A powerful Climate Action Salon and fundraiser, presented by Weaving Worlds and Voices of Amerikua, designed to amplify indigenous voices in the global climate dialogue.
Indigenous Frontlines is a collective of climate justice advocates and narrative strategists focused on amplifying Indigenous voices in the environmental movement. Building on models like the Climate Action Salon, we elevate Indigenous activists leading battles against extractivism and protecting their lands, culture, and sustainable practices.
The team transforms environmental narratives by combining frontline activism, territorial solutions, and Indigenous knowledge. We address the marginalization of Indigenous voices in climate discourse through strategic interventions that foster authentic Indigenous-led storytelling, connecting local resistance to global audiences and highlighting the disproportionate environmental impacts on frontline communities.
NYC Climate Week, September, 25th 2024
INDIGENOUS FRONTLINES: RISING FOR CLIMATE JUSTICE produced by Weaving Worlds and Voices of Amerikua was a one-day event created to amplify the voices and perspectives of Indigenous activists and community leaders at the forefront of the Climate Justice Movement. Held alongside the official 2024 Climate Week NYC programming, renowned speakers, musicians, and artists who are sounding the alarm on environmental issues and the disproportionate impacts facing frontline communities due to extractivism came together to tell their stories at this event and fundraiser.
Specific awareness was raised surrounding the current topics of the Paiute / Shoshone of the USA (re: copper and lithium mining), Mapuche People of Chile (re: wind farms), and Krenak People of Brazil (re: gold mining and oil extraction).
Overall, people left this unifying event inspired and re-educated to the environmental threats so called "green energy" pose to the earth and the communities who call these territories home.
In addition to raising awareness, this event served as a crucial fundraiser to support the featured Indigenous communities in their battles against these destructive extractivist-projects and their efforts to protect sacred lands, cultural heritage, and sustainable ways of life.
With Indigenous musician-scholar, Lyla June (Diné/Navajo & Tsétsêhéstâhese/Cheyenne Nations), as master of ceremonies, Lyla wove the narratives of the Indigenous voice across the Americas, uniting for Mother Earth, all peoples and an immediate call for action.
The evening concluded with a live performance from the NAMMY and MTV VMA winner, Supaman (Appalooke Nation), ft. DJ Element who are pillars of the Native American HipHop movement and share a message of unity, peace and remembrance for native American culture.
KEYNOTE SPEAKERS
Shirley Krenak
BRAZILIAN ACTIVIST & FILMMAKER
Shirley Krenak is an activist, writer and a member of the Brazilian Krenak community. She currently coordinates the Shirley Krenak Institute, which develops various activities in the environmental, educational, social and cultural areas. She is a co-founders of ANMIGA – National Articulation of Indigenous Women Warriors of Ancestry. Author of the book “The Protective Jaguar”, she also coordinates the project “Sons que Curam” (Sounds that heal).
Josh Dini
AGAI DICCUTTA, PAIUTE / SHOSHONE TRIBE MEMBER
Member of the Agai Dicutta Walker River Paiute tribe and Western Shoshone of the Great Basin of Nevada. He is Founder, chairman and spokesperson of the Prayer Horse organization and member of the western Nevada American Indian movement, water protector. He is currently working on opposing the green energy transition bill to protect our Great Basin lands from lithium, copper, nickel and cobalt mining.
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Lonko Clementina Lepio
CHILEAN MAPUCHE COMMUNITY LEADER
Clementina Griselda Lepío Melipichún is the first female Lonko (Chief) of the Huilliche Alto Community on the island of Chiloé, Chile. As an ancestral authority, she has led territorial defenses against major energy projects threatening her community’s ancestral lands and the island's vital ecosystems. Lonko Clementina is a fierce advocate for protecting the territorial, cultural, and environmental heritage of the Mapuche Huilliche people. Her activism has halted parts of development projects to safeguard wetlands, biodiversity hotspots, and areas of immense cultural significance.
Leonardo Cerda
ECUADORIAN KICHWA LEADER
Leonardo Leonel Cerda Tapuy is a Kichwa leader and activist from the community of Serena in the Napo Province of Ecuador.Leonardo is the founder of the Movement for the Liberation of Indigenous and Afrodescendant Peoples (BILM). He is the executive Director and Founder of the Hakhu Amazonia Foundation. Leonardo was awarded the Nia Tero Foundation Storytelling Fellowship for his innovative projects rooted in indigenous culture, environmental issues, and local history.
The indigenous voice
Told directly from the hearts of frontline communities. The indigenous is vital part of the Climate Action conversation.
direct Impact
With the funds raised from the NYC Climate Week event INDIGENOUS FRONTLINES: RISING FOR CLIMATE JUSTICE the communities carried out the follow activities to support, regenerate and safeguard their territories:
Mapuche People of Chile with Lonko Clamentina : Funds raised from this event supported the Mapuche Williche Alto de Fundo Gamboa community in various initiatives that benefited the development and well-being of the community. These initiatives include the creation of chicken coops for the educational farm that aims at promoting education and sustainability. The improvement and maintenance of the cemetery (Eltuwe), ensuring a dignified resting place for our ancestors and loved ones.
Prayer Horse ( Paiute & Shoshone of the USA ) : "Between November 2024 and April 2025, Prayer Horse has been able to go out to Fish Lake Valley, adjacent to the canyon where the proposed Rhyolite Ridge lithium mine threat looms. We were able to build a sweat lodge on the hillside above the hot springs, and hold lodge ceremonies monthly to bring ceremony back to these lands. We were also able to make more frequent trips into the canyon and through the valley to monitor. We were also able to care for and support our horses by purchasing feed, tack, and a horse trailer [needed for the annual Prayer Horse Ride]."
Krenak People of Brazil with the Instituto Shirley Djukurnã Krenak: The funds raised supplemented the project "Ancestral Backyard Project – Territorial Restoration Through the Cultivation of Native Atlantic Forest Plants," and enabled the purchase of materials, the acquisition of seedlings, and the organization of workshops with the participating students. It is still early to assess large-scale impacts; however, the project itself has made significant progress, especially with the construction of agroecological garden beds and the facilitation of two workshops with students to raise awareness about the importance of the environment. This project has affected 300 people in counting as it continues to replenish and re-plant the territory effected by floods caused by extractive gold mining practices in the area.
"I had never planted anything before. When we learned about Atlantic Forest plants and how to take care of them, I started seeing nature in a different way. Now I want to have a backyard with native plants too." — Naruana, 9th grade
Your continued support is appreciated
These are all still active frontline communities who continue to fight for the protection of their territories.
