Book

Red Deal: Indigenous Action to Save Our Earth

📖 Overview

The Red Deal presents a framework for addressing the climate crisis through Indigenous-led environmental and social action. Published by Common Notions Press in 2021, this 176-page book outlines a plan that builds upon and extends beyond the Green New Deal proposals. The Red Nation, a Native American advocacy organization based in Albuquerque, developed these proposals to center Indigenous perspectives and traditional territories in climate action. The book articulates specific strategies for environmental protection while connecting these goals to broader movements for Indigenous liberation and decolonization. The text examines the intersections between environmental justice, Indigenous rights, and economic systems. Through this lens, it proposes radical solutions that reject conventional capitalist approaches to climate change mitigation. The work stands as a manifesto for transformative change, arguing that effective climate action must be rooted in Indigenous wisdom and leadership. Its vision encompasses not only environmental restoration but fundamental shifts in social, political, and economic structures.

👀 Reviews

Readers view Red Deal as a call-to-action manifesto that builds on the Green New Deal framework while centering Indigenous perspectives and decolonization. Readers appreciated: - Clear actionable steps and policy proposals - Connection between climate justice and Indigenous rights - Accessible writing style for complex topics - Historical context and real-world examples - Solutions-focused approach Common criticisms: - Some found the anti-capitalist stance too radical - Lack of detailed economic implementation plans - Writing can be academic/theoretical at times - Brief length (96 pages) Ratings: Goodreads: 4.41/5 (220+ ratings) Amazon: 4.6/5 (30+ ratings) "Offers concrete solutions rather than just critiques" - Goodreads review "Too focused on dismantling capitalism rather than realistic climate policy" - Amazon review "Concise but powerful roadmap for climate justice" - Goodreads review

📚 Similar books

As We Have Always Done by Leanne Betasamosake Simpson This book presents Indigenous approaches to resisting colonialism and environmental destruction through traditional practices and knowledge systems.

Our History Is the Future by Nick Estes The book connects Indigenous resistance at Standing Rock to centuries of Native American political struggles for land and sovereignty.

A Mind Spread Out on the Ground by Alicia Elliott The text examines colonialism's impact on Indigenous communities through interwoven narratives of environmental justice, mental health, and cultural survival.

Sand Talk: How Indigenous Thinking Can Save the World by Tyson Yunkaporta The work presents Aboriginal frameworks for understanding sustainability and relationships with land as alternatives to Western environmental approaches.

This Changes Everything: Capitalism vs. The Climate by Naomi Klein The book links Indigenous rights movements with climate action while examining the intersection of colonialism, capitalism, and environmental destruction.

🤔 Interesting facts

🌿 The Red Nation is a grassroots Indigenous liberation organization founded in 2014 in Albuquerque, New Mexico, that combines activism with scholarly work. 🌍 The book proposes reclaiming 30% of all territories in the U.S. back to Indigenous nations as a crucial step for environmental restoration and climate action. 🌱 Traditional Indigenous fire management practices discussed in the book have been proven to reduce wildfire intensity by up to 60% in areas where they're implemented. ⚡ Unlike many climate books, "Red Deal" explicitly connects the Green New Deal to Indigenous liberation movements, suggesting the two are inseparable for effective climate action. 🤝 The authors advocate for "caretaking economies" based on Indigenous principles, where success is measured by community well-being rather than profit, presenting real-world examples from Native communities.