Kandi Mossett hopes to be out of job: when there no more energy projects.
Kandi Mossett
Mossett, who is of Mandan, Hidatsa, and Arikara Nation lineage, is the lead organizer for the Indigenous Environmental Network’s (IEN) Native Energy, and Climate Justice campaigns.
The former resists energy companies’ attempts to develop projects in or near First Nation land. The latter protests against fossil-based earth, air, and ocean pollution. This work Mossett says “is exactly what I wanted and was destined to do, though I didn’t know exactly what that was when I was younger.”
The IEN, based in Bemidji, MN, was formed in 1990 by grassroots indigenous peoples and individuals to address environmental and economic justice issues.
Mossett received both her MS in Environmental Management and BS in Natural Resource and Park Management from the University of North Dakota
Favorites
Apps: I honestly dislike technology. Ok, to give an answer I’m going to say Google Maps, so I don’t get lost in cities, I’m a small town girl, so that has helped me out immensely!
Books: I like Alexie Sherman. Editor’s note: Sherman is a Spokane/Coeur d’Alene Indian, and a National Book Award Winner for The Lone Ranger and Tonto Fistfight in Heaven, and author of other novels and short story collections.
Movies: The Notebook, The Princess Bride, Grumpy Old Men, and Grumpier Old Men. These are movies I never tire of. There are others but I’ll keep you guessing.
Music: I just love music. I like soft rock, country, rap, classical, and oldies.
Web site: An Indigenous Environmental Network project: Indigenous Rising. The site’s philosophy is that “Indigenous Peoples are Rising Up in Solidarity to defend our Rights as Indigenous Peoples; to protect the Sacredness of, the Territorial Integrity of, and Rights of (Grandmother) Mother Earth; and the Rights of Future Generations.”
Dream job: “I’m doing my dream job for the moment. A step above this would be to work myself out of having to do this job and all I would have to do is tend my gardens and take care of my family off the grid somewhere. Ah. how nice that would be. In truth, I would really love to be working at home with my tribes making it a better place for people to be, making the rez I grew up on a truly sovereign, happy place. I love to hike, be outside, read and think I’m doing a pretty good job being a momma to my 2 year old daughter :)”
