Thečhíȟila Collective

Program Opportunity Statement (Recommended 300 words or less) Model, Create, and Teach About Decolonized Spaces In activist spaces, we often fall into replicating colonial dynamics of exploitation that continue to marginalize the expertise and knowledge of indigenous communities. Often the attempt to undo colonization within colonial frameworks is in itself an act of colonization as it ignores the inherent intent of decolonization and presents as an unwillingness or an inability to change. Thečhíȟila accepts that in LandBack, there are not easy solutions for the end-goal of dismantling colonial power paradigms and building a legacy of organizing and sacrifice to get Indigenous Lands back into Indigenous hands. We center our needs around building community care and teaching activists how not to fall into patterns of oppression and structural injustices. One example of how Thečhíȟila has done this is helping fundraise a tribal member gathering to decolonize “Independence Day” to disrupt a colonial event that celebrates genocide and instead help pass down sacred cultural traditions and heritage in that community. We would love to be involved with more events like these not only to build more direct relationships with our own communities, but to build a larger team in our collective who can help sustain those communities.