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Jen Deerinwater

@jendeerinwater.bsky.social

1.3K followers 480 following 90 posts

Cherokee Nation citizen, bi, Two-Spirit, multiply-disabled journalist, organizer, & Founding Executive Director of Crushing Colonialism. Learn more about me at JDeerinwater.com

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Jen Deerinwater @jendeerinwater.bsky.social · Jan 15

Hello Bluesky! I'm an Indigenous, queer, disabled journalist & the founding executive director of an international Indigenous storytelling, media, and arts nonprofit: Crushing Colonialism. I love the arts, books, travel, nature, & animals.
www.JDeerinwater.com www.CrushingColonialism.org

Jen Deerinwater

www.JDeerinwater.com

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Crushing Colonialism @crushcolonialism.bsky.social · 12d

Seneca descendant Rachel Arlene Redeye Porter shares her journey to claim Indigeneity amid colonial systems that question belonging, in her article for #TheMagazine.

Read the article here: crushingcolonialism.org/indigenous-e...

A photo of an Indigenous woman holding a sign that reads: "I will not erase myself." The text reads: "The Magazine | Dispatches From Our Relatives | Indigenous Enough: Rematriating Indigenous Identity Today."

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Jen Deerinwater @jendeerinwater.bsky.social · 1d

Columbus brought rape, enslavement, thievery, sex & human trafficking, disease, & genocide to the so-called Americas that still impacts Indigenous people heavily to this day. Example: I’ve been in a years long fight to get Disability accessible stable housing. I need your help. #IPD #LandBack

Donate to Help Disabled Two-Spirit Leader Create Accessible Home, organized by Susan McClannahan

As friends and community members, we’re pulling together fun… Susan McClannahan needs your support for Help Disabled Two-Spirit Leader Create Accessible Home

www.gofundme.com

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Crushing Colonialism @crushcolonialism.bsky.social · 7d

Nigerian-British writer Tunji Offeyi examines how colonial legacies and “Indigeneity” laws continue to shape who gets to belong in Nigeria through the story of the Igarra (Etuno) people, in this feature for #TheMagazine.

Read the entire piece: crushingcolonialism.org/country-of-t...

The text reads: "An Igarra woman in vibrant festival attire. The text reads: “The Magazine | Dispatches From Our Relatives | Country of the Majority”.

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Jen Deerinwater @jendeerinwater.bsky.social · 1d

In the so-called US in 2022 24.9% of Disabled adults aged 18-64 lived in poverty vs 10.1% of the able-bodied. And Disabled adults have a 77% reduced change of home ownership vs the able bodied. Please help me get the stable, Disability accessible home I need with a donation & sharing this post.

Jen Deerinwater @jendeerinwater.bsky.social · 2d

The poverty rate for American Indians is between 25-29%. The national average is 12-15%. Help me get disability accessible, stable housing so I can access the healthcare I need. Please donate if you can, & repost & share w/ 5 people in your network #LandBack #IndigenousPeoplesDay #DisabilityJustice

Donate to Help Disabled Two-Spirit Leader Create Accessible Home, organized by Susan McClannahan

As friends and community members, we’re pulling together fun… Susan McClannahan needs your support for Help Disabled Two-Spirit Leader Create Accessible Home

www.gofundme.com

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Jen Deerinwater @jendeerinwater.bsky.social · 12d

This Sunday, October 5 at 3pm ET, join us for a virtual screening of Severed, a new documentary from Gaza by Donkeysaddle Projects, followed by a live panel discussion that I’ll be on. Palestine is a disability justice issue! Register at tinyurl.com/SevOct5

Image has red background. At top in white reads:
Severed
Below this reads “ because Palestine is a disability justice issue”
Below that reads “ virtual screening and discussion October 5, 3 PM ET”
Below this are the four head shots and names of the panelists.
To the right of this is a photo of the film, protagonist, Mohammed, a young Palestinian sitting on a couch with his crutches next to him. He has one leg and the other is amputated and bandaged.

Below all of the above is the registration link to read tiny url.com/SevOct5

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Crushing Colonialism @crushcolonialism.bsky.social · 18d

About a week until the launch of the "Palestine is a Disability Justice Issue" campaign. On Oct 5, 3 pm ET, join us for a screening of Severed–following Mohamad Saleh, who lost his leg at 12, reflecting thousands disabled by Israel’s #GazaGenocide.

RSVP: tinyurl.com/SevOct5
Host: tinyurl.com/SevOct

The text reads: "Severed | Virtual Screening & Discussion | October 5, 2025" and includes photos of the four panelists and Mohamad Saleh.

The text reads: "Host an October screening of Severed | because Palestine is a disability justice issue," and an image of Mohamad Saleh

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The Associated Press @apnews.com · 14d

BREAKING: Federal judge finds that the Trump administration unconstitutionally targeted noncitizens for deportation over Gaza war protests.

Judge finds Trump administration unconstitutionally targeted noncitizens over Gaza war protests

A federal judge says the Trump administration unconstitutionally targeted noncitizens for deportation over pro-Palestinian protests. U.S.

bit.ly

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Crushing Colonialism @crushcolonialism.bsky.social · 17d

🎥 In collaboration with @nativemax.bsky.social, during the first INYFW, we also spoke with Dante Biss-Grayson (Osage), the creator behind the family-owned brand Sky-Eagle Collection, who reminded us that "fashion can be for a cause, for social justice."

Report and clips by: Fabiana Gibim

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Crushing Colonialism @crushcolonialism.bsky.social · 21d

🎥 Part 1 | At the first Indigenous New York Fashion Week, in collab with @nativemax.bsky.social, we spoke with Jeremy Arviso (Diné, Hopi, Akimel O’odham & Tohono O’odham), Creative Director of Original Landlords. He shares his story & inspiration. Part 2 soon!

Report and clips by: Fabiana Gibim

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Crushing Colonialism @crushcolonialism.bsky.social · 20d

Check out this Q&A with our Founding Executive Director, @jendeerinwater.bsky.social – a bisexual, Two-Spirit, multiply-disabled citizen of the Cherokee Nation–on bringing disabled artists & audiences together at our #DBIWP.

Read the article here: newsuns.net/jen-deerinwa...

Jen Deerinwater | New Suns

On bringing Disability community out to play, party, and perform.

newsuns.net

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Jen Deerinwater @jendeerinwater.bsky.social · 22d

As the severe tendinitis & psoriatic arthritis have become more severe due to a lack of healthcare it’s become increasingly difficult to read books. I use audiobooks now as an access tools to great writing, such as Joshua Whitehead’s novel, Johnny Appleseed. Let’s make all books #DisabilityAccess.

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The Atlantic @theatlantic.com · 22d

“if he can order the Navy to operate as a presidential hit squad on the high seas, any number of grim hypotheticals could become reality sooner than Americans might expect,” @radiofreetom.bsky.social argues:

A Rogue Nation on the High Seas

Trump is treating the military like his personal mercenaries.

bit.ly

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Crushing Colonialism @crushcolonialism.bsky.social · 26d

✨ The first INYFW, produced by Relative Arts, lit up Lenapehoking (NYC) with #Indigenous creativity, identity, and storytelling.

In collaboration with @nativemax.bsky.social, we’ve pulled together this recap–celebrating the designers, the looks, and the energy that made it unforgettable.

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Jen Deerinwater @jendeerinwater.bsky.social · 24d

Get your submissions in! @crushcolonialism.bsky.social is always looking for pitches from Indigenous people with community ties of written pieces from journalism to more creative genres (no fiction) and high quality photography and videos. #IndigenousWriters #Indigenous #IndianCountry

Crushing Colonialism @crushcolonialism.bsky.social · 26d

📣 Less than two weeks to submit! #TheMagazine is still seeking pitches from #Indigenous storytellers for our next edition about Indigenous changemakers in 2025.

📆 Deadline: Sept 30

Read the thread for the details.

🔗 Find the guide for submissions here: crushingcolonialism.org/call-for-sub...

The text reads: "Less than two weeks left! Call for submissions for The Magazine | Changemakers | Submit by: September 30, 2025"

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Jen Deerinwater @jendeerinwater.bsky.social · 26d

I’m so excited to be included in the latest exition of New Suns by @unitedstatesartists.org. #DisabilityJustice is absolutely necessary for arts & event programming. @crushingcolonialism is committed to creating space for all our #Indigenous relatives & accomplices. #DBIWP25 #WorldPride

Jen Deerinwater | New Suns

On bringing Disability community out to play, party, and perform.

newsuns.net

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jon ben-menachem @jbenmenachem.com · Sep 11

Wild how political alliance with Zionism sweeps all sorts of wild statements about Jews under the table

Kirk said that Jewish people control “not just the colleges; it’s the nonprofits, it’s the movies, it’s Hollywood, it’s all of it.” Kirk also said ”the number one funding mechanism of radical, open border, neoliberal, quasi-Marxist policies, cultural institutions, and nonprofits" is “Jewish donors.” Claims that wealthy Jewish people and donors control major institutions and Hollywood are common antisemitic tropes. [Salem Media Group, The Charlie Kirk Show, 10/26/23; The Washington Post, 10/17/22; The Times of Israel, 11/17/22]

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Jen Deerinwater @jendeerinwater.bsky.social · Sep 10

Severed is a must watch. Show your support by signing up to host a private or public screening & sharing with your communities. Severed is a powerful new short doc that follows Mohamad Saleh, a teenager from #Gaza who lost his leg at 12 & survived five Israeli military assaults tinyurl.com/SevOct

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APTN News @aptnnews.bsky.social · Sep 5

The Assembly of First Nations annual general assembly wraps up today in Winnipeg.

Among the talking points was an emergency press conference held by a First Nation in Manitoba, and a discussion on the repatriation of historical artifacts.

The final day of the AFN general assembly kicks off in Winnipeg | APTN News

YouTube video by APTN News

youtu.be

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Jen Deerinwater @jendeerinwater.bsky.social · Aug 19

Stop saying govt actions are “illegal.” The U.S. has NEVER honored its laws. Democrats & Republicans violate civil rights, commit genocide, & various forms of oppression every damn day. & this isn’t a democracy! A democracy is how the Haudenosaunee Confedaracy operates, not this bastardized US ish.

Rep. Greg Stanton @repgregstanton.bsky.social · Aug 19

This is illegal.

Trump cannot refuse to spend federal funds that Congress has appropriated. It's basic constitutional law…and common sense.

Trump is trying to dismantle the very foundation of our government and democracy.

We won’t let it happen.

Trump budget officials claim sweeping spending power from Congress, records show

Russell Vought, the White House budget director and architect of Project 2025, would have vast authority to approve or block billions in federal spending, the records show.

www.washingtonpost.com

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The Sick Times @thesicktimes.org · Aug 19

The U.S.’s summer COVID-19 surge continues, with cases increasing across all regions through early August, driven by travel and gatherings as well as the variant XFG.

This week's full COVID-19 trends by @betsyladyzhets.bsky.social: bit.ly/4mWEUk9

ID: 1) An orange background and a meter indicating moderate wastewater levels of SARS-CoV-2. The text reads:

The U.S.’s summer COVID-19 surge continues, with cases increasing across all regions through early August, driven by travel and gatherings as well as the variant XFG. Despite the obvious increases in COVID-19 spread, the CDC’s wastewater dashboard — which recently updated its methodology — downplays current viral activity levels as “low.”

Wastewater data from the CDC, WastewaterSCAN, and Biobot Analytics all show continued increases in SARS-CoV-2 levels at wastewater testing sites nationwide. Recent levels are much lower than the peaks of summer surges in 2023 and 2024, but this year’s summer wave started later than in prior years and now coincides directly with children starting their school years.

2) Screenshot from the CDC NWSS dashboard. Text reads: "On August 15, 2025, CDC updated the methodology used to calculate the wastewater viral activity level. For more information, visit CDC’s Wastewater Surveillance Data Methodology page.

About the Wastewater Viral Activity Level: The wastewater viral activity level indicates whether the amount of virus in the wastewater is very low, low, moderate, high, or very high. The wastewater viral activity levels may indicate the risk of infection in an area. The wastewater viral activity levels are categorized as follows:

Up to 2 – Very Low
Greater than 2 and up to 3.4 – Low
Greater than 3.4 and up to 5.3 – Moderate
Greater than 5.3 and up to 7.8 – High
Greater than 7.8 – Very High
To learn more on how the wastewater viral activity level is calculated, visit CDC’s Wastewater Surveillance Data Methodology page."

Screenshot from an archived version of the CDC NWSS dashboard, via the Wayback Machine. Text reads: "About the Wastewater Viral Activity Level: The wastewater viral activity level indicates whether the amount of virus in the wastewater is very low, low, moderate, high, or very high. The wastewater viral activity levels may indicate the risk of infection in an area. The wastewater viral activity levels are categorized as follows:

Up to 1.5 – Very Low
Greater than 1.5 and up to 3 – Low
Greater than 3 and up to 4.5 – Moderate
Greater than 4.5 and up to 8 – High
Greater than 8 – Very High
To learn more on how the wastewater viral activity level is calculated, see Data Methods.”

D: 1) An orange background and a meter indicating moderate wastewater levels of SARS-CoV-2. The text reads: The CDC reported a 55% increase in its national wastewater viral activity level between August 2 and August 9, yet surprisingly classifies SARS-CoV-2 activity as “low.” That’s because the agency revised its wastewater categories on Friday — and continued a long-running pattern in which the agency minimizes COVID-19’s continued risk in its data presentation.

Adding confusion, the top of the dashboard claims the current national activity level is “low” even though the latest data point in the CDC’s chart, 3.7, meets the threshold for “moderate.

) A line chart from the CDC, titled "National and Regional Trends: This chart shows national and regional trends of wastewater viral activity levels of SARS-COV-2 (the virus that causes COVID-19)." The chart includes five lines representing geographic areas: black for national trends, yellow for the Midwest, purple for the South, light blue for the Northeast, and darker blue-green for the West. The Y axis represents wastewater viral activity level and the X axis represents time, spanning August 2024 to August 2025. The chart shows a surge in summer 2024, one in winter 2024-2025, and recent increases in cases. Despite significant increases in all regions, current levels are labeled as "low" and "moderate."

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Crushing Colonialism @crushcolonialism.bsky.social · Aug 9

🌎✨ Today is the International Day of the World’s Indigenous Peoples: Awareness is a start—action changes lives.

How? Donate, amplify our voices, commit long-term, shop Indigenous.

🔗 crushingcolonialism.org/donate/

#IndigenousPeoplesDay #IndigenousResistance

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Crushing Colonialism @crushcolonialism.bsky.social · Aug 7

Franco-Palestinian MEP Rima Hassan exposed the EU’s double standard: 17 sanctions against Russia, none against Israel.

Now Slovenia has become the first EU country to ban arms trade with Israel.

Will the rest of Europe follow?

👉 Support Indigenous reporting: crushingcolonialism.org/donate/

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Crushing Colonialism @crushcolonialism.bsky.social · Aug 1

For #TheMagazine, Cree filmmaker & writer @tjcuthand.bsky.social reflects on gender, art, and survival–from queer teen isolation in 1990s Saskatchewan to life as a trailblazing trans man using cinema as resistance.

#Pride

Read the full piece: crushingcolonialism.org/the-queer-pe...

A photo of Theo and text that reads: “The Magazine | Dispatches from our Relatives | The Queer Pendulum”

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🎃 public HELLth guy 🎃 @publichealthguy1.bsky.social · Aug 6

and remember, the US hoarded vaccines during the pandemic. most of the globe never got access to them because of us.

the back of the line is probably our future next time, especially since we are no longer at the table with WHO, etc.

Helen Branswell 🇨🇦 @helenbranswell.bsky.social · Aug 5

Pandemic preparedness in the US has been leveled a crippling blow with the cancellation of multiple #BARDA contracts to help develop mRNA vaccines. No other vaccine platform produces vaccine so quickly; without mRNA, Americans will have a long wait for pandemic vax. www.statnews.com/2025/08/05/m...

Health secretary RFK Jr. shuts door on U.S. investment in mRNA vaccine research

Vaccine experts and people steeped in pandemic preparedness expressed horror at the news that RFK Jr. has shut the door in U.S. investment in mRNA vaccine research.

www.statnews.com

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