We are on
stolen land.
County Rail Farm and Field Five Flowers are located just west of Missoula Montana on the traditional lands of the Bitterroot Salish (Séliš), Pend d’Oreille (Ql̓ispé), Nez Perce (Nimíipuu), Coeur d’Alene (Schi̲tsu’umsh), and Kootenai (Ktunʌ́χɑ̝) peoples. Many other indigenous peoples also passed through and cared for this space as it was often a corridor to and from lands and communities.
What That Means
Stolen Land
This land was unfairly and brutally stolen from the peoples who nurtured and cultivated it for centuries before us. We recognize them and many BIPOC ancestors for their work, practices, care, patience, and knowledge. And we owe reparations for the atrocities our white ancestors have committed.
How We’re Giving
We pay financial reparations to indigenous led organizations each year, focusing on food security and/or Montana indigenous sovereignty and justice. Our benchmark is to pay at least as much in reparations as we pay in property taxes.
More than words
The acknowledgement of this land and our history is step one. And the work is lifelong. We are committing time and resources as well as our words to local Indigenous communities and other BIPOC led organizations.
REACH OUT
If you are involved in an Indigenous, Black, or POC-led project or organization that works with food access, security, and sovereignty, please reach out! We want to hear from you and support what you’re doing. Montana-based projects preferred.
What We’re Doing
County Rail follows tribal and community leaders in our local area to support food security projects. This means some surplus food donation and, more importantly, creating sustainable working relationships with tribal food security & food access organizations.
Personal Anti-Colonialism Work
We are constantly processing our own privilege and white settler mentality. We, personally and nationally, have benefited from the brutal history of this nation. The emotional work to untangle the resulting knots and habits is ongoing. Please get in touch if you see something on these pages or our other social media that you feel needs to be addressed.
Where do we donate?
If you are involved in an Indigenous, Black, or POC-led project or organization that works with food access, security, and sovereignty, please reach out! We want to hear from you and support what you’re doing. Montana-based projects preferred.
* The Peoples Food Sovereignty Program
* Montana BIPOC Mutual Aid
* CKST Missing and Murdered Indigenous Persons Fund
* Blackfeet Missing and Murdered Indigenous Persons