A Journey of Advocacy and Activism
First Year Summary
2024 - 2025
Mukwa members gathered in Bemidji, MN. February 2025
A Year In Reflection
Mukwa kicked off in March 2024, and by May, we held our first big event in Chicago, where we helped feed over 6,000 people! In the months that followed, we teamed up with Indigenous Youth to talk to national leaders in Washington DC about issues affecting their communities.
We also sent a group to the Protecting Mother Earth Conference and wrapped up the summer with a back-to-school event in Kenosha, Wisconsin. In the fall, we had a delegation at Climate Week in New York City, stood with Chairman Fred Hampton Jr and Breonna Taylor’s family in court, assisted Elders-in-Training with in-town transportation in Chicago to represent against Line5, attended the 2024 Mni Ki Wakan Summit and started the new year with the Women's March and Martin Luther King Jr. March in Washington DC.
We ended our fiscal year with local events in the Keweenaw Bay Indian Community in Michigan and intensified our efforts in Minnesota to get legal protections for our Wild Rice with the Rise and Repair Alliance. We are excited to see what our next year as an organization has in store.
Mukwa 2025 - 2026
Over the past year, Mukwa has undergone significant transformation as we established our direction and identified the most pressing needs for our dynamic group. We have refined Mukwa's leadership team, programs and outlined the key projects we aim to prioritize. Our upcoming efforts will center on foundational and community development in the regions where our organizers are based.
In the upcoming year, Mukwa is set to prioritize local engagement and community development, aiming to deepen our connections with the communities our members represent while broadening our organizational reach. To kick things off, we plan to organize monthly community assemblies that will serve as a platform for our members to come together, share knowledge, and foster growth through targeted discussions on specific issues. These forums will revolve around the key projects of our organization, featuring expert speakers, informative presentations, and opportunities for social interaction over a shared meal, all designed to strengthen community ties.
Mukwa Marketing:
Mukwa Marketing encompasses the development of a detailed website and brand designed to resonate with our targeted demographic communities. We conduct email campaigns and distribute a monthly newsletter to 127 subscribers, achieving an average open rate exceeding 60%. Our presence on social media includes periodic posts on Facebook, where we have 486 followers, as well as Instagram with 65 followers, Twitter with 23 followers, TikTok with 10 followers and LinkedIn with 7 connections.
Facebook: www.facebook.com/MukwaMiikana
Instagram: www.instagram.com/mukwamiikana
Twitter: www.twitter.com/MukwaMiikana
TikTok: www.tiktok.com/@mukwamiikana
Linkedin: www.linkedin.com/in/mukwamiikana
March 2024 - March 2025 Funding Report
As of March 31st, 2025, Mukwa has raised a total of $35,088.97 since its launch in March of last year. Furthermore, Mukwa's expenses have amounted to $29,355.56, covering programming, overhead costs, and contractor wages at the close of our fiscal year.
Programing Costs:
Total: $26,054.43
Overhead Costs:
Total: $2458.09
Mukwa's overhead cost is towards SquareSpace, which is the organization’s vendor for our website and email services. Other costs were to Zoom, Administrative Staff and Grant Writer.
Marketing:
Total: $912.33
For StreamYard web service, also marketing staff to compile project marketing graphics and media.
Honorariums:
Total: $2554.00
Issued out to 11 individuals.
Contractor Wages:
Total: $10,401.70
Issued between 5 Mukwa members.
Chi-Miigwetch to all of our donors throughout 2024 - 2025!
Grassroots donors:
Gina P, Eoin S, Kristi L, Beaei P, Carol A, Mike K, Barb R, Alex M, Crystal C, Katie C, Andrew P, Erica J, Joseph D, Jay W, Jillian K, Kimberly B Manidoikwe D, and Josephine I.
Larger contributors and donors:
The Indigenous Environmental Network
Keweenaw Bay Indian Community
Amalgamated Charitable Foundation
Amy B,
Marianne W,
Organizing this new organization has been an incredible journey filled with valuable lessons, thanks to the fantastic team of organizers I have the privilege to work with. If your able to help contribute to this journey of advocacy and activism please donate here.
Mukwa plans to also continue forward raising money for our MMIWR "Mother Bears" project that aims to provide funding and resources for missing relative searches and domestic violence intervention aid, if you wish to donate to Momma Bears please select that on the PayPal project drop down. You may donate to individual state Bear Dens that goes directly to the work in those states.
Shout out to our sister organizations, coalitions and organizing spaces we are in:
Indigenous Environmental Network, Keweenaw Bay Indian Community, Eastern Woodland Protectors, Rise and Repair Alliance, Protect The Porkies, Women's Earth and Climate Action Network (WECAN), Niibi Center, Underground Recycling, Minnesota Interfaith Power & Light, Global Rights of Nature (GARN), Code!Whatever!, People Vs Fossil Fuels.
