A Message from Honor the Earth’s New Executive Director, Krystal Two Bulls

Now is a time for listening, accountability and the building our path forward.

I came to Honor The Earth in December, 2022 as the organization began its 30th year, in preparation for a leadership transition to the next chapter of its work.

Earlier this month, Honor the Earth founder Winona LaDuke announced her departure from the organization after 30 years of leadership dedicated to uplifting Indigenous voices and protecting the land and water. 

While I am deeply excited about the next phase of Honor's work, I need to share with you the difficult context of her departure, which was an act of accountability after a substantial court ruling against the organization in an employment lawsuit, stemming from a sexual harassment claim dating back to 2015. 

As the new Executive Director, I am navigating my team through this tough moment by grounding ourselves in our commitment to each other, our People, Mother Earth–and to ending cycles of oppression that impact our communities. I am committed to making sure that I, our teams, and this organization embody, in our relationships with each other, the values of accountability and justice that we fight for on the frontlines of the struggle for climate justice. 

I have spent the last two weeks in deep conversation with Indigenous leaders, particularly women, across the so-called United States, and with Honor staff, Board members and supporters. I am listening and focused on repairing and rebuilding relationships to ensure Honor is even more impactful than we have been the last three decades. We are not shying away from the lessons we need to learn, but are instead using them as the foundation of new efforts to create lasting change within our organization and better empower members of the communities where we work. 

As a beginning, Honor the Earth is implementing a stronger internal infrastructure to enforce our zero-tolerance sexual harassment policy: The Honor the Earth Board of Directors has updated and strengthened these policies and will require all staff, contractors and leaders to commit to these standards in writing. Staff and Board Members will participate in a sexual harassment prevention course led by Indigenous advocates. And Honor has contracted with an outside legal expert to evaluate any future claims of harm or abuse raised in the workplace. 

As I wrote the day I accepted this position, I want nothing more than to make Honor’s practices a postitive example for other organizations about the deep work our communities, organizations, collectives, and movement spaces still have to do around sexual harassment.

I came to Honor because I deeply believe in the power of Indigenous people, our communities and our spirituality. I believe in the urgency of dismantling the fossil fuel industry and creating and investing in the alternatives that allow us to address the climate crisis in a way that creates a good life for everyone. 

Honor will continue lifting up the voices that protect Indigenous sovereignty. We know that investing in our communities, creating the change we need for survival, is crucial in this historic moment. 

As a Native-led, multi-racial organization, Honor will be at its best when we show up for the many struggles that intersect with environmental justice and work across movements to build a world that is just, equitable and inhabitable. 

As I welcome the chance to guide this organization into the next 30 years, I’m here to listen: Please share your thoughts with me here. I am excited to hear from supporters about what you hope to see as Honor heads into the next 30 years of supporting Indigenous leadership for environmental and climate justice. 

Néa’eše,

Krystal Two Bulls

Oglala Lakota/Northern Cheyenne

Executive Director, Honor the Earth