CRAFT - Citizens Resistance at Fermi 2

05/14/2026

New Blog Drop, covering some recent important adventures and work….




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The state of things and nuclear issues right now is a mess and almost seems hopeless at times. On one hand you have leftover nuclear issues dating back almost 100 years at this point in time and on the other hand you have a push for new reactors/nuclear bombs and new uranium mining. This second hand

05/06/2026

Recently Jesse Deer In Water was invited on behalf of CRAFT to attend the Southwest Uranium Gathering. Which brought trusted frontline groups and individuals from the Southwest and other strategic/impacted areas that work on uranium and nuclear issues with an Indigenous lense.

As we know, this administration, the Dept. of Energy (DOE), and the nuclear industry are diving head first into new uranium mining and fuel fabrication. This shows up as new mines in the Southwest and fuel fabrication in other locations across the country for new bombs and fuels for small modular nuclear reactors.

All of the people present currently work on and are impacted by old nuclear issues, like the ones we usually share about. We listened to one another about challenges and wins as well as concerns about what's to come and what we can do to stand stronger together. We worked out a statement of solidarity to help guide and navigate through the times ahead together.

This work is sacred, a high calling, and important. Shout out to the Multicultural Alliance for Safe Energy (MASE) and Indigenous Environmental Network for facilitating and bringing us together. Also much love to those who do the work day in and day out and those who suffered the consequences of uranium mining and the nuclear fuel chain. This is for you.

Many Wados and Big Miigwech

04/24/2026

I few words on why we feel its important to come to The United Nations Permanent Forum on Indigenous Issues. For those of you that dont know, our media wing CRAFT Times was invited to be a part of a delegation to bring up uranium and nuclear issues as continued Health and Human Rights Violations. As most of you know, the nuclear fuel chain here in the United States, spreads across the country and impacts many indigenous and poor working class communities. So the idea that these issues impact us is not very abstract. As a matter of fact, indigenous people across the globe understand this as well since nuclear power is produced in many countries and uranium is mind in many more. This leaves many indigenous and poor communities with contaminated in radioactive lands. We would like to give a big wado to and for inviting and working with us to get here and attend…..Wado and Migwetch

04/22/2026

https://www.youtube.com/live/8-XurvOg-U4?si=b70M3ISFvHIRodIm

Interview with Elder Petuuche Gilbert (Acama) on the impacts of uranium mining and nuclear energy

04/21/2026

https://www.youtube.com/live/8-XurvOg-U4?si=RBDsEe-czqTljp74

04/20/2026

Heads up to folks, CRAFT Times is helping with this and we will touch on the connections bw new nikes and data centers.

Crushing Colonialism is leading a moderated conversation on all things nuclear energy at the UN Permanent Forum on Indigenous Issues in Cultural Survival's Indigenous Media Zone on Monday, April 20th from 3-4pm EST. We'll also have reporting coming out via our social media during the two weeks of talks and in the June issue of The Magazine.

The live stream for our talk on the 20th will be available at YouTube Live on www.youtube.com/, Facebook Live on facebook.com/culturalsurvival.

Please share with your networks. This is the first time CRAFT Times and Crushing Colonialism has ground passes for a UN event and we're really excited. And if you're in NYC then please reach out. If I have time and energy I'd love to meet up with people!

Cultural Survival advocates for Indigenous Peoples' rights & supports Indigenous communities’ self-determination, cultures & political resilience since 1972.

03/20/2026

Saturday March 14th, folks gathered at the North American Indian Association of Detroit to remember 15 yrs since the meltdown at the Fukushima Reactor in Japan, and 40 yrs since the Fermi Two reactor went online here in SE Michigan and put us under the same threat.

As an Indigenous Led org that honors the earth and respects the place we are based in, we are thankful to our people who showed up to learn what we been up to and what we about to be up to. Many Wados and Big Miigwetch to the judges and contestants and our guest speaker Yebishawn.

Wado to the judges, Sue Franklin, Kirby Shoote, Wanda Hess, Lorna Aikens, and Lorena Jaquier.

Wado to our contestants and winners:

1st-Tony Smigel
2nd-Jaike Spotted Wolf
3rd-Anawake Deer In Water
4th-Konstance Patton (Keenegokeshick)
5th-Andrea Pierce

Wado to one of our photographers on site, who’s photos are among those featured here:

We give thanks for another year and look forward to the next…

12/09/2025

Last month, members Eric Gaines and Rachel Marquez of the CRAFT Fellowship team, along with Jesse Deer In Water attended the Michigan Clinicians for Climate Action (MiCCA) Climate & Health Conference to join clinicians, public health professionals, and EJ leaders from across Michigan.

Our team participated in the Student Poster Exhibition to share ongoing work around the cumulative health and environmental impacts of the Fermi 2 nuclear reactor. We loved connecting with clinicians, public health leaders, and community advocates in a space meant to build momentum for climate and environmental justice

Being in community with so many advocates and health professionals offered a powerful reminder of why we do this work and how deeply interconnected our struggles and solutions are. We were grateful for the opportunity to share our poster on the cumulative health impacts of nuclear energy and to learn from others fighting for a healthier, more just future. Through collective learning, a shared purpose, and community connection, we are able to build a more resilient and equitable environment in Michigan.
Pictured are a few moments from the poster exhibition where our members were able to convey their ideas to other EJ trailblazers and organizations that continue to inspire our work here in Michigan.

[Image Description:

1. Title saying, “Jesse Deer In Water and CRAFT 2025 Fellows at the MiCCA Climate & Health Conference – a photo recap! –” beneath a selfie of the CRAFT members attending

2. Same photo as the first slide with descriptive caption saying, “Jesse Deer In Water with Eric Gaines and Rachel Marquez, two of the CRAFT 2025 Fellows

3. Wideshot photo of Eric and Rachel in front of their informative poster with the caption, “The Fellows ready to present on their poster: ‘From Shoreline to Classroom: Community Education on the Health Risks of the Fermi 2 Nuclear Reactor’

4-6. Various angles of Eric, or Eric and Rachel presenting to passerby]

12/06/2025

Last month Jesse Deer In Water traveled to Minneapolis to represent CRAFT and join other EJ leaders from across the Midwest and the Midwest Environmental Justice Network in this gathering. It was more than a conference. It was a space to build momentum for Environmental Justice across our region through deep connection, collective learning and shared joy.

Environmental justice and radical change happen when we have space to build deep relationships across frontline communities. This was a time to reground in the transformative work happening across the Midwest and to engage deeply with the strategies, struggles, and stories of other Midwest Frontline Fund grantees from across the region.

Pictured are some of the moments from the journey and some of our fellow EJ Folks from here in Michigan

Wado and Migwetch