Winona LaDuke resigns as head of Honor the Earth

MINNEAPOLIS (KDLM/KFGO) – Indigenous environmental advocate Winona LaDuke has resigned as executive director of Honor the Earth, the Minnesota-based nonprofit she helped found 30 years ago.

The move comes a week after her organization lost a sexual harassment case, with a Becker County jury awarding a former Honor the Earth employee $750,000 for lost wages and emotional distress.

The worker said LaDuke dismissed her claims and the board did not take any action.

The decision and penalty accelerated LaDuke’s decision to step down.

Honor the Earth Executive Co-Director Krystal Two Bulls, who formally joined the group in January 2023, will now assume the sole leadership role.

“I am humbled to continue the bright legacy of Winona LaDuke who made countless personal and professional self-sacrifices throughout her life in service to Honor the Earth and all the communities it interacts with,” explained Krystal Two Bulls. “During this difficult time for her and our organization, we ask that you continue to walk with us as we face many battles during a critical period of increasing climate crisis across the planet.”

Honor the Earth most recently held demonstrations against the Enbridge Line 3 oil pipeline project in Minnesota.

LaDuke posted the following to her Facebook page Wednesday: