What else can I do?

Land acknowledgement

Acknowledge and honor that you are on Native land, and don't just stop there. It is important to make announcements at public events, placing plaques on buildings, etc. and also that is not a substitute for also taking actions that support the well-being and priorities of Native communities. Many New York City institutions including universities, museums, and businesses include acknowledgements in their proceedings, and you can get creative with how your organization can act in solidarity with Native calls for sovereignty and upholding treaties. Here is a guide for how to get started, and here is a video about the importance of this practice.

We are sometimes asked to advise on land acknowledgements. NYC has in the past been home to the Munsee Lenape, Canarsee, Rockaway, Wappinger, Reckgawanc, Unkechaug, Matinecock, Haudenosaunee, and more as ancestors of this land. "And more" acknowledges that there are groups whose names we do not know who also were part of this land. It is currently home to 110,000 Indigenous people, including those from more than 72 Nations participating in American Indian Community House alone.



Land deed transfer

When possible, deed land to Native peoples directly. When this isn’t possible, give at least 1% of any sale to Indigenous people.



Include giving in your public events

Give a percentage of profits from your events to Indigenous people as a gift, whether through Manna-hatta Fund or another group.

Be public about your gift. Encourage others to give: spread the word during cultural events, marches, holidays, and other gatherings. If you give to Manna-hatta Fund, please spread the word on social media using #mannahattafund.



Support the removal of colonial monuments

Let your public officials know you're uncomfortable with monuments to colonial war criminals. Street names, statues, subway mosaics - you name it, our colonial past is enshrined all around us.

In 2018 former Mayor de Blasio's Monument Commission released a report of their findings, but the City and former Governor Cuomo went above and beyond to protect Columbus monuments.

Native people have been very clear that the Columbus statues venerate a rapist and murderer - add your voice to the call for the removal of entities honoring him.



Support land reclamation efforts

Support efforts by Native peoples to recover what is theirs. Keep an eye out for opportunities that arise in the media and in our newsletter.



Support the return of stolen objects

Call on museums to return ceremonial objects stolen from Native peoples. The Met, Brooklyn Museum, and others have yet to rematriate what is owed to Native communities.



Support Indigenous-led environmental work

Protect the integrity of the land by opposing projects that pollute soil, air, or water. Get involved with Indigenous Environmental Network and Indigenous Rising.



Know from whence you came

Know where your own people come from. For white folks who have had their histories erased, check out programs like the Anne Braden Program by Catalyst Project, White Awake, or Coming to the Table to dig deeper into your own roots.



Give to Native groups when you work and travel. Look for other opportunities to resource Native groups in NYC.

 Here’s a list of Indigenous land tax projects. If you travel somewhere without a land tax, look for an Indigenous-led group you can support.

You can also give to and take action to support other Native efforts in NYC. There are many groups and nonprofits that deserve recognition and support.

Join or create an ally group

We also encourage folks to consider joining one of the ally groups that support the Manna-hatta Fund and Indigenous solidarity in the city. If you’re part of an organization, whether it’s social justice, professional, faith, or community focused, you can create an Indigenous solidarity committee or working group to take action.

  • For white people there's Showing Up for Racial Justice NYC - you can sign up to attend an orientation and then get connected to the Indigenous Solidarity group.

  • For people ages 18- 35 with access to wealth and/or class privilege, you can join Resource Generation and ask to be connected to their Indigenous Solidarity Circle.

  • If you are already part of an affinity or community group and would like to create an organization-to-organization relationship with Manna-hatta Fund, please let us know!

Start a project like this where you have roots

Check out this guide to creating Indigenous Solidarity Funding projects that was co-created by organizers from Manna-hatta Fund, Sogorea Te Land Trust, Real Rent Duwamish, and the Indigenous Solidarity Network.


Volunteer

To volunteer your time or services with us please fill out the form below. The best way to plug in is by offering a specific skill or opportunity, or by organizing your community to support the Manna-hatta Fund during the annual fall fundraising campaign. Past volunteers have organized fundraisers among faith communities and activist groups, and events have ranged from movie nights to teach-ins to dance classes and even a bar crawl.