American Indian Prison Project Working Group

Grassroots Fundraiser for the American Indian Prison Project Working Group (AIPPWG)

The mission and service of the AIPPWG are targeted towards the empowerment of American Indian political, social, justice, and spiritual systems for detained and incarcerated youth and adults; pre-incarceration, through reentry.  The vision, commitment and goals are targeted to impact and create systemic policy change and increase services, resources, and cultural-based and restorative practices programs to detained and incarcerated Native American youth and adults. 

AIPPWG has received a Community Organizing Grant from the Peace Development Fund and all of the money raised from this fundraiser will be added to that grant to help support their organizing in 2020.  Please consider making a contribution today to support them and read more about their work below.

"Over the past four years, AIPP has provided pre and post-release services to over 300 Native youth and adult incarcerated and incarceration survivors. We have contributed to policy changes within the juvenile and adult prisons in Minnesota and serve as a lead advocate for youth and adult incarcerated/ incarceration survivors in Minnesota, South Dakota and North Dakota.

There is only one Native organization in the state of MN that provides pre and post release services to Native women and that is the Northwest American Indian Community Development Center. AIPPWG has been in partnership since their inception two years ago. AIPPWG has also partnered with Morning Star Gali (Restoring Justice for Indigenous Peoples) to present on the issues of incarcerated women at a National Conference in MN in June 2020."

AIPPWG COVID-19 Response: 

• At the Minnesota Correctional Juvenile Facility the facility allows AIPP staff to call in every Sunday and speak with each Native youth in order to maintain the connection to community and to a Native adult that is supporting their transition from prison back to their homes and Tribal communities. We are currently working on an effort where they will allow the youth to stand six feet apart inside the prison by the prison fence/bar enclosure and two AIPP staff will pray and sing ceremonial songs on the other side of the gate as the youth are having a difficult time with our staff member not being able to go into the juvenile facility and have Inipi Ceremony and Canupa Ceremony with them
• At the Minnesota Correctional Women’s Facility, we have left Native prayer items outside of the gates that the women can see from their cells
• We have provided Target gift cards for food and personal items for the women who have been released and returned to the community during COVID 19
• We have provided bus tickets out of the cities for women who have been released and returned and feel safer on their tribal homelands during COVID 19

AIPPWG Facebook Page

AIPPWG is a participant in Grassroots Funding Week, a week-long crowdfunding campaign that supports several social justice organizations from across the country. 

Monday: Economic Justice Rising 

Transit Riders Union 

Arriba Las Vegas Workers Center 

Parents Organizing for Welfare and Economic Rights 

#GivingTuesday: Invest in Community Organizing 

As part of #GivingTuesday, a global day of giving in response to COVID-19, all the money raised on Tuesday, May 5th will be distributed evenly to all participating groups. 

Click here to give to all participating groups.

Wednesday: Celebrating Culture, Building Solidarity

API Equality - LA 

Spencer Pride, INC

International Traditional Games Society 

Taller GiRASOL 

Thursday: Taking Back Our Cities

Downwinders at Risk 

Community Movement Builders

Phoenix Local Organizing Committee 

Friday: Beyond Incarceration 

Women Against Mass Incarceration 

American Indian Prison Project Working Group 

Unchained

For more information, visit: www.peacedevelopmentfund.org 

The Peace Development Fund works to build the capacity of community-based organizations through grants, training and other resources as partners in human rights and social justice movements.