Women & Water
Why We Wear Red (WWWR): Human Rights & Water Justice Initiative
Protect Native Women. Protect Water. Protect Life.
Our first medicine is the sacred water in our mother’s womb.As a collective body of creatives, we will embark on a journey to share Indigenous knowledge as water protectors and environmental stewards of this land, illustrating how these roles manifest on the big screen to raise global awareness for Mother Earth.
Why We Wear Red (WWWR) is a human rights initiative led by the Red Nation Celebration Institute (RNCI) through its Native Women in Film & Television in All Media platform. The initiative addresses the intersecting crises of violence against Native and Indigenous women and the protection of water as a fundamental human right.
Indigenous communities continue to face disproportionate rates of violence against women, alongside environmental threats that directly impact access to clean water, land, and resources. These issues are deeply interconnected. Research and lived experience demonstrate that when Indigenous women are disproportionately harmed, communities experience broader destabilization, including threats to environmental stewardship and resource protection. Conversely, when Native women are supported and centered in leadership, outcomes improve across community health, cultural preservation, and environmental protection.
WWWR utilizes media, storytelling, and advocacy to elevate awareness of Missing and Murdered Indigenous Women (MMIW), while advancing a unified framework that positions the safety of Native women and the protection of water as inseparable human rights priorities. Through digital campaigns, film programming, and public engagement, the initiative creates platforms for Indigenous voices and fosters cross-sector dialogue on justice, equity, and sustainability.
Project activities include the development and distribution of media content, integration into the Red Nation Television Network (RNTV), and targeted outreach to diverse audiences. These efforts expand visibility, increase public understanding, and support long-term cultural and environmental resilience.
Across Indigenous communities, Native women are among the most vulnerable to violence, disappearance, and systemic neglect. At the same time, these same communities are on the frontlines of protecting the Earth’s most vital resource—water. These are not separate crises. They are interconnected.
When violence is inflicted upon Native women, it reflects a broader pattern of harm against Indigenous lands and waters. When Native women are protected, empowered, and leading, communities are stronger, ecosystems are safeguarded, and the balance between people and planet is restored.
Water is a human right.
The safety of Native women is a human right.
These rights are one and the same.
Through storytelling, media, advocacy, and cultural leadership, Why We Wear Red elevates Indigenous voices, brings visibility to the crisis of Missing and Murdered Indigenous Women (MMIW), and advances a unified call to action: to protect life at every level.
Only One Water
Our first medicine is the sacred water in our mother’s womb. As a collective body of creatives, we will embark on a journey to share Indigenous knowledge as water protectors and environmental stewards of this land, illustrating how these roles manifest on the big screen to raise global awareness for Mother Earth.
Across Indigenous communities, Native women are among the most vulnerable to violence, disappearance, and systemic neglect. At the same time, these same communities are on the frontlines of protecting the Earth’s most vital resource—water. These are not separate crises. They are interconnected.
When violence is inflicted upon Native women, it reflects a broader pattern of harm against Indigenous lands and waters. When Native women are protected, empowered, and leading, communities are stronger, ecosystems are safeguarded, and the balance between people and planet is restored.
Water is a human right.
The safety of Native women is a human right.
These rights are one and the same.
Through storytelling, media, advocacy, and cultural leadership, Why We Wear Red elevates Indigenous voices, brings visibility to the crisis of Missing and Murdered Indigenous Women (MMIW), and advances a unified call to action: to protect life at every level.
Women United to Protect the Sacred Water That Sustains All Life.
Women Leading Action for Water, Life, and Future Generations
Women have always been central to protecting water, sustaining families, and safeguarding community health. The Only One Water initiative recognizes women as powerful leaders, educators, caregivers, artists, entrepreneurs, and advocates for Mother Earth.
Everyday Actions
- Carry reusable water bottles and eliminate single-use plastics.
- Choose non-toxic household and personal care products.
- Support organic, local, and Indigenous-grown foods.
- Plant native gardens that conserve water and support pollinators.
- Teach children that water is sacred and essential to all life.
Family and Community Leadership
- Organize family discussions about water conservation and environmental stewardship.
- Start neighborhood cleanups or community gardens.
- Advocate for clean drinking water in schools and public facilities.
- Mentor young women and girls in environmental leadership.
Creative Advocacy
- Use film, photography, writing, music, and fashion to tell stories about water protection.
- Host screenings, art exhibits, and community conversations.
- Share personal commitments and educational messages on social media.
Health and Wellness
- Promote clean water as foundational to women’s health and reproductive health.
- Encourage toxin-free lifestyles and informed consumer choices.
- Support policies that protect communities from pollution.
Economic Power
- Purchase from women-owned, Indigenous-owned, and environmentally responsible businesses.
- Reduce dependence on products that contribute to pollution.
- Invest in companies and organizations committed to sustainability.
Civic and Policy Action
- Attend city, county, and Tribal meetings on water and land use.
- Ask how developments, including data centers, may affect local water resources.
- Support Tribal sovereignty and Indigenous-led conservation.
- Contact elected officials to advocate for stronger protections.
Build Collective Movements
- Create Women for Water circles.
- Organize walks, ceremonies, and educational gatherings.
- Collaborate across generations to share knowledge and inspire action.
A Shared Commitment
Together, women can help heal Mother Earth by protecting the water that sustains all life.
When women protect water, they protect families.
When families protect water, they protect communities.
When communities protect water, they protect the future.
There is Only One Water.
And there is no life without it.
We wear red for those who are missing.
We wear red for those whose voices were silenced.
We wear red to demand justice, visibility, and systemic change.
This campaign stands at the intersection of human rights, environmental justice, and cultural survival—driving awareness, accountability, and action through the power of media and collective voice.
This is not symbolic. This is structural change.
This is not awareness alone. This is advocacy in motion.
Why We Wear Red. Only One Water.
