Spring 2018
Representatives of the Spring 2018 Indigenous Women's Divestment Delegation to Europe, in Germany outside of Deutsche Bank - Photo via WECAN International
A third Indigenous Women's Delegation returned to Germany and Switzerland in Spring 2018.
During high-level meetings with officials from UBS, Deutsche Bank, Credit Suisse and the Swiss government; a public education event in Zurich; and direct actions outside bank headquarters and a shareholder meeting - Indigenous women leaders and allies advocated against unwanted extractive development in Indigenous territories, and raised a call for adherence to the standards of Indigenous rights and human rights law, and meaningful action to divest funds from fossil fuel companies.
At the Credit Suisse annual shareholder meeting in Zurich, Switzerland, the Divestment Delegation presented powerful statements - speaking with fierce truth and dignity to expose exactly how the bank's money has contributed both historically and currently to violations of Indigenous rights, human rights, and the health of the global climate and water.
The Spring 2018 Delegation was comprised of both frontline community leaders, and tribal officials who serve or have served in official capacities for their Tribal Nations - Charlene Aleck (Elected councillor for Tsleil Waututh Nation, Sacred Trust Initiative, Canada); Dr. Sara Jumping Eagle (Oglala Lakota and Mdewakantonwan Dakota pediatrician, living and working on the Standing Rock Reservation, North Dakota); Wasté Win Yellowlodge Young (Ihunktowanna/ Hunkpapa of the Standing Rock Sioux Tribe, Former Tribal Historic Preservation Officer); Monique Verdin (Member of South Louisiana's United Houma Nation Tribal Council and the Another Gulf Is Possible Collaborative); and Michelle Cook (Diné/Navajo, human rights lawyer) - along with Osprey Orielle Lake (WECAN International Executive Director).
Two of the banks that the Delegation met with over this and previous delegations - UBS and DNB - both chose to not renew their credit facilities with Energy Transfer Partners (the company behind the Dakota Access, Bayou Bridge, and other pipelines) at the end of last year, removing hundreds of millions of dollars from the table. Recently, HSBC announced it will no longer provide financing for new tar sands projects, and BNP Paribas made a similar announcement last year.
Explore coverage of this delegation via The Ecologist article - Indigenous Women’s Divestment Delegation Calls On Banks To Withdraw Funding From Fossil Fuels
Read the feature article by Michelle Cook and Osprey Orielle Lake via EcoWatch - Standing Against the Banks: DAPL Divestment and Water Protectors' Fight for Justice, Indigenous Rights, Water and Life
Divestment Delegates and Swiss allies during a direct action outside of Credit Suisse and UBS banks in Zurich - Photo via Alexander Boethius/WECAN International