Highlighting a Local Resource: Great Plains Action Society

Marie Krebs, Managing Director of Great Plains Action Society

Founded by Sikowis Nobiss, Great Plains Action Society is an Indigenous grassroots organization that, though based in Iowa City, works broadly in the Great Plains region. Marie Krebs, the Managing Director of Great Plains Action Society, explained that the organization's central initiatives include Protect the Sacred, which works with missing indigenous relatives and their families; Land Defense, which focuses on climate and environment; Representation; and Civic Engagement.

The organization also aids the broader Great Plains region as a whole. Recently, Marie is working to support Linn-Mar High School students who are in a student-led LGBTQ+ group and were harassed in the Linn-Mar Homecoming Parade on Sept. 25 in Marion, Iowa. 

“We do a lot. A lot of times we jump in wherever. We don't just jump in when it's an Indigenous concern or issue,” she said. “Our liberation is definitely tied together.”

Great Plains Action Society has also worked with and met International Visitor Leadership Program (IVLP) participants. 

Volha Harbunova is a Belarusian human rights defender who has dedicated her life to advocating for the rights of women, children, the LGBTQI+ community, and other marginalized groups in Belarus.

From July 7 to August 2, the U.S. Department of State sponsored a multi-regional project entitled “International Women of Courage (IWOC) - Virtual Program.” Its purpose was to engage the 2024 International Women of Courage awardees — women from around the world who have demonstrated exceptional courage, strength, and leadership — with Americans at various locales. The meetings provided opportunities to advance the awardees’ efforts in the service of women, girls and their communities and countries.

The International Women of Courage awardees were separated into cohorts to address specific themes in different cities. Volha Harbunova, Fariba Balouch, and Agather Atuhaire were invited to a meeting with organizations from Cleveland and Iowa City, including Great Plains Action Society, to explore the theme of “Empowering Marginalized Communities.”

Fariba Balouch is a London-based Iranian human rights activist. She is outspoken about women’s rights and the human rights crisis in Sistan and Baluchistan, which has been disproportionately affected by regime violence, executions, and systemic discrimination.

At the meeting, Marie introduced Great Plains Action Society and the issue of Missing and Murdered Indigenous Relatives (MMIR). After, a conversation ensued between the resources and the International Women of Courage awardees on empowering marginalized communities, encouraging civic engagement, and missing Indigenous individuals/violence against Indigenous communities.

Marie felt honored to be on the panel with the International Women of Courage awardees.

“Talking to these women who had literally been silenced; It was very eye opening to me that I can still go and say what I want to say, and I'm very outspoken and I don't like to mince words. I like to be honest about things and I'm so grateful that I can do that,” Marie said.

Agather Atuhaire is a renowned journalist, lawyer and social justice activist who advocates for human rights, public accountability, and the rule of law in Uganda.

Marie emphasized the panel’s empathy and inquiries as a response to her presentation on Missing and Murdered Indigenous Relatives. When asked about the significance of engaging with international visitors, Marie believes in the value of learning from different perspectives and viewpoints, especially through people-to-people interactions, which she believes implements a humanistic factor.

“It enriches you. For me, it gave me a different perspective on my life and the privileges that I have here,” said Marie. “I really value being able to hear it from a human being rather than the news or what's being reported."

Global Ties Iowa greatly appreciates the continued partnership with Great Plains Action Society and the impactful collaborations we have achieved in the past. We look forward to working together in the future.