Indigenous-Led Kayaktivism Action on the Dan River

WHO: Organized by 7 Directions of Service Action Fund, featuring Indigenous leaders, frontline community members, and regional partners

WHEN: Saturday, June 13, 2026, 11 AM - 3:30 PM

WHERE: Dan River, North Carolina (launch location shared upon RSVP)

WHAT: Indigenous leaders and environmental justice advocates will hold a kayaktivism direct action on the Dan River to protest fossil fuel expansion, data center development, and threats to cultural and sacred sites. We will be offering carpool options for those who are further away from Rockingham (two locations: Keely Park and Triad Park). Please complete the event RSVP, register your interest in carpooling, and indicate boating needs.

WHY:  The Dan River—recently named one of America’s Most Endangered Rivers by American Rivers—faces increasing pressure from industrial development. This action brings visibility and urgency to the protection of water, communities, and Indigenous sovereignty.

Day of events include:

• Welcome Ceremony ~ Honoring the Dan River & Why We’re Here
• Indigenous Storytelling and Narrative-Building ~ Who We Are & How We Win
• Community Potluck
  • Some light lunch will be provided - it is a potluck-style event; bringing store-bought food/drink is encouraged
  • (Please ensure all items are store-bought and easily shareable, i.e. canned drinks, snack-packs, etc.
• Stations Breakout - Connect with 7DS Team Members on Ways to Get Involved and Take Action!
  o   1) Construction Monitoring - pipeline impacts, explaining/showing monitoring
  o   2) Communications – impacted community narrative building, storytelling, and feeling conversation
  o   3) Elected Official lobbying efforts
• Group Kayaktivism Direct Action
  • We will have a limited number of kayaks (1-seat) and canoes
    (2-seats) available for folks to borrow. Please indicate your interest in participating in the paddle activity so we can ensure we can provide as many boats as possible.)  
    
  • There will be another Group Direct Action to be taken for folks not interested in paddling!
• Closing Ceremony ~ What's Next

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On June 13, 2026, Indigenous leaders, community members, and environmental justice advocates will gather on the Dan River for a powerful, water-based direct action known as “kayaktivism,” calling attention to escalating threats from fossil fuel infrastructure, large-scale data center development, and weakening protections for cultural and sacred sites.

The action is organized by 7 Directions of Service Action Fund and comes at a critical moment as multiple industrial projects advance across the region, placing increasing pressure on the river and surrounding communities.

Recently, the Dan River was named one of America’s Most Endangered Rivers by American Rivers, highlighting the urgency of community-led action to protect this vital waterway.

“For us, this is not just about environmental protection—it’s about relationship, responsibility, and survival,” said Dr. Crystal A. Cavalier-Keck, Executive Director of 7 Directions of Service Action Fund. “The Dan River is a living relative. When we show up on the water, we are not only resisting harm—we are honoring our duty to protect what sustains us and future generations.”

The June 13 action is part of a broader campaign that includes community education, “Toxic Tours,” and coordinated advocacy efforts to hold decision-makers accountable and advance community-led alternatives rooted in Traditional Ecological Knowledge (TEK).

Organizers emphasize that the impacts of these projects are not equally distributed. Rural, Indigenous, and low-wealth communities are often disproportionately affected by industrial development, while having the least access to decision-making processes.

This action seeks to change that by creating visible, collective pressure and elevating the voices of those most directly impacted.

“Water is life. Not for sale.”

“No pipelines. No data center extraction.”

“Indigenous leadership. Community power.”

“From the river, we rise.”