revision: feather project
jillian rose
Happy New Year! Thursday I made my 8th Feather Project donation to First People's Worldwide and Cultural Survival. All donations through December 31st were matched dollar for dollar by Cultural Survival’s Board of Directors as part of their year-end fundraising. In the past year and a half, since I began my “Feather Project”, I have been able to donate $231.01 to these two non- government organizations.
Every little bit helps :)
I've also done some thinking and have decided to make some changes to my project. Beginning Jan 1, a percentage of all sales through my Etsy site will be donated to organizations providing support for Indigenous Peoples around the world through funding and advocacy.
ALL sales, not just feathers.
Because it's not about the feathers, it was never about the feathers. It's about the people, cultures, languages, and the land. I believe that part of environmental protection is protecting the indigenous cultures that live in harmony with this earth. I believe in equal rights no matter your skin color, the way you dress, or the language you speak. I believe that we all have the right to decide what happens to our lands, our waters & this sky we live under. Ultimately, our view of other cultures truly does have an effect on how people are treated, which can have profound global and political effects.
At some point this year I started to feel a little uncomfortable about my Feather Project. I felt pressured to continue making feathers even when I wasn't inspired to make them, because having no feathers in the shop meant no possibility of giving to these organizations. Limiting my donations to only feather sales felt too confining. "Feather" Project felt synonymous with "Indigenous" Project, only adding to the stereotype of the stoic Indian with a feather headdress.
Cultural Survival holds consultative status with the United Nations and is a nonprofit, human rights organization partnering with Indigenous Peoples to defend their lands, languages, and cultures through advocacy. They are based in Cambridge, MA.
First Peoples Worldwide is an Indigenous-led organization providing funding directly to Indigenous communities all over the world through grants for local development projects. They are based in Fredericksburg, VA.
Please visit www.culturalsurvival.org & www.firstpeoples.org for more information.
Here’s to a new year and new perspectives!
xo jillian
