Our Causes
A Reparations Campaign: Finding Your Tribal Roots
Our DNA contains information that defines important characteristics such as eye color, hair type, physical attributes, and chemical makeup. As human beings, we value respect, identity, and heritage. Everybody wants to know where they come from and who their ancestors are.
But sadly, for African Americans, tracing our heritage is a challenging and complex task. The transatlantic slave trade from the 16th to 19th centuries is the most significant movement and displacement of people ever recorded. The astonishing numbers meant that the enslaved people and their offspring were their master's property. And just like any property, they were bought and sold at markets across Europe and in the Americas.
With the goal of reparations, And Still We Rise hopes to purchase 100 ancestry kits; support the individual and their family in their journey of healing through processing groups conducted by one of our highly skilled BIPOC psychotherapists; and allow these folx to share their stories and journeys of liberation.
Share your story…
Share your story of what you do know of your ancestors, as well as what you are hoping to learn by taking an ancestry test for an opportunity to become a recipient of a free ancestry testing kit. Your story can be submitted in written form or as a video (for video submissions, please provide a link when submitting).
Deadline for submissions is TBD
The second round of recipients will be announced TBD.
Read Stories from Past Recipients
Interested in becoming a recipient?
Pay Rent to the Duwamish Tribe
Support Duwamish Tribal Services through Monthly Giving
Paying monthly rent acts to uplift the Duwamish Tribe as First Peoples of Seattle in the face of the U.S. government refusing to honor the Point Elliott Treaty of 1855. Descendants of European settler families continue to benefit greatly from the resources of the land incorporating the city we know as Seattle. Those of us who are not from the tribes of these lands might benefit in different ways from being here, whether we live, work, or visit this beautiful place. As guests to this land, we can create a story of equity and action instead of being complicit in dishonoring the treaties.
For more information about the Duwamish Tribe, visit http://www.duwamishtribe.org
Donate to Massachusett Tribe at Ponkapoag
The Massachusett Tribe at Ponkapoag are the descendants of the Neponset band of the Massachusett. At the time of the English invasion of their territory early in the 17th century they were led by the Great Sac’hem, Chickataubut. Theirs is the indigenous nation from which the present day Commonwealth of Massachusetts took its name. They continue as the Massachusett Tribe at Ponkapoag.
For more information about the Massachusett Tribe, visit https://massachusetttribe.org