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Building the Field of Native American Organizing Nationally –

The Native American Organizing Network

At meetings with Native American leaders from Western and Midwestern states in late 2003 and early 2004, participants across the board agreed on the need for a coordinated network of Native American organizers. Leaders from the Western states decided to create a Native American Organizing Network.

As envisioned by these leaders, this organizing Network will: sustain existing Native organizing groups; create new organizing efforts in Indian Country; and, provide opportunities for Native organizing groups to collaborate with each other and with allied constituencies across the nation.

This new Network, which is convened and supported by CCC’s Native American Project, includes organizers and leaders representing Indian People’s Action (MT), Indian People Organizing for Change (CA), Native American Organizing Project (AZ), and the Cherokee Living Waters Lutheran Church (NC).

To get the Network started, CCC’s Native American Project is creating and supporting a sponsoring committee made up of Native American organizers and leaders from the groups mentioned above, as well as other Native leaders. The sponsoring committee is:

1. Creating the vision and action plan for a Native American Organizing Network.
2. Identifying existing Native organizing efforts that are in need of support.
3. Establishing priority areas of the country for building new organizing groups.
4. Raising funds to launch and sustain the Native American Organizing Network.
5. Developing an organizing curriculum that is grounded in Indian sovereignty, culture, and spirituality, and that is applicable both on and off the reservation.

When fully formed and operational, the Native American Organizing Network will:

1. Hold regular gatherings of Native American organizers and leaders for training, sharing best practices, and building relationships.
2. Provide organizational development assistance and organizing support to strengthen existing groups.
3. Create new Native organizing groups in strategic areas of the country.
4. Consult on or lead issue campaigns that address local, regional, and national policy issues impacting Native American communities.
5. Recruit and cultivate American Indian organizers.

The training provided to groups through the Native American Organizing Network will be conducted by a combination of American Indian Elders, American Indian experts on issues, and experienced community organizers. Trainers and CCC’s Native American Project staff will be available to groups through peer-to-peer gatherings and, as much as possible, through on-site visits.