MAZASKA TALKS: SELECTED BY THE DECOLONIZING WEALTH PROJECT AND LIBERATED CAPITAL AS A RECIPIENT OF THIS YEAR’S INDIGENOUS EARTH FUND GRANT

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MAZASKA TALKS: SELECTED BY THE DECOLONIZING WEALTH PROJECT AND LIBERATED CAPITAL AS A RECIPIENT OF THIS YEAR’S INDIGENOUS EARTH FUND GRANT

Decolonizing Wealth Project and Liberated Capital Award $1 Million To Indigenous-Led Climate and Conservation Initiatives 

27 organizations will help uplift Indigenous efforts across the U.S. to combat the climate crisis

SEATTLE - November 25, 2024 - Today, the Decolonizing Wealth Project and their funding mechanism, Liberated Capital, announced the distribution of $1 million in grants to 27 Indigenous-led organizations and tribes across the US through their Indigenous Earth Fund (IEF). Mazaska Talks was announced as one of 27 grantee partners to receive funding through the Indigenous Earth Fund funding initiative. 

The funding will support grantees’ efforts to tackle climate change and conservation through traditional Indigenous cultural practices and innovations. Grantees include local organizations working toward ancestral land return, land stewardship and conservation, advocacy, and youth engagement and education.

Since its inception in 2021, IEF has distributed over $4 million in capital to 38 Native-led organizations, and, as a result, has engaged over 200 tribes across the U.S. These grant-making initiatives reflect the Decolonizing Wealth Project's mission to redirect resources to historically overlooked or marginalized communities, with a focus on supporting traditional Indigenous cultural practices as effective solutions to the climate crisis. Highlights of past grantees who have made significant strides through their climate work as a result of IEF funding include SAGE Development Authority creating the first Indigenous-owned utility-scale wind farm in the U.S; the creation of an Indigenous Storytelling Hub featuring digital shorts and a podcast series set to launch in 2025 by Indigenous Led; dam removal and flow restoration campaigns led by Save California Salmon, and more.

"Indigenous peoples safeguard much of Earth's biodiversity, yet philanthropy has chronically underfunded their work," said Edgar Villanueva, CEO of Decolonizing Wealth Project. "Our Indigenous Earth Fund addresses this critical gap by channeling resources to Indigenous climate and conservation leaders who have maintained vital ecological knowledge and practices across generations. This fund reinforces our steadfast commitment to Indigenous sovereignty and self-determination."

The Indigenous Earth Fund is rooted in the belief that Indigenous peoples must lead the charge for climate action and land conservation. Despite their longstanding history in protecting our planet and helping to mitigate climate change, Indigenous-led organizations receive a disproportionately small share of philanthropic climate funding. Through the Indigenous Earth Fund (IEF), Decolonizing Wealth is challenging philanthropy to prioritize investments into Indigenous communities in their efforts to save the planet. 

“We are honored to be among the recipients of the Indigenous Earth Fund grant. The Decolonizing Wealth Project is helping to lead the way in changing helping change what supporting the frontlines looks like. We’re grateful for the support,” said Mazaska Talks co-founder Matt Remle

FOR MORE INFORMATION CONTACT:

Matt Remle: Co-Founder

wakiyan7@gmail.com