Decolonizing Death
Among the many commitments that have delayed me in posting another newsletter was an obligation to travel to Texas in the middle of January and pay my respects to my grandmother who was dying.
Welcome to Decolonize OR
Decolonize OR is a platform dedicated to serving the needs of our community, and dismantling the colonial narrative of Turtle Island.
Our vision is an independent Oregon built on a foundation of Indigenous Wisdom, consent, and cooperation. Join us in our mission to educate and organize for a more just and inclusive future across Oregon and beyond.
Decolonizing the Holidays
This year, as the capitalist empire is demolishing the economy while revealing its fascist leanings, it’s hard to know how to balance finding joy while also not lining the pockets of our oppressors. Our communities are calling for a Blackout of all spending during all of Black Friday Weekend, including Cyber Monday. Target, Home Depot, Amazon, and Walmart are everywhere; and all of them are feeding the fires of violence against our BIPOC, LGBTQ+, and immigrant relatives. They do not deserve our money - but without them, where do we get gifts to bring joy into the darkest months of the year? Here are some ideas.
So What IS American Exceptionalism?
There are a few different definitions but they generally describe the same philosophy: “a political theory that posits the United States as a unique nation, distinguished by its commitment to democracy, liberty, and self-governance.” And further, that uniqueness makes it a “model for the world.” (Ruth, Michael 2025, Ebsco.com) there are three essential parts of this concept that need to be dismantled.
Who Wrote the Constitution?
Hiawatha Belt, representing the original 5 Nations of the Confederacy. Source: OnondagaNation.org
What is DecolonizeOR?
This project grew organically out of conversations with community members who have come to a common conclusion: the United States of America is not working for common people’s interests, and it never has been.
About us
DecolonizeOR is a network of liberation-minded people with shared goals of:
- Re-educating the community about the normalized propaganda of American Exceptionalism and related nationalist ideologies
- Sharing information to protect community members’ rights and safety while organizing
- Sparking conversation, organizing, and community support
We welcome people of all backgrounds, identities, faiths or non-faiths, ages and abilities who want to work toward a Decolonized future. This is the beginning of a conversation and a movement toward an independent nation.