{"id":31007,"date":"2023-04-08T00:03:06","date_gmt":"2023-04-08T04:03:06","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/www.indianz.com\/News\/2023\/04\/08\/much-history-to-record-and-more-to-make-winona-ladukes-environmental-efforts-set-to-continue\/"},"modified":"2023-07-31T22:00:50","modified_gmt":"2023-08-01T02:00:50","slug":"much-history-to-record-and-more-to-make-winona-ladukes-environmental-efforts-set-to-continue","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/indianz.com\/News\/2023\/04\/08\/much-history-to-record-and-more-to-make-winona-ladukes-environmental-efforts-set-to-continue\/","title":{"rendered":"&#8216;Much history to record and more to make&#8217;: Winona LaDuke&#8217;s environmental efforts set to continue"},"content":{"rendered":"<div class=\"embed-responsive embed-responsive-16by9\">\r\n<span class=\"embed-youtube\" style=\"text-align:center; display: block;\"><iframe loading=\"lazy\" class=\"youtube-player\" width=\"640\" height=\"360\" src=\"https:\/\/www.youtube.com\/embed\/wqyZUbyU1Eo?version=3&#038;rel=1&#038;showsearch=0&#038;showinfo=1&#038;iv_load_policy=1&#038;fs=1&#038;hl=en-US&#038;autohide=2&#038;wmode=transparent\" allowfullscreen=\"true\" style=\"border:0;\" sandbox=\"allow-scripts allow-same-origin allow-popups allow-presentation allow-popups-to-escape-sandbox\"><\/iframe><\/span>\r\n<\/div>\r\n<figcaption class=\"figure-caption\">Anishinaabe Agriculture: <a href=https:\/\/youtu.be\/wqyZUbyU1Eo>How THIS Hemp is the Future | Minnesota Wild Hemp<\/a>\r\n<\/figcaption>\r\n<div class=\"h1-responsive\">&#8216;Much history to record and more to make&#8217;<\/div>\r\n<div class=\"h5-responsive sub\"> Winona LaDuke&#8217;s environmental efforts continue after verdict in sexual harassment case<\/div>\r\n<div class=\"date\">Saturday, April 8, 2023<\/div>\r\n<div class=\"byline\">By Acee Agoyo<\/div>\r\n<div class=\"source\">Indianz.Com<\/div>\r\n<p><\/p>\r\n<strong><EM>UPDATE: The hemp informational meeting on Friday, along with the Indigenous Hemp Conference on Saturday, have been canceled.<\/em><\/strong>\r\n<p><\/p>\r\nDespite resigning as executive director of <a href=https:\/\/honorearth.org\/>Honor The Earth<\/a> amid a sexual harassment and retaliation scandal that led to a $750,000 verdict against the organization, <a href=https:\/\/en.wikipedia.org\/wiki\/Winona_LaDuke>Winona LaDuke<\/a> has made clear that she doesn&#8217;t plan on staying silent. As she put it on <a href=https:\/\/www.facebook.com\/winona.laduke.5\/posts\/pfbid023fmafpaRDnhNdfFFnWyMECfHdGaCWw1A7nfvNDMJdPmNCnTH81WnG22DiwBiPk5pl>social media on Wednesday<\/a>: &#8220;there is much history to record and more to make.&#8221;\r\n<P><\/P>\r\nSo just what is LaDuke, a citizen of the <a href=https:\/\/whiteearth.com\/>White Earth Nation<\/a> whose views on the environment have brought her worldwide attention, getting up to these days? Here&#8217;s a look at a few  of the organizations, movements and initiatives she&#8217;s been a part of. Plus, a recap of the litigation that led to the <a href=https:\/\/www.indianz.com\/news\/2023\/04\/04\/deliberate-disregard-honor-the-earth-liable-in-sexual-harassment-case\/>stunning verdict<\/a>.\r\n<P><\/p>\r\n<div class=\"h5-responsive sub\">Honor The Earth<\/div>\r\nLaDuke co-founded Honor The Earth in 1993 and served as its executive director up until her resignation this week. Notably, the <a href=https:\/\/www.facebook.com\/theindigogirls\/posts\/pfbid08YQYGnNR7RP9HmN6WfYKmgsbCGbGRC5vrfCrmF8Si3UWMYcNNX1w83CmfVwAZQnyl>press release from the Minnesota-based organization<\/a> said she plans to &#8220;support the transition&#8221; from her leadership to that of <a href=https:\/\/honorearth.org\/news\/new-honor-the-earth-ed-statement>Krystal Two Bulls<\/a>, her replacement.\r\n<p><\/p>\r\nSuch transitions are common in the non-profit world. When the <a href=https:\/\/www.ncai.org\/>National Congress of American Indians<\/a> announced the <a href=https:\/\/www.indianz.com\/news\/2019\/02\/19\/national-congress-of-american-indians-an.asp>departure of Jackie Pata<\/a> after 18 years as executive director, the organization kept her on board while it <a href=https:\/\/www.indianz.com\/news\/2019\/02\/20\/national-congress-of-american-indians-at.asp>prepared for her successor<\/a>.\r\n<P><\/P>\r\nAs for Honor The Earth, the transition includes a move of its office from <a href=\"https:\/\/en.wikipedia.org\/wiki\/Callaway,_Minnesota\">Callaway<\/a> to <a href=\"https:\/\/en.wikipedia.org\/wiki\/Ponsford,_Minnesota\">Ponsford<\/a>. Both communities are located in Becker County, a place that LaDuke and the organization derided as racist in their public announcements on Wednesday.\r\n<p><\/p>\r\nAccording to honorearth.org, the organization&#8217;s initiatives include:\r\n<P><\/p>\r\n<ul>\r\n<li><a href=https:\/\/honorearth.org\/just-transition>Just Transition<\/a> &#8211; an effort to &#8220;oppose extraction, support a tribal regulatory push for environmental protection, strengthen renewable energy and food systems work in our region, and create a curriculum and learning tool for tribal youth.&#8221;<\/li>\r\n<li><a href=https:\/\/honorearth.org\/resilence>Resilient Food and Energy<\/a> &#8211; an effort to promote food sovereignty and develop sustainable infrastructure in Indian Country.<\/li>\r\n<li><a href=https:\/\/honorearth.org\/defending-our-homelands>Defending Our Homelands<\/a> &#8211; an effort to project Ojibwe homelands from &#8220;disastrous extraction projects&#8221; and to prevent &#8220;cultural genocide.&#8221; <\/li>\r\n<li><a href=https:\/\/honorearth.org\/fossil-fuels>No Fossil Fuels in The Great Lakes<\/a> &#8211;  an effort to stop the ongoing expansion of fossil fuel infrastructure in the Great Lakes of the United States<\/li>\r\n<li><a href=https:\/\/honorearth.org\/landback>Land Back<\/a> &#8211; also known as the The Akiing Land Back Project,  an effort to acquire land in Ponsford, Minnesota, in partnership  with another organization called Akiing.<\/li>\r\n<\/ul>\r\n<p><\/p>\r\nNon-profit tax filings, commonly referred to as 990s,  for Honor The Earth can be found on the <a href=https:\/\/projects.propublica.org\/nonprofits\/organizations\/454714238>ProPublica Non-Profit Explorer<\/a>, with the most recent filing covering the fiscal year ending June 2019. Annual reports produced by the organization are <a href=https:\/\/honorearth.org\/annual-reports>available on honorearth.org<\/a>.\r\n<p><\/p>\r\n <a href=\"https:\/\/www.indianz.com\/news\/2023\/04\/07\/much-history-to-record-and-more-to-make-winona-ladukes-environmental-efforts-set-to-continue\/whiteearthlandrecoveryprojectsolarwinonaladuke\/\" rel=\"attachment wp-att-31516\"><img decoding=\"async\" src=\"https:\/\/www.indianz.com\/news\/wp-content\/uploads\/2023\/07\/31\/WhiteEarthLandRecoveryProjectSolarWinonaLaDuke.jpg\" alt=\"White Earth Land Recovery Project\" class=\"size-full wp-image-31516\" \/><\/a><figcaption class=\"figure-caption\"> Winona LaDuke, far left, is seen near a solar panel at the White Earth Land Recovery Project in Callway, Minnesota, on May 28, 2009. Photo: <a href=https:\/\/www.flickr.com\/photos\/mncerts\/3853643186\/in\/album-72157622037277457\/>Central Region Clean Energy Resource Team<\/a><\/figcaption>\r\n<p><\/p>\r\n<div class=\"h5-responsive sub\">White Earth Land Recovery Project<\/div>\r\nWinona LaDuke founded the <a href=https:\/\/www.welrp.org>White Earth Land Recovery Project<\/a> (WELRP) in 1989 and served as its executive director for 25 years, according to the <a href=https:\/\/www.welrp.org\/about-welrp\/about-our-founder\/>organization&#8217;s website<\/a>. Margaret Rousu, another White Earth Nation citizen, is the current executive director.\r\n<p><\/p>\r\n&#8220;White Earth Land Recovery  Project is committed to building a sustainable community on the White Earth Reservation,&#8221; <a href=https:\/\/www.welrp.org\/about-welrp\/food-sovereignty\/sustainable-communities\/>welrp.org states<\/a>. \r\n<p><\/p>\r\nMore specifically, the organization says on   non-profit tax filings that it exists to &#8220;facilitate the recovery of the original land base of the White Earth Indian Reservation, while preserving and restoring traditional practices of sound land stewardship, language fluency, community development  and strengthening our spiritual and cultural heritage.&#8221;\r\n<p><\/p>\r\nLike Honor The Earth, WELRP has been based in Callaway, Minnesota. According to the organization&#8217;s 2020 annual report, the project&#8217;s initiatives include:\r\n<P><\/p>\r\n<ul>\r\n<li><a href=https:\/\/nativeharvest.com>Native Harvest<\/a> &#8211; a retail store in Callaway that sells local and Ojibwe-produced goods, food and other items. Additionally, food is grown at the Native Harvest Farm.\r\n<\/li>\r\n<li><a href=https:\/\/www.facebook.com\/kkwe89.9fm\/>Niijii Broadcast Corporation<\/a> &#8211;  also known as KKWE 89.9 FM, serving the local community through radio.\r\n<\/li>\r\n<\/ul>\r\n<p><\/p>\r\nThe organization also hosts the annual Great Lakes Indigenous Farming Conference. The <a href=https:\/\/www.welrp.org\/2023-agenda-glifc\/>2023 event,<\/a> took place March 9-12 in Cohasset, Minnesota.\r\n<P><\/p>\r\nNon-profit tax filings, commonly referred to as 990s, for the White Earth Land Recovery Project can be found on the <a href=https:\/\/projects.propublica.org\/nonprofits\/organizations\/411673625>ProPublica Non-Profit Explorer<\/a> for the years 2011 through 2017. Subsequent filings are available on  welrp.org for the years <a href=https:\/\/www.welrp.org\/2018-990\/>2018<\/a>, <a href=https:\/\/www.welrp.org\/2019-990\/>2019<\/a> and <a href=https:\/\/www.welrp.org\/2020-990\/>2020<\/a>.\r\n<p><\/p>\r\n<blockquote class=\"instagram-media\" data-instgrm-captioned data-instgrm-permalink=\"https:\/\/www.instagram.com\/p\/CF2EceNF6fn\/?utm_source=ig_embed&amp;utm_campaign=loading\" data-instgrm-version=\"14\" style=\" background:#FFF; border:0; border-radius:3px; box-shadow:0 0 1px 0 rgba(0,0,0,0.5),0 1px 10px 0 rgba(0,0,0,0.15); margin: 1px; max-width:500px; min-width:326px; padding:0; width:99.375%; width:-webkit-calc(100% - 2px); width:calc(100% - 2px);\"><div style=\"padding:16px;\"> <a href=\"https:\/\/www.instagram.com\/p\/CF2EceNF6fn\/?utm_source=ig_embed&amp;utm_campaign=loading\" style=\" background:#FFFFFF; line-height:0; padding:0 0; text-align:center; text-decoration:none; width:100%;\" target=\"_blank\"> <div style=\" display: flex; flex-direction: row; align-items: center;\"> <div style=\"background-color: #F4F4F4; border-radius: 50%; flex-grow: 0; height: 40px; margin-right: 14px; width: 40px;\"><\/div> <div style=\"display: flex; flex-direction: column; flex-grow: 1; justify-content: center;\"> <div style=\" background-color: #F4F4F4; border-radius: 4px; flex-grow: 0; height: 14px; margin-bottom: 6px; width: 100px;\"><\/div> <div style=\" background-color: #F4F4F4; border-radius: 4px; flex-grow: 0; height: 14px; width: 60px;\"><\/div><\/div><\/div><div style=\"padding: 19% 0;\"><\/div> <div style=\"display:block; height:50px; margin:0 auto 12px; width:50px;\"><svg width=\"50px\" height=\"50px\" viewBox=\"0 0 60 60\" version=\"1.1\" xmlns=\"https:\/\/www.w3.org\/2000\/svg\" xmlns:xlink=\"https:\/\/www.w3.org\/1999\/xlink\"><g stroke=\"none\" stroke-width=\"1\" fill=\"none\" fill-rule=\"evenodd\"><g transform=\"translate(-511.000000, -20.000000)\" fill=\"#000000\"><g><path d=\"M556.869,30.41 C554.814,30.41 553.148,32.076 553.148,34.131 C553.148,36.186 554.814,37.852 556.869,37.852 C558.924,37.852 560.59,36.186 560.59,34.131 C560.59,32.076 558.924,30.41 556.869,30.41 M541,60.657 C535.114,60.657 530.342,55.887 530.342,50 C530.342,44.114 535.114,39.342 541,39.342 C546.887,39.342 551.658,44.114 551.658,50 C551.658,55.887 546.887,60.657 541,60.657 M541,33.886 C532.1,33.886 524.886,41.1 524.886,50 C524.886,58.899 532.1,66.113 541,66.113 C549.9,66.113 557.115,58.899 557.115,50 C557.115,41.1 549.9,33.886 541,33.886 M565.378,62.101 C565.244,65.022 564.756,66.606 564.346,67.663 C563.803,69.06 563.154,70.057 562.106,71.106 C561.058,72.155 560.06,72.803 558.662,73.347 C557.607,73.757 556.021,74.244 553.102,74.378 C549.944,74.521 548.997,74.552 541,74.552 C533.003,74.552 532.056,74.521 528.898,74.378 C525.979,74.244 524.393,73.757 523.338,73.347 C521.94,72.803 520.942,72.155 519.894,71.106 C518.846,70.057 518.197,69.06 517.654,67.663 C517.244,66.606 516.755,65.022 516.623,62.101 C516.479,58.943 516.448,57.996 516.448,50 C516.448,42.003 516.479,41.056 516.623,37.899 C516.755,34.978 517.244,33.391 517.654,32.338 C518.197,30.938 518.846,29.942 519.894,28.894 C520.942,27.846 521.94,27.196 523.338,26.654 C524.393,26.244 525.979,25.756 528.898,25.623 C532.057,25.479 533.004,25.448 541,25.448 C548.997,25.448 549.943,25.479 553.102,25.623 C556.021,25.756 557.607,26.244 558.662,26.654 C560.06,27.196 561.058,27.846 562.106,28.894 C563.154,29.942 563.803,30.938 564.346,32.338 C564.756,33.391 565.244,34.978 565.378,37.899 C565.522,41.056 565.552,42.003 565.552,50 C565.552,57.996 565.522,58.943 565.378,62.101 M570.82,37.631 C570.674,34.438 570.167,32.258 569.425,30.349 C568.659,28.377 567.633,26.702 565.965,25.035 C564.297,23.368 562.623,22.342 560.652,21.575 C558.743,20.834 556.562,20.326 553.369,20.18 C550.169,20.033 549.148,20 541,20 C532.853,20 531.831,20.033 528.631,20.18 C525.438,20.326 523.257,20.834 521.349,21.575 C519.376,22.342 517.703,23.368 516.035,25.035 C514.368,26.702 513.342,28.377 512.574,30.349 C511.834,32.258 511.326,34.438 511.181,37.631 C511.035,40.831 511,41.851 511,50 C511,58.147 511.035,59.17 511.181,62.369 C511.326,65.562 511.834,67.743 512.574,69.651 C513.342,71.625 514.368,73.296 516.035,74.965 C517.703,76.634 519.376,77.658 521.349,78.425 C523.257,79.167 525.438,79.673 528.631,79.82 C531.831,79.965 532.853,80.001 541,80.001 C549.148,80.001 550.169,79.965 553.369,79.82 C556.562,79.673 558.743,79.167 560.652,78.425 C562.623,77.658 564.297,76.634 565.965,74.965 C567.633,73.296 568.659,71.625 569.425,69.651 C570.167,67.743 570.674,65.562 570.82,62.369 C570.966,59.17 571,58.147 571,50 C571,41.851 570.966,40.831 570.82,37.631\"><\/path><\/g><\/g><\/g><\/svg><\/div><div style=\"padding-top: 8px;\"> <div style=\" color:#3897f0; font-family:Arial,sans-serif; font-size:14px; font-style:normal; font-weight:550; line-height:18px;\">View this post on Instagram<\/div><\/div><div style=\"padding: 12.5% 0;\"><\/div> <div style=\"display: flex; flex-direction: row; margin-bottom: 14px; align-items: center;\"><div> <div style=\"background-color: #F4F4F4; border-radius: 50%; height: 12.5px; width: 12.5px; transform: translateX(0px) translateY(7px);\"><\/div> <div style=\"background-color: #F4F4F4; height: 12.5px; transform: rotate(-45deg) translateX(3px) translateY(1px); width: 12.5px; flex-grow: 0; margin-right: 14px; margin-left: 2px;\"><\/div> <div style=\"background-color: #F4F4F4; border-radius: 50%; height: 12.5px; width: 12.5px; transform: translateX(9px) translateY(-18px);\"><\/div><\/div><div style=\"margin-left: 8px;\"> <div style=\" background-color: #F4F4F4; border-radius: 50%; flex-grow: 0; height: 20px; width: 20px;\"><\/div> <div style=\" width: 0; height: 0; border-top: 2px solid transparent; border-left: 6px solid #f4f4f4; border-bottom: 2px solid transparent; transform: translateX(16px) translateY(-4px) rotate(30deg)\"><\/div><\/div><div style=\"margin-left: auto;\"> <div style=\" width: 0px; border-top: 8px solid #F4F4F4; border-right: 8px solid transparent; transform: translateY(16px);\"><\/div> <div style=\" background-color: #F4F4F4; flex-grow: 0; height: 12px; width: 16px; transform: translateY(-4px);\"><\/div> <div style=\" width: 0; height: 0; border-top: 8px solid #F4F4F4; border-left: 8px solid transparent; transform: translateY(-4px) translateX(8px);\"><\/div><\/div><\/div> <div style=\"display: flex; flex-direction: column; flex-grow: 1; justify-content: center; margin-bottom: 24px;\"> <div style=\" background-color: #F4F4F4; border-radius: 4px; flex-grow: 0; height: 14px; margin-bottom: 6px; width: 224px;\"><\/div> <div style=\" background-color: #F4F4F4; border-radius: 4px; flex-grow: 0; height: 14px; width: 144px;\"><\/div><\/div><\/a><p style=\" color:#c9c8cd; font-family:Arial,sans-serif; font-size:14px; line-height:17px; margin-bottom:0; margin-top:8px; overflow:hidden; padding:8px 0 7px; text-align:center; text-overflow:ellipsis; white-space:nowrap;\"><a href=\"https:\/\/www.instagram.com\/p\/CF2EceNF6fn\/?utm_source=ig_embed&amp;utm_campaign=loading\" style=\" color:#c9c8cd; font-family:Arial,sans-serif; font-size:14px; font-style:normal; font-weight:normal; line-height:17px; text-decoration:none;\" target=\"_blank\">A post shared by 8th Fire Solar (@8thfiresolar)<\/a><\/p><\/div><\/blockquote><script async src=\"\/\/platform.instagram.com\/en_US\/embeds.js\"><\/script>\r\n<P><\/P>\r\n<div class=\"h5-responsive sub\">Akiing<\/div>\r\nIn 2017, Winona LaDuke co-founded <a href=https:\/\/www.akiing.org\/>Akiing<\/a>, another organization with similar goals as Honor The Earth and the White Earth Land Recovery Project. <a href=https:\/\/www.akiing.org\/board>Board members<\/a> include Paul DeMain, a businessman and journalist who chairs the board at Honor The Earth, and Frank Bibeau, an attorney who represented Honor The Earth in the sexual harassment and retaliation lawsuit.\r\n<p><\/p>\r\n&#8220;In 2017, we launched Akiing, a regional integrated community development initiative, aimed at restoring a regionally integrated Anishinaabe economy focused on food, energy, and value added production,&#8221; the <a href=https:\/\/www.akiing.org\/new-page>akiing.org<\/a> website states.\r\n<P><\/P>\r\nAkiing is based in Ponsford, where Honor The Earth is moving.  More specifically, both organizations have named the community of Pine Point, in Ponsford, as a place of interest for their efforts.\r\n<p><\/p>\r\n&#8220;Our community has been a poster child for tribal poverty in northern Minnesota,&#8221; the <a href=https:\/\/www.akiing.org\/new-page>akiing.org<\/a> site reads.\r\n<p><\/p>\r\nAs a  &#8220;formal 501(c)3 partner of Honor the Earth,&#8221; Akiing has developed fice major programs, according to the website. They are:\r\n<P><\/p>\r\n<ul>\r\n<li><a href=https:\/\/www.8thfiresolar.org>8th Fire Solar<\/a> &#8211; a  solar panel installation and distribution program in Osage, Minnesota, whose <a href=https:\/\/www.8thfiresolar.org\/aboutus>founder is LaDuke and whose team<\/a> includes at least one of her children.<\/li>\r\n<li><a href=https:\/\/www.anishinaabeagriculture.org>Anishinaabe Agriculture Institute<\/a> &#8211; also in Osage, a food, education and hemp non-profit where LaDuke serves as <a href=https:\/\/www.anishinaabeagriculture.org\/our-team>research director and interim executive director<\/a>.  <\/li>\r\n<li>New Green Revolution \/ Hemp Economy &#8211; a hemp production and hemp education initiative that hosts the annual <a href=https:\/\/honorearth.org\/events\/indigenous-hemp-cannabis-farmers-cooperative-2023-hemp-conference>Indigenous Hemp Conference<\/a>, which has been scheduled to take place in Rapid City, South Dakota, on April 8.  [<em>Note: The <a href=https:\/\/ihcfc.org\/events\/hempconference>webpage for the event<\/a> appears to have been removed from ihcfc.org sometime in the early afternoon on Friday.<\/em>] <\/li>\r\n<li>Leadership Development &#8211; a effort that focuses on leadership development for Native youth.<\/li>\r\n<li>Land Back &#8211; an effort focus on acquiring land in and around Ponsford, located on the southern boundary of the present-day <a href=https:\/\/goo.gl\/maps\/GLbBweGHfcBqeqsYA>White Earth Reservation<\/a>.<\/li>\r\n<\/ul>\r\n<p><\/p>\r\nAkiing has posted a <a href=https:\/\/www.akiing.org\/reports>2022 end of year report<\/a> on its website.\r\n<p><\/p>\r\n<div class=\"embed-responsive embed-responsive-16by9\">\r\n<span class=\"embed-youtube\" style=\"text-align:center; display: block;\"><iframe loading=\"lazy\" class=\"youtube-player\" width=\"640\" height=\"360\" src=\"https:\/\/www.youtube.com\/embed\/JFgVknHl0yI?version=3&#038;rel=1&#038;showsearch=0&#038;showinfo=1&#038;iv_load_policy=1&#038;fs=1&#038;hl=en-US&#038;autohide=2&#038;wmode=transparent\" allowfullscreen=\"true\" style=\"border:0;\" sandbox=\"allow-scripts allow-same-origin allow-popups allow-presentation allow-popups-to-escape-sandbox\"><\/iframe><\/span> \r\n<\/div>\r\n<figcaption class=\"figure-caption\">Anishinaabe Agriculture: <a href=https:\/\/youtu.be\/JFgVknHl0yI>Opening Words for 4th Annual Indigenous Hemp Conference with Winona LaDuke and Alex White Plume<\/a>\r\n<\/figcaption>\r\n<p><\/p>\r\n<div class=\"h5-responsive sub\">Winona&#8217;s Hemp and Heritage Farm<\/div>\r\nWinona LaDuke owns an operates <a href=https:\/\/winonashemp.com\/>Winona Hemp and Heritage Farm<\/a>, which is a commercial operation that includes a farm and a retail outlet  in Osage, Minnesota.\r\n<p><\/p>\r\nAccording to  winonashemp.com,  the operation works closely with the  Anishinaabe Agricultural Institute, which is part of Akiing.\r\n<P><\/p>\r\n<div class=\"h5-responsive sub\">Indigenous Hemp and Cannabis Farmers Cooperative<\/div>\r\nEstablished in 2022, the <a href=https:\/\/ihcfc.org>Indigenous Hemp and Cannabis Farmers Cooperative<\/a> is a group that counts   <a href=https:\/\/winonashemp.com\/>Winona LaDuke&#8217;s hemp operation<\/a>, the <a href=https:\/\/www.anishinaabeagriculture.org>Anishinaabe Agriculture Institute<\/a> and <a href=https:\/\/www.akiing.org\/>Akiing<\/a> as members \r\n<p><\/p>\r\n&#8220;The Indigenous Hemp and Cannabis Farmers Cooperative was created in 2022, to support the development of seeds, Indigenous standards, cultivation, value added processing, appropriate technologies and fair-trade markets,&#8221; <a href=https:\/\/ihcfc.org>ihcfc.org states<\/a> on its website. &#8220;We are interested in serving farmers, and ensuring tribal participation in the hemp and cannabis market, as well as the benefits to come to the plant and the community.&#8221;\r\n<P><\/P>\r\nThe cooperative is hosting an <a href=https:\/\/ihcfc.org\/events\/tribal-hemp-informational-meeting-in-mobridge-south-dakota>informational meeting for hemp farmers<\/a> on Friday. The event is being held at the <a href=https:\/\/grandrivercasino.com>Grand River Casino and Resort<\/a>, owned and operated by the <a href=https:\/\/www.standingrock.org\/>Standing Rock Sioux Tribe<\/a> in Mobridge, South Dakota. [<EM>Update: An employee at the casino said the informational meeting was canceled, in a call placed after this story was published.<\/em>]\r\n<P><\/P>\r\nThe cooperative also has been  promoting the <a href=https:\/\/ihcfc.org\/events\/hempconference>2023 Indigenous Hemp Conference<\/a>, which has been scheduled to take place on Saturday at <a href=https:\/\/www.oayeluta.org>Oaya Luta Okolakiciye<\/a>, a non-profit that offers a meeting space in Rapid City, South Dakota. LaDuke has been scheduled to be one of the keynote speakers. [<EM>Note: The ihcfc.org\/events\/hempconference page is not working as of early Friday afternoon.<\/em>]\r\n<P><\/P>\r\nAccording to a  description page for the event, the conference is being hosted by Akiing, Winona\u2019s Hemp and Heritage Farm, Anishinaabe Agriculture Institute  and Honor the Earth.\r\n<P><\/P><div class=\"mt-1 mb-1\"><ins class=\"adsbygoogle\" style=\"display:block; text-align:center;\" data-ad-layout=\"in-article\" data-ad-format=\"fluid\" data-ad-client=\"ca-pub-8411603009680747\" data-ad-slot=\"6394965691\"><\/ins><script>(adsbygoogle = window.adsbygoogle || []).push({});<\/script><\/div><p><\/p>\r\n<div class=\"h5-responsive sub\">The Litigation<\/div>\r\nMargaret Campbell filed a sexual harassment and retaliation  lawsuit against Honor The Earth in Becker County, Minnesota, in  February 2019. The organization is the only named defendant &#8212; neither Winona LaDuke nor any individuals connected to the non-profit were named in the case.\r\n<p><\/p>\r\nAccording to the complaint, Michael Dahl started working for Honor The Earth after he became involved with the White Earth Land Recovery Project.  Dahl&#8217;s treatment of Campbell while at the organization form the basis of the lawsuit. Dahl and LaDuke are citizens of the <a href=https:\/\/whiteearth.com\/>White Earth Nation<\/a>.  Campbell is non-Indian.\r\n<p><\/p>\r\nHonor The Earth attempted to have the case dismissed by arguing that the   state court system lacked jurisdiction over activities occurring in Indian Country &#8212; namely the White Earth Nation.  <a href=https:\/\/www.mncourts.gov\/About-The-Courts\/Overview\/JudicialDirectory\/Bio.aspx?jid=1814>Judge Gretchen Thilmony<\/a>, who joined the bench with <a href=https:\/\/www.mncourts.gov\/About-The-Courts\/NewsAndAnnouncements\/ItemDetail.aspx?id=1322>professional and working experience in Indian law and policy<\/a>, rejected the motion to dismiss in July 2019, noting that the organization is chartered in Minnesota, that its office is located outside of Indian Country and that the plaintiff is not a citizen of any federally recognized tribe.\r\n<p><\/p>\r\n&#8220;In the present case, a Minnesota citizen is suing a Minnesota corporation under a\r\nMinnesota law. Neither tribal immunity nor Public Law 280 apply to the present case,&#8221; <a href=https:\/\/www.indianz.com\/news\/wp-content\/uploads\/2023\/04\/04\/MCRO_03-CV-19-266_Order-Denying-Motion_2019-07-02_20230403132017.pdf>Thilmony wrote<\/a> in reference to a <a href=http:\/\/www.tribal-institute.org\/lists\/pl280.htm>termination-era federal law that addresses state jurisdiction<\/a> in Indian Country.\r\n<p><\/p>\r\n<a href=https:\/\/www.indianz.com\/news\/wp-content\/uploads\/2023\/04\/04\/MCRO_03-CV-19-266_Notice-of-Appeal_2019-08-05_20230403201223.pdf>Honor The Earth appealed<\/a> the decision in August 2019. The <a href=https:\/\/www.indianz.com\/news\/wp-content\/uploads\/2023\/04\/04\/OPa191232-042020.pdf>Minnesota Court of Appeals ruled against the organization<\/a> in April 2020.\r\n<p><\/p>\r\nHonor The Earth filed another <a href=https:\/\/www.indianz.com\/news\/wp-content\/uploads\/2023\/04\/07\/MCRO_03-CV-19-266_Motion-to-Dismiss_2021-02-01_20230407112809.pdf>motion to dismiss<\/a> the lawsuit in February 2021, this time <a href=https:\/\/www.indianz.com\/news\/wp-content\/uploads\/2023\/04\/07\/MCRO_03-CV-19-266_Memorandum_2021-02-01_20230407112829.pdf>linked to the administrative proceeding<\/a> that Campbell went through with the <a href=https:\/\/mn.gov\/mdhr\/>Minnesota Department of Human Rights<\/a>. Thilmony <a href=https:\/\/www.indianz.com\/news\/wp-content\/uploads\/2023\/04\/07\/MCRO_03-CV-19-266_Order-Denying-Motion_2021-04-21_20230407114053.pdf>rejected the request<\/a> in April 2021.\r\n<P><\/P>\r\nMore than a year later, in June 2022, Thilmony determined that <a href=https:\/\/www.indianz.com\/news\/wp-content\/uploads\/2023\/04\/04\/MCRO_03-CV-19-266_Order-Other_2022-06-07_20230403170433.pdf>Honor The Earth \u201cintentionally destroyed material evidence\u201d<\/a> in a manner that hindered Campbell&#8217;s pursuit of her claims. The organization was <a href=https:\/\/www.indianz.com\/news\/wp-content\/uploads\/2023\/04\/04\/MCRO_03-CV-19-266_Order-Approving-Attorney-Fees_2022-09-27_20230403170400.pdf>ordered to pay $52,960<\/a> to <a href=https:\/\/www.genderjustice.us\/>Gender Justice<\/a>, which represented Campbell, as a result. The payment was due &#8220;on or before&#8221; March 1, according to the judge&#8217;s order.\r\n<P><\/P>\r\nA trial took place at the <a href=https:\/\/www.mncourts.gov\/find-courts\/becker.aspx>courthouse in Becker County<\/a>  from March 27 through March 30. LaDuke was present for much of the proceeding, according to a person who was there and posted about it on social media.\r\n<p><\/p>\r\nThe <a href=https:\/\/www.indianz.com\/news\/wp-content\/uploads\/2023\/04\/03\/MCRO_03-CV-19-266_Verdict_2023-03-30_20230403123936.pdf>jury delivered the verdict<\/a> on the early evening of March 30, ruling against Honor The Earth for one county of sexual harassment and two counts of reprisal, or retaliation. A total of $750,000 was awarded to Campbell in compensatory and punitive damages.\r\n<P><\/P>\r\nOn April 4, <a href=https:\/\/www.indianz.com\/news\/wp-content\/uploads\/2023\/04\/07\/MCRO_03-CV-19-266_Findings-of-Fact-Conclusions-of-Law-and-Order_2023-04-04_20230407112018.pdf>Thilmony issued the findings of fact, conclusions of law and order for judgment<\/a> in the case. Honor The Earth has said it will not appeal the decision.\r\n<p><\/p>\r\nThe document notes that in addition to the $750,000 verdict, Honor The  Earth could be on the hook for additional payments to Campbell and her legal team, who prevailed in the case.\r\n<p><\/p>\r\n&#8220;The prevailing party on all respective claims is awarded costs and disbursements as allowed by law,&#8221; Thilmony wrote.\r\n<P><\/P>\r\nHonor The Earth has not publicly said where the money to pay for the lawsuit, to pay for the attorney fees that were due by March 1 and to pay for the verdict and any other costs is coming from.\r\n<P><\/P>\r\nThe case is <em>Margaret Campbell v. Honor The Earth<\/em>, No. 03-CV-19-266. Documents can be accessed on <a href=https:\/\/publicaccess.courts.state.mn.us>Minnesota Court Records Online<\/a> by going to the &#8220;Case Search&#8221; tab and entering 03-CV-19-266 under the &#8220;Case Number&#8221; option on the website.\r\n<P><\/P>\r\n <a href=\"https:\/\/www.indianz.com\/news\/2023\/04\/07\/much-history-to-record-and-more-to-make-winona-ladukes-environmental-efforts-set-to-continue\/mcro\/\" rel=\"attachment wp-att-31528\"><img decoding=\"async\" src=\"https:\/\/www.indianz.com\/news\/wp-content\/uploads\/2023\/07\/31\/MCRO.png\" alt=\"Minnesota Court Records Online\"  class=\"size-full wp-image-31528\" \/><\/a> <figcaption class=\"figure-caption\">A screenshot of the webpage for Minnesota Court Records Online (MCRO), available at <a href=https:\/\/publicaccess.courts.state.mn.us>publicaccess.courts.state.mn.us<\/a>.<\/figcaption>\r\n<P><\/P>\r\n<div class=\"h4-responsive\">Related Stories<\/div>\r\n<div class=\"related-story\"><a href=\"https:\/\/www.indianz.com\/news\/2023\/04\/06\/i-failed-molly-campbell-winona-laduke-says-racism-to-blame-for-750k-verdict-as-board-chair-calls-victim-white-girl\/\" title=\"\u2018I failed Molly Campbell\u2019: Winona LaDuke says racism to blame for $750K verdict as board chair calls victim \u2018white girl\u2019\">\u2018I failed Molly Campbell\u2019: Winona LaDuke says racism to blame for $750K verdict as board chair calls victim \u2018white girl\u2019<\/a> (April 6, 2023)<\/div>\r\n<div class=\"related-story\"><a href=\"https:\/\/www.indianz.com\/news\/2023\/04\/04\/deliberate-disregard-honor-the-earth-liable-in-sexual-harassment-case\/\" title=\"\u2018Deliberate disregard\u2019: Honor The Earth liable in sexual harassment case\">\u2018Deliberate disregard\u2019: Honor The Earth liable in sexual harassment case<\/a> (April 4, 2023)<\/div>\r\n<div class=row>\r\n<div class=col-6>\r\n<div class=\" content_cards_card content_cards_domain_indianz-com\">\n\t\t\t<div class=\"content_cards_image\">\n\t\t\t\t<a class=\"content_cards_image_link\" href=\"https:\/\/indianz.com\/News\/2023\/04\/06\/i-failed-molly-campbell-winona-laduke-says-racism-to-blame-for-750k-verdict-as-board-chair-calls-victim-white-girl\/\">\n\t\t\t\t\t<img decoding=\"async\" src=\"https:\/\/indianz.com\/News\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/04\/25\/winonaladuke-4.jpg\" alt=\"\u2018I failed Molly Campbell\u2019: Winona LaDuke says racism to blame for $750K verdict as board chair calls victim \u2018white girl\u2019\">\t\t\t\t<\/a>\n\t\t<\/div>\n\t\n\t<div class=\"content_cards_title\">\n\t\t<a class=\"content_cards_title_link\" href=\"https:\/\/indianz.com\/News\/2023\/04\/06\/i-failed-molly-campbell-winona-laduke-says-racism-to-blame-for-750k-verdict-as-board-chair-calls-victim-white-girl\/\">\n\t\t\t\u2018I failed Molly Campbell\u2019: Winona LaDuke says racism to blame for $750K verdict as board chair calls victim \u2018white girl\u2019\t\t<\/a>\n\t<\/div>\n\t<div class=\"content_cards_description\">\n\t\t<a class=\"content_cards_description_link\" href=\"https:\/\/indianz.com\/News\/2023\/04\/06\/i-failed-molly-campbell-winona-laduke-says-racism-to-blame-for-750k-verdict-as-board-chair-calls-victim-white-girl\/\">\n\t\t\t<p>Disgraced environmental figure Winona LaDuke and her inner circle are striking a defiant tone as the organization she has led for 30 years seeks to recover from a $750,000 verdict in a sexual harassment and retaliation case.<\/p>\n\t\t<\/a>\n\t<\/div>\n\t<div class=\"content_cards_site_name\">\n\t\t<img decoding=\"async\" src=\"https:\/\/www.indianz.com\/favicon.ico\" alt=\"Indianz.Com\" class=\"content_cards_favicon\"\/>\t\tIndianz.Com\t<\/div>\n<\/div>\r\n<\/div>\r\n<div class=col-6>\r\n<div class=\" content_cards_card content_cards_domain_indianz-com\">\n\t\t\t<div class=\"content_cards_image\">\n\t\t\t\t<a class=\"content_cards_image_link\" href=\"https:\/\/indianz.com\/News\/2023\/04\/04\/deliberate-disregard-honor-the-earth-liable-in-sexual-harassment-case\/\">\n\t\t\t\t\t<img decoding=\"async\" src=\"https:\/\/indianz.com\/News\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/04\/25\/winonaladuke-1-scaled-8.jpg\" alt=\"\u2018Deliberate disregard\u2019: Honor The Earth liable in sexual harassment case\">\t\t\t\t<\/a>\n\t\t<\/div>\n\t\n\t<div class=\"content_cards_title\">\n\t\t<a class=\"content_cards_title_link\" href=\"https:\/\/indianz.com\/News\/2023\/04\/04\/deliberate-disregard-honor-the-earth-liable-in-sexual-harassment-case\/\">\n\t\t\t\u2018Deliberate disregard\u2019: Honor The Earth liable in sexual harassment case\t\t<\/a>\n\t<\/div>\n\t<div class=\"content_cards_description\">\n\t\t<a class=\"content_cards_description_link\" href=\"https:\/\/indianz.com\/News\/2023\/04\/04\/deliberate-disregard-honor-the-earth-liable-in-sexual-harassment-case\/\">\n\t\t\t<p>One of Indian Country\u2019s most prominent environmental activists has been ordered to pay $750,000 to a former employee after being found liable for sexual harassment and retaliation in the workplace.<\/p>\n\t\t<\/a>\n\t<\/div>\n\t<div class=\"content_cards_site_name\">\n\t\t<img decoding=\"async\" src=\"https:\/\/www.indianz.com\/favicon.ico\" alt=\"Indianz.Com\" class=\"content_cards_favicon\"\/>\t\tIndianz.Com\t<\/div>\n<\/div>\r\n<\/div><\/div>","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"From growing hemp to fighting pipelines, Winona LaDuke has launched a large number of organizations, businesses and initiatives. Here&#8217;s a look at some of her environmental efforts.","protected":false},"author":1,"featured_media":31111,"comment_status":"closed","ping_status":"closed","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":{"ngg_post_thumbnail":0,"_vp_format_video_url":"","_vp_image_focal_point":[],"_jetpack_memberships_contains_paid_content":false,"footnotes":""},"categories":[10,18,11,13,1,14,22],"tags":[71,121,284,40,3890,1016,3903,509,1926,72,397,604,3893,138,103,3894,381,7,3840,1681,47,61,134,147,98,220,203,153,1141,3904,1968,44,102],"class_list":["post-31007","post","type-post","status-publish","format-standard","has-post-thumbnail","hentry","category-business","category-education","category-environment","category-law","category-national","category-politics","category-technology","tag-economic-development","tag-employment","tag-energy","tag-food","tag-frank-bibeau","tag-gender","tag-gretchen-thilmony","tag-hemp","tag-honor-the-earth","tag-judiciary","tag-jurisdiction","tag-krystal-two-bulls","tag-margaret-campbell","tag-meetings","tag-metoo","tag-michael-dahl","tag-minnesota","tag-ncai","tag-paul-demain","tag-pl280","tag-race","tag-racism","tag-radio","tag-rapid-city","tag-south-dakota","tag-sovereignty","tag-termination","tag-water","tag-white-earth","tag-white-earth-land-recovery-project","tag-winona-laduke","tag-women","tag-youth","no-wpautop"],"jetpack_featured_media_url":"https:\/\/indianz.com\/News\/wp-content\/uploads\/2023\/07\/31\/WhiteEarthLandRecoveryProjectSolarWinonaLaDuke.jpg","jetpack_shortlink":"https:\/\/wp.me\/pcoJ7g-847","jetpack_sharing_enabled":true,"_links":{"self":[{"href":"https:\/\/indianz.com\/News\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/31007","targetHints":{"allow":["GET"]}}],"collection":[{"href":"https:\/\/indianz.com\/News\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts"}],"about":[{"href":"https:\/\/indianz.com\/News\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/types\/post"}],"author":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/indianz.com\/News\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/users\/1"}],"replies":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/indianz.com\/News\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/comments?post=31007"}],"version-history":[{"count":0,"href":"https:\/\/indianz.com\/News\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/31007\/revisions"}],"wp:featuredmedia":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/indianz.com\/News\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media\/31111"}],"wp:attachment":[{"href":"https:\/\/indianz.com\/News\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media?parent=31007"}],"wp:term":[{"taxonomy":"category","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/indianz.com\/News\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/categories?post=31007"},{"taxonomy":"post_tag","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/indianz.com\/News\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/tags?post=31007"}],"curies":[{"name":"wp","href":"https:\/\/api.w.org\/{rel}","templated":true}]}}