Building the Fire Fund

The Building the Fire Fund is the first fund dedicated to Indigenous reproductive justice and a critical piece of infrastructure in the Indigenous Reproductive Justice Movement.

Vision: To center Indigenous women's health and self-determination in philanthropic investment and the broader Reproductive Justice Movement. The fund seeks to develop leaders, invest in the movement and connect those in the ecosystem of Indigenous reproductive justice.

Focus Areas

• Indigenous reproductive justice
• Indigenous women, girls and two-spirit people health and self-determination
• Indigenous sovereignty and body sovereignty
• Safe and sustainable communities for birthing people
• Access to abortion
• Raising children in safe and sustainable spaces
• Access to healthy land and water
• Cultural and religious practice
• Language preservation
• Community self-governance

Geographic Scope

• Turtle Island (North America)
• Indigenous communities across the continent

Current Status

The fund is currently closed to new applications. The organization states: "We are currently fulfilling multi-year commitments to our existing movement partners and are not accepting new applications. When the application process opens up, we will announce it at least three months before the deadline."

Movement Partners (as of November 2024)

• Women's Health Specialists
• Indigenous Women Rising
• Navajo Birthworker Collective
• Tewa Women United
• Native American Women's Health Education Resource Center
• Navajo Breastfeeding Coalition
• Native American Community Board

Leadership

Indigenous Advisory Council: Comprises Indigenous women and two-spirit people from across Turtle Island representing many nations and organizations with decades of experience across the spectrum of reproductive justice, including Amanda Singer, Dr. Corrine Sanchez, Nona Main, Malia Luarkie, Stephanie Lozano, Rachael Lorenzo, Morgan Hawes, Carly Hare, Morning Star Gali, Dr. Christina M. Castro, Katrina Cantrell, Eileen Briggs, Danielle Brewster, and Dr. Peggy Bird.

Staff: Vic Hogg (Building the Fire Fund Strategist) - queer, nonbinary leader and citizen of the Nottawaseppi Huron Band of Potawatomi with over a decade of experience in grassroots organizing, Indigenous-led conservation, and strategic grantmaking.

Background

The fund was created with the wisdom, contribution and vision of Coya White Hat-Artichoker (fund's first Strategist) and council member Charon Virginia Asetoyer. The movement has roots in Traditional Knowledge and cultural practices of Indigenous communities and stands on the shoulders of Indigenous organizers fighting against settler colonialism, land theft, genocide, racial capitalism, and cultural hegemony.

Historical Context

Indigenous birthing people have fought for reproductive justice for over 500 years. The movement is built on the legacy of grandmothers who kept healing remedies and birthing practices alive, leaders who fought on Alcatraz Island, founders of the Chico Feminist Women's Health Center, the White Buffalo Calf Women's Society, Women of All Red Nations, participants in the American Indian Movement's Longest Walk, and modern organizations like Tewa Women United, Mother's Milk monitoring project and First Nations Two Spirit Collective.