Autumn 2018
Autumn 2018 Indigenous Women's Divestment Delegation members outside of the White House in Washington D.C. - Photo via Teena Pugliese
A fourth Indigenous Women's Divestment Delegation traveled to New York City and Washington D.C. in October 2018 - where women leaders took action and engaged in high-level meetings with major credit rating agency, Morgan Stanley Capital International (MSCI), and bank association, the Equator Principle Association - whose policies and decisions significantly impact the forecasts for investments in fossil fuel projects around the world.
October 2018 Indigenous Women's Divestment Delegation members brought with them knowledge, data and analysis, and personal testimony as women leaders active in struggles including opposition of the Dakota Access, Bayou Bridge, Keystone XL, and Line 3 Pipeline. Delegates were - Wasté Win Yellowlodge Young (Ihunktowanna/ Hunkpapa of the Standing Rock Sioux Tribe, Former Tribal Historic Preservation Officer); Jessica Parfait (United Houma Nation, Graduate student at Louisiana State University exploring impacts of oil and gas on Houma tribal communities); Tara Houska (Couchiching First Nation Anishinaabe, Tribal attorney, National Campaigns Director of Honor the Earth, and former advisor on Native American affairs to Bernie Sanders); Michelle Cook (Diné, Human rights lawyer); and Leoyla Cowboy (Diné, member of The Red Nation, and community organizer for the Water Protector Legal Collective) - joined by Osprey Orielle Lake (Executive Director of the Women's Earth and Climate Action Network).
Michelle Cook speaks out during a meeting in NYC - Photo via Teena Pugliese
In New York City, delegation members met with the MSCI credit rating agency representatives to share testimony and demands for urgently needed changes to their policies and procedures, which currently enable dangerous extraction and rights violations. Ongoing exchanges and advocacy are now underway with MSCI.
Alongside Rainforest Action Network and other allies, the Delegation also took action outside of a central Chase bank in Manhattan to demand that Chase completely remove themselves from the tar sands sector.
A core focus of the action was bringing attention to Chase's immoral plans to continue financial credit lines to Line 3 pipeline, which has not received consent from the Indigenous Peoples whose territories and rights are being affected, and which is furthering fossil fuel development despite clear scientific warnings that extraction must stop if the global community is to respect the Paris Climate Agreement and stay below a 1.5 degree rise in global temperature. Watch a live video of the NYC Chase bank action here.
In Washington D.C., the Indigenous Women's Divestment Delegation participated in a meeting with Equator Principles Association representatives, again delivering vital data and stories from their communities.
The Equator Principles Association includes 94 of the largest international banks, who have voluntarily signed-on to due diligence standards that should guide member banks away from supporting projects which endanger the Earth, human and Indigenous rights, and communities.
After human rights violations at Standing Rock, the EP Association promised to review and update the Equator Principles, however in the meantime, EP banks have continued to support dangerous extractive projects including Energy Transfer Partner's Bayou Bridge Pipeline, Enbridge's Line 3, and TransCanada's Keystone XL.
Indigenous Women's Divestment Delegation and allies prepare for action outside Chase bank in New York City - Photo via Erik McGregor
Through the Delegation and the Divest, Invest, Protect program, we are specifically calling for EP banks to implement full respect for Indigenous rights to Free, Prior and Informed Consent; outline a detailed timeline for a managed decline of investments in fossil fuels; and vigorous investments in regenerative, renewable energy.
A public action was also organized outside of the EP banks annual member meeting, during which Indigenous women delegates and allied organizational leaders sent a message to those inside, and engaged the public and the media about the need for full divestment from fossil fuels and respect for Indigenous rights. Watch the live video from the Equator Principles bank action here.
The Indigenous Women's Divestment Delegation on 55 Wall Street, the original New York Stock Exchange, making the historical connections between patriarchy, colonization and capitalism - Photo via Teena Pugliese