Nimiipuu Protecting the Environment

In FY 2023 the Nimiipuu Protecting the Environment Organization continued our regular get togethers with the Lapwai Elementary School After School program and continued our program with the youth at our site where we now have a haybarn, water and electric with lights for the er months. In 2023 I continued to do a number of online presentations on Rights of Rivers and Nature, Rights of Mother Earth, the issue of Dam Breaching on the Lower Snake River, and other topics that we continue to be involved with. During the summer of 2023 we held two events and activities at the Hells Gate State Park for the purpose of continuing to push for the dam breaching on Lower Snake River. With our weekly youth activities with the Lapwai Elementary School After School program that included 30 to 40 3rd, 4th, and 5th graders we met and worked on traditional arts and crafts, beadwork, feather work and other Nimiipuu traditional activities. We continued our advocacy with other Tribes and Tribal Groups and were fairly successful on working with staff from the Affiliated Tribes of Northwest Indians on getting resolutions introduced. We had monthly zoom meetings with groups throughout the Northwest, Oregon, Washington, and Idaho to ensure we kept our message out in the public through these meetings and social media. These included Sierra Club, Save Our Wild Salmon, WWF, and others who were working on the same issues, co-opting different groups into our campaigns has proved immensely successful. few continued to meet with the Nez Perce Tribal Circle of Elders at their monthly meetings to ensure we have their input on our activities. We have gained good support within our community by tabling at a number of tribal and community events.The main goals we have now are to Breach the Lower Snake River Dams, push for protections for Wolves and Grizzly bears in the Pacific Northwest and to continue advocating or the protections of the land, water, forests and species in our Treaty of 1855 and usual and accustomed areas. We will continue our youth and adult work in the upcoming year.