NDN Legal Fund
Our Impact
The NDN Legal Fund was founded in the summer of 2020 when many worldwide witnessed firsthand the brutal over-policing and use of force against non-violent Land Defenders asserting their First Amendment and Treaty Rights in the Oceti Sakowin Homelands in the He Sapa. With a tremendous outpouring of support for Indigenous relatives facing criminal charges for fighting for their homelands, many watching the events unfold wanted to support from afar.
Land Defenders, Water Protectors, and Indigenous Activists who fight for Native American rights, against racial injustice, and other important advocacy work are often targeted by systemic oppression. This fund provides a pathway for Indigenous people to fight back against systemic oppression when they are targeted by over-prosecution.
About the Fund
The NDN Legal Fund’s mission is to:
Protect our people through both offensive and defensive legal representation in the courts. We fully recognize that non-violent direct action and civil disobedience are fundamental revolutionary tools for the liberation of Indigenous People, our lands, and all people. Therefore, this fund is dedicated to providing duty of care for individuals and partners that engage in actions, protests, and cultural activities affiliated with NDN Action Network and its related entities and subsidiaries.
This fund safeguards our organization against legal attacks from local, state, and federal governments aiming to suppress our leaders, imprison our people, and obstruct our movement’s objectives. We recognize the critical nature of our systemic change work amidst a proactive assault on protest rights and free speech. Anti-protest laws, designed to hinder community mobilization, exist in almost every region where NDN operates. Despite the risks, we persist in organizing due to the existential threat faced by our people and tribal nations. This legal fund guarantees proper legal representation in both criminal and civil matters across multiple jurisdictions—Tribal, County, City, State, Federal, and International. This fund will be utilized as needed to protect our people, organization, and movement.
Duty of care and support
Examples of Eligible Activities and Expenses of this Fund include
- Bail and Bond Funds
- Jail Support
- Legal fines, fees and dues
- Attorney Fees
- Attorney Expenses
NDN Advocacy
NDN Legal Fund
NDN Action Network is an entity that advances the rights of Indigenous Peoples and the environment through direct action, policy, and lobbying efforts.
For more information reach out to our Legal Coordinator: Bre Jackson Bre@NDNActionNetwork.org.