We believe community care and mutual aid are justice in action, and a form of decolonizing from harmful systems such as the police and courts. To that end, we are offering a small gift of resources to justice impacted individuals through the COUP Council’s newly established Wotakuye Fund for Healing Justice & Mutual Aid. We define justice impacted individuals broadly, including families of victims of police shootings, MMIW/MMIP, community organizers and their families, victims of violent crime and sexual violence, foster care survivors or children of incarcerated parents. Combining previous efforts for emergency, pandemic and mutual aid efforts for the urban Native community of Rapid City, the Fund may support the following:
-Mental health support for organizers, survivors of police violence, or families of victims of police violence.
-Meals or groceries for ceremonies, funerals, wakes, memorials, medical convalescence or hospice care.
-Resources to support survivors or families of victims who have recently lost their loved ones to police violence, including children of victims of police shootings.
-Resources for community care and rest.
-Resources to provide healers, spiritual leaders or other supporters at ceremonies, meetings or other events.
-Travel and accommodations for individuals to participate in collective healing spaces, ceremonies, conferences, or to participate in strategy/organizing work.
-Other activities presented by applicants that may not fall under the above criteria but are related.