Last November, I joined the Grist team to help launch the nation’s first and only environmentally-focused Indigenous Affairs Desk. Our main objective is to increase Indigenous representation both in newsrooms and in the stories that we cover. It’s vital reporting that our readers make possible, so thank you for supporting this new and extremely important endeavor. 

As a Grist reader, you know that Indigenous communities play a critical role in protecting the planet’s biodiversity and the health of our ecosystems. In fact, Indigenous peoples represent 5 percent of the global population but protect nearly 80 percent of the world’s remaining biodiversity.

A recent report by the Indigenous Environmental Network estimates that over the past decade, Indigenous peoples engaged in defense of land and water “stopped or delayed greenhouse gas pollution equivalent to at least one-quarter of annual U.S. and Canadian emissions.” 

However, for Indigenous communities, the climate threat is multi-faceted, from the loss of land and water rights to actual violence. Since 2015, the Business and Human Rights Resource Centre has documented more than 3,800 attacks, murders, and lawsuits against land and human rights defenders — with violence disproportionately affecting Indigenous peoples working to stop the construction of everything from harmful mining to pipelines and hydroelectric dams in their territories.

Grist is committed to increasing coverage of Indigenous people around the world by hiring Indigenous staff and fellows, and training reporters to respectfully and accurately cover Indigenous communities — communities at the frontline of the climate crisis that have been ignored far too long. That’s why I’m calling on you today. 

We’re looking to raise $15,000 by Sunday to directly fund our Indigenous reporting team, and we’re only at 15% of our goal. Right now, when you donate to support our Indigenous Affairs Desk, a generous group of donors will TRIPLE all donations — but only until Sunday. If you believe in supporting Indigenous communities, then please make a tax-deductible donation today.

Óbàhàu,

P.S. Only a few days left! All donations made between now and Sunday will be TRIPLED. Please make a gift today in support of our Indigenous Affairs Desk.