DONOR SPOTLIGHT Matthew O’Neill Cares for the Land and Water by Giving Please introduce yourself to our readers. I’m Matthew O’Neill. I’m a musical artist whose life and creative practice are rooted in Indigenous values. I’m a father, activist, educa- tor, and music label runner, and I’m engaged in land restoration projects. I live in the Catskill Mountains of New York. How long have you been interested in environmental causes? I’ve been interested since I was old enough to learn there was a need to protect what seemed so obviously worthy of our deepest respect. In the 7th grade, I spearheaded the return of “Earth Day” to our middle school and have been active ever since. This year is the 10th anniversary of Food & Water Watch’s successful campaign to ban fracking in New York State. What does this fracking ban mean to you personally? I’m completely against fracking. When I saw what Food & Water Watch was doing to fight against this horrendous practice, I took notice and began making gifts. I love the water and am grateful every day for the many blessings the waters here in the Catskills offer us all. These waters are protected from fracking largely because of the work of Food & Water Watch, so the impact of the organization is very real to me. What do you hope to accomplish with your philanthropy? Water connects us all, and we must contin- ue to protect it. This takes organization and community engagement. Community that’s in an actively respectful relationship with life is key to positive futures. If you were talking to someone about giving to and getting involved with Food & Water Watch / Action, what would you tell them?
You can check out Matthew’s music at matthew-oneill.com. He’s pictured here tending a food forest in Kingston, New York.
Food & Water Watch engages people to take action and gives voice to the basic needs and rights of all beings. As humans, we have a responsibility to care for and love the land and water. Food & Water Watch does a great job fulfilling important aspects of these responsibil- ities. They’re passionate, smart, and committed. Their strategies are effective and impactful. I’m grateful for all the work they do and very happy to contribute. What gives you hope for the future? Hope is too passive. I believe in Indigenous women-led solutions. Mainstream society is becoming more aware that we need to return to respectful, relational, egalitarian ways of being. The human exceptionalism mindset that has objectified the web of life for its own greedy self-interests is on its way out. I’m happy to see we’re restoring our relationships with our kin, human and non-human. These waters are protected from fracking largely because of the work of Food & Water Watch, so the impact of the organization is very real to me.
5 | FALL 2024
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