Globally recognized environmental advocate Winona LaDuke steps down from her organization

Apr 06, 20230

Elizabeth Flores, Star Tribune file count

Winona LaDuke spoke to students on the topic of activism at the 2022 National Unity Conference at the Minneapolis Convention Center on July 11, 2022.

Indigenous environmental advocate Winona LaDuke has resigned as executive director of Honor the Earth, the Minnesota-based nonprofit she helped found 30 years ago with members of the Indigo Girls band.

The move comes a week after her organization lost a sexual harassment case, with a Becker County jury awarding a former Honor the Earth employee $750,000 for lost wages and emotional distress. The decision and penalty accelerated LaDuke's decision to step down, Honor the Earth said in a statement Wednesday, describing the damages as "scalding."

Honor the Earth board chair Paul DeMain said the organization is extremely grateful for LaDuke's service and will move forward with "great heaviness and optimism."

https://www.startribune.com/global-environmental-advocate-winona-laduke-resigns-honor-earth-ojibwe-sexual-harassment/600264808/