Sovereign Sounds Fundraiser

The Sovereign Sounds project is passionate about amplifying Indigenous voices.  They  teach audio production and provide recording equipment to Indigenous  communities, enabling them to record their own songs, tell their own  stories, and to archive and learn their own languages. This contributes to keeping native oral traditions strong and empowers a new generation of Indigenous voices and media producers.  

With $15,000 raised so far - help us reach our goal of $20,000 #GivingTuesday and beyond.

HOW IT STARTED

Sovereign Sounds sprang from the MASH (Media Artists Serving Humanity) tent : a solar-powered studio on the banks of the Cannonball River in North Dakota during Standing Rock.  There a creative team, including Sovereign Sounds founder,  Alex Simon used DIY equipment to create media and record songs and stories that amplified Indigenous voices and perspectives.

It was the first step in building a diverse library of Indigenous songs and stories. People from the Lakota, Dakota, Ponca, Nez Perce, and Pomo nations heard themselves recorded for the first time.  These recordings are now being used in multimedia projects by groups like Unify and Indigenous Rising Media to spread awareness for Indigenous-led movements.

In order to make compelling media around issues happening on their lands, it became clear that in order to tell these stories from their own hearts and cultural perspectives indigenous communities must be the producers of their own media.  As sovereign nations, they have been telling their own stories for thousands of years. 

Now is the time for the Indigenous song and voice to be heard. As environmental issues take on growing urgency, the responsibility felt by the grassroots movement and message of indigenous voices advocating environmental protection will be more important than ever.

PROGRESS

Since Standing Rock, Sovereign Sounds has traveled extensively to capture the movement's message and cultural essence. Their ability to make these connections is due in large part to your generous contributions made at the outset. Here are a few things Sovereign Sounds has accomplished so far:

● In conjunction with Indigenous Rising Media, they have done work in Louisiana, Texas, Arizona, Utah, and New Mexico to help lay the groundwork and secure their role in the Indigenous-led environmental movement and political resistance.
● Led a workshop in Tohono O'odham Nation in Southern Arizona, where they were able to leave a full suite of audio gear for students to use in the community indefinitely.
● Traveled to the Gulf with Indigenous Rising Media to produce videos and record songs highlighting the Indigenous resistance to Big Oil.
● Recorded traditional songs in Bears Ears National Monument for a film based on protecting that area from the threat of extraction.
● Recorded all over the Southwest, from Santa Ana Pueblo to Navajo Nation.
● Helped cover pipeline stories from the Gulf at New Orleans to Big Bend, Texas.

● Workshops at traditional-based learning programs in the Southwest, and most recently the Native American Community Academy in in Albuquerque, New Mexico (video Here).

Alex envisions a cultural songs-and-stories project that will flourish  from within Native America and ultimately inspire many. You can be part  of the story and help make it happen!!

SPREAD THE WORD

Razoo waives their 4% platform fees on #GivingTuesday so more or your  donation can  go to the project.   Be sure to donate and share through your social media  channels this #Giving Tuesday.

Your tax deductible donation goes directly to Sovereign Sounds to help them acquire necessary recording equipment for the training of as many Native American communities as possible.

Compathos is pleased to support Sovereign Sounds Project through our fiscal sponsorship program.   $15,000 has been raised so far and we have $5,000 to go to meet our $20,000 goal. On behalf of Sovereign Sounds, we THANK YOU for your generous support.

Special thanks to Sponsors and Partners: