Solstice Livestream by Return to the Heart Foundation
On Summer Solstice, Sunday June 21st from 5:00pm – 8:00pm PST/8:00pm-11:00 p.m. EST, the Return to the Heart Foundation is hosting a national live streamed fundraiser for their Native Covid-19 Action Fund.
The livestream will stream to all major platforms filled with music, interviews, ceremonial wisdom, poetry, and dance. Solstice is a time that Indigenous people acknowledge seasons changing to ceremonial time in Summer. It is a time of healing, reflection, renewal, abundance and gratitude to the Creator for Mother Earth, as well as the entirety of humanity. The educational and musical event will be hosted by native comedian Tonia Jo Hall and co-founder of Return to the Heart Foundation, Sarah Eagle Heart. The musical lineup includes headliners: Taboo, Portugal The Man, Orville Peck, Rodrigo Amarante, Brooke Simpson and Mumu Fresh… and special guests from Anne Hathaway and Marisa Tomei lending their platforms to support amplification of healthand safety issues facing Indian Country.
“Indigenous wisdom is critical to saving Mother Earth, but can also help to rebalance especially as our nation painfully and critically grapples with 400 years of racism and inequity. Native communities are reeling from the ravages of COVID-19, a direct result of centuries of violent racism,” said Sarah Eagle Heart, Co-Founder and CEO of Return to the Heart Foundation.
One of the largest tribes in the U.S., the Navajo Nation has more COVID-19 deaths than 13 states combined. There are many tribes, regional healthcare networks and regional healthcare centers that have not received the support that states have. A federal court ruling this week ordered the Treasury Department to disperse COVID-19 relief funds to Native American tribes that should have gotten it months ago causing irreparable harm with the delays, according to the Huffington Post.
“We are fighting to save Indigenous ancestral knowledge and protect tribal communities by raising funds to provide personal protective equipment to six regional tribal communities, covering over 50 tribes in the United States, and educating about how COVID19 exacerbated the already devastating inequities that have plagued tribal communities for decades,” said Red Dawn Foster, South Dakota State Senator – District 27, COO and co-founder of Return to the Heart Foundation.
Return to the Heart Foundation has stepped in to support the gap by facilitating in-kind donations and grants to the six regions nationally. Return to the Heart Foundation, is an Indigenous women-led foundation supporting Indigenous women-led initiatives focused on civic engagement, climate justice, narrative change, and restorative and regenerative development. Their Native COVID Action Fund focuses on identifying and supporting the urgent safety needs of Indian Country, connecting traditional healers, and supporting regenerative strategies. The organization has raised over $1 million dollars of their $4 million goal.
RSVP via http://bit.ly/nativecovidaction to be a part of the Return to the Heart Solstice Live Stream. The full lineup includes: Portugal The Man, Taboo, Brooke Simpson, Anne Hathaway, Mumu Fresh, Rodrigo Amarante, Jessa Calderon, Dawn Riding, The Funs, Clara Kent, Valarie Kaur, Kinsale Hueston, Quese IMC, Mac DeMarco, Liv the Artist, Candi Brings Plenty, Thanks Jem, Lyla June, YoNasDa LoneWolf, Scotti Clifford & Spirits Cry, Than Povi Martinez, Nataanii Means, Dr. Rosales Meza, Arizona Muse, Orville Peck, Pelada, Carmen Perez, Mishel Prada, Miss Chief Rocka, Mónica Ramírez, Sivan Alyra Rose, Sihasin, Spencer Battiest and Doc Native, Terisa Siagatonu, Ty Segall, Supaman, Marisa Tomei, Lina Tullgren, Jaylene Tyme, Dustin Wong, Wyatt Shears of the Garden, and more!