Nimiipuu Protecting The Environment

TO PROTECT OUR TREATY AREAS AND TO EDUCATE THE TRIBAL MEMBERS AND YOUTH ON CURRENT ENVIRONMENTAL ISSUES. TO DEVELOP LEADERS IN THE ENVIRONMENTAL AREA FOR THE NEXT GENERATION. TO PROMOTE ACTIVISM WITHIN OUR TRIBES AND TO EMPOWER TRIBAL MEMBERS ON EFFECTING CHANGE.

IN FY 2021 THE NIMIIPUU PROTECTING THE ENVIRONMENT ORGANIZATION PRIMARILY RELIED ON ZOOM AND OTHER FORMATS FOR HAVING OUR CAMPAIGNS SINCE THE PANDEMIC WAS STILL RESTRICTING MANY FROM GATHERING IN PERSON. WE DID A NUMBER OF ONLINE PRESENTATIONS ON RIGHTS OF RIVERS AND NATURE, RIGHTS OF MOTHER EARTH, THE ISSUE OF DAM BREACHING ON THE LOWER SNAKE RIVER, AND OTHER TOPICS THAT WE CONTINUE TO BE INVOLVED WITH. DURING THE SUMMER OF 2021 WE HELD A COLLABORATION WITH THE LUMMI TRIBE HOUSE OF TEARS TOTEM CARVERS HERE AT THE CHIEF TIMOTHY PARK ON THE LOWER GRANITE DAM RESERVOIR. IN OCTOBER OF 2021 WE BEGAN TO BE ABLE TO HOLD OUR WEEKLY YOUTH ACTIVITIES WITH THE LAPWAI ELEMENTARY SCHOOL AFTER SCHOOL PROGRAM THAT INCLUDED 30 TO 40 3RD, 4TH AND 5TH GRADERS WHO MET AND WORKED ON TRADITIONAL ARTS AND CRAFTS, BEADWORK, FEATHER WORK AND OTHER NIMIIPUU TRADITIONAL ACTIVITIES. ESSENTIALLY DURING 2021 WE WERE OPENING UP SOME WITH THE REDUCTION IN COVID RESTRICTION AND WORKED ON ONLINE CAMPAIGNS USING SOCIAL MEDIA FOR OUR EFFORTS. THE TOPICS INCLUDED DAM BREACHING AND SALMON RECOVERY, OIL AND COAL TRAIN ISSUES, WATER QUALITY, FOREST PROTECTION AND PUSHING FOR MOVING AWAY FROM FOSSIL FUELS. WE CONTINUED OUR ADVOCACY WITH OTHER TRIBAL GROUPS AND WERE FAIRLY SUCCESSFUL ON WORKING WITH STAFF FROM THE AFFILIATED TRIBES OF NORTHWEST INDIANS ON GETTING RESOLUTIONS INTRODUCED. WE HAD MONTHLY ZOOM MEETINGS WITH GROUPS THROUGHOUT THE NORTHWEST, OREGON, WASHINGTON, AND IDAHO TO ENSURE WE KEPT OUR MESSAGE OUT IN THE PUBLIC THROUGH THESE MEETINGS AND SOCIAL MEDIA. THESE INCLUDED SIERRA CLUB, SAVE OUR WILD SALMON, EARTHJUSTICE, WWF AND OTHERS WHO WERE WORKING ON THE SAME ISSUES, CO-OPTING DIFFERENT GROUPS INTO OUR CAMPAIGNS HAS PROVED IMMENSELY SUCCESSFUL.AS THE YEAR PROGRESSED WE BEGAN TO PLAN FOR THE UPCOMING EVENTS FOR THE NEW YEAR AS THE WINTER BEGAN IN OUR AREA. WE MADE MANY NEW CONTACTS AND VOICES IN OUR EFFORTS TO PUSH FOR CHANGES TO THE DAMS, THE DELISTED SPECIES IN OUR TREATY AREA AND USUAL AND ACCUSTOMED AREAS.