range of social thinkers to her work, and believes that knowing personal truth, and building relationships based on values is fundamental to change work.
Other sessions: Indigenous People's Caucus
Panelists
Chrissie Castro
Chrissie Castro, Diné and Chicana, is the Chairperson of the Los Angeles City and County Native American Indian Commission, and co-led the change to replace Columbus Day with Indigenous Peoples Day in the City and County of Los Angeles. She co-founded two organizations to build power within Native communities – in her local state, the California Native Vote Project and nationally, Advance Native Political Leadership. She is a leadership and coach trainer for multiracial grassroots leaders in service to healing, justice and liberation.
Rep. Deb Haaland
I believe New Mexico can be a place of strong, safe communities where our kids can be happy growing up, and can build a life here when they are grown.
I have a track record of standing up to Donald Trump, and I will continue to hold him and Republicans accountable. We must double down on our commitment to clean energy in New Mexico, which will create good paying jobs by harnessing the power of our natural resources. When a hardworking New Mexican wants to start or expand a small business, I want to make sure they have that opportunity. And, it’s time we make smart investments in education and find real solutions that pull our kids and all New Mexicans out of poverty.
Both of my parents served in the military, and I believe we have a duty to take care of veterans. I’ve spent my life standing up for my community, and I’ll do the same for us in Congress.
Other sessions: Race, Class, Gender and the Progressive Agenda: The Future of the Democratic Party in the Age of Trump, Nuts and Bolts 4.0: From the Bottom Up!, Friday Keynote: "Hidden Figures" Panel Discussion plus remarks from Sen. Kamala Harris and Sen. Elizabeth Warren
Neeta Lind
Neeta Lind (Diné) is the Director of Community at Daily Kos, a position she has held since 2013. Neeta is responsible for developing projects to maximize the political effectiveness of our most valuable resource, the Daily Kos Community. She promotes the participation of Daily Kos users by creating and supervising various communities and community activities in order to build their engagement and participation on and offline.
Neeta is an enrolled member of the Navajo (Diné) Nation. She has been interested and involved in Indigenous issues and progressive politics for many years. She has been active at Daily Kos since 2004 and has attended every Yearly Kos/Netroots Nation annual meeting since they began in 2006.
She has led the American Indian Caucus at Netroots Nation nearly every year since 2006 and she is the co-editor of First Nations News & Views at Daily Kos.
Other sessions: Daily Kos Caucus