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The Opeqtawmetaemoh (Flying Eagle Woman) Survivors Fund
Our advocacy has evolved into direct action — providing trauma-informed, culturally grounded support for Indigenous survivors and relatives of violence, trafficking, and disappearance.
Honoring Flying Eagle Woman, Ingrid Washinawatok El-Issa (1957 – 1999)
The Opeqtawmetaemoh Survivors Fund was created in memory of Ingrid Washinawatok El-Issa, a beloved Menominee leader, activist, and Brooklyn resident whose life was devoted to the sovereignty, safety, and visibility of Indigenous peoples everywhere.
Ingrid—known as Flying Eagle Woman—worked tirelessly to protect Indigenous rights and preserve cultural traditions across the world. In 1999, while supporting the U’wa people of Colombia to establish an education system for women and girls rooted in their language and values, she was kidnapped and assassinated by the FARC. Her courage and compassion continue to guide our movement for healing and justice.
This fund carries forward her legacy by providing mutual-aid support to Indigenous relatives impacted by sexual assault, trafficking, violent crime, or disappearance.
Funds help cover:
- Therapy and counseling through UIC’s Urban Indigenous Wellness Program
- Traditional healing practices, ceremony, and medicines
- Emergency assistance such as housing, transportation, food, and childcare
- Advocacy, safety planning, and survivor-led education
