sweet christmas!

Tarana Burke photographed by Billy & Hells for TIME’s Person of the Year, she’s the founder of the #MeToo Movement who started 10 years ago. She must be recognized for her work and should have been on the cover.

Across the United States, there are 556 federally recognized American Indian and Alaska Native nations. Each one has it’s own unique history and culture. American education has not bothered to tell us that Native people lived in peace and effectively governed themselves before the Europeans came along. American education has not informed us that Native Americans have been slighted ever since, not even being recognized as citizens (despite the fact that they were here first) until the 20th century. 

But we don’t have to push these facts aside. We can stop celebrating a man that began a genocide and a terrible theft of land and culture, and start celebrating Indigenous Peoples for their rich history and their equal contributions to society.

To all Indigenous Peoples out there: we’re glad you’re here!

The best thing you can do is donate to the organizations on the ground and those that will be helping victims in the coming weeks and months.

American Red Cross: Currently on the ground. Donate at redcross.org, call 1-800-RED CROSS or text the word HARVEY to 90999 to make a $10 donation.

Samaritan’s Purse: Currently on the ground. Donate at samaritanspurse.org or sign up to volunteer.

Houston Food Bank: Visit houstonfoodbank.org to donate money, food or your time. Keep an eye on their Twitter to see if they post requests for specific items (i.e. if they would rather get financial donations than food). 

The Coalition for the Homeless: Donate at homelesshouston.org; they are currently coordinating with shelters across the city. 

Portlight: An organization providing disaster relief services to people with disabilities. Learn more and donate at portlight.org. 

SPCA of Texas: Helping to house pets in danger. Donate at spca.org. 

And there are many more. If it’s safe in your area, please also consider donating blood or paying attention to other calls for volunteers. Additionally, if you are nearby and can offer a boat or high water vehicle, call 713-881-3100. 

Per the Coast Guard, if you’re in Houston and you need help, call:

281-464-4851

281-464-4852

281-464-485

281-464-4854

For those who don’t know:

The death toll from a devastating landslide and flooding that hit Sierra Leone earlier this week has risen to nearly 500, according to hospital officials.

More than 600 people remained missing on Sunday, with rescue officials warning that the chances of finding survivors are decreasing each day. The death toll earlier stood at 450.

One of Africa’s worst flooding-related disasters in years occurred when the side of Mount Sugar Loaf collapsed on Monday after heavy rain, burying parts of Regent town on the outskirts of the capital, Freetown.

Churches across the country held special services on Sunday in memory of those killed.

Authorities this week buried 461 bodies in quickly-dug graves in the nearby Waterloo cemetery.

Six days after the mudslide, at least 10,000 people have already been forced from their homes.

The government has called for the evacuation of another 10,000 people living on an unstable hillside in Freetown, where a large crack has opened.

I’m sure this list will be far from complete but here are some ways that you can help the victims of this disaster:

HELP SIERRA LEONE MUDSLIDE SURVIVORS

Help victims of mudslides and floods in Sierra Leone

Concern Worldwide is helping with the relief efforts, you can read about it and find a link to their donation page here.

Heart Shaped Hands is raising money which you can find here, and Kei Kamara, a Sierra Leone footballer and president of the organization, will match all the donations you make.

The Red Cross has been aiding Sierra Leone this past week, you can read about what they’ve done here and there is a donation link at the bottom of the page and here is the Sierra Leone Red Cross Society.

Sierra Leone Mudslide Relief Fund

Freetown Flood Disaster Emergency Appeal