April 11, 2023
Statement of Concern from Idle No More SF Bay
Grandmothers of Idle No More SF Bay feel it is our responsibility to alert community members to our experience with two men who have caused harm to a Native woman in INM SF Bay, an ally of INM SF Bay, and other BIPOC people who were part of a delegation to Line 3 in the Spring of 2021. This delegation was organized by staff at East Point Peace Academy (EPPA), specifically Chris Moore-Backman and Kazu Haga. Chris’s behavior during and after the delegation and Kazu’s defensiveness in the aftermath that followed are the reasons for this statement.
INM SF Bay grandmothers went through a restorative justice process in 2021-2022 with Chris, Kazu, and another EPPA staff member to try to repair the harm between the two organizations.
The delegation to Line 3 was organized by EPPA staff, primarily Chris and Kazu with support from one other staff person. An INM SF Bay member participated in the April 2021 delegation, which met online for several months prior to leaving. The delegation chose the INM SF Bay Indigenous woman to take the lead as group facilitator and sole liaison to the Line 3 camps. Chris and one other EPPA staff member traveled with the delegation. Group agreements were made to ensure cohesion and the safety and well-being of all members of the group, some of whom were undocumented. EPPA raised funds for the Line 3 delegation, including a Gofundme that raised $11,753.
During the drive it became apparent that Chris was violating the group agreements. He undermined the leadership of the Native woman liaison to the camps, shouted at her and lost his temper several times. The violations of the agreements continued upon arrival at the Line 3 camps and Chris became emotionally overwhelmed when concerns about his behavior were raised. His behavior at Line 3 also violated the protocols, stated values and code of conduct required of guests stepping into this sensitive frontline area.
The delegates did their best to work with EPPA staff to resolve the issues. White ally and BIPOC members stretched to work with Chris and hold him accountable. In response, Chris, the EPPA staff member, and the delegate who rented the van left and drove back to California with all of the resources for the delegates, stranding the delegation at Line 3. The delegates were shocked and emotionally distraught at being abandoned by EPPA on many levels. The delegates had no transportation and no funds were left for meals or expenses. In response, to care for all who remained, the INM ally rented a car with her own funds which were later reimbursed by INM (a frontline, Indigenous woman-led, all volunteer, unfunded grassroots organization) which additionally sent thousands of dollars to support the delegation. Afterwards, efforts made by the BIPOC contingent to address the harm with Kazu were frustrating. Most just moved on, having lost respect for EPPA and Chris.
INM’s delegate and ally returned traumatized, exhausted, and shocked by the betrayal, never wanting to have anything to do with EPPA again. In an effort to repair the relationship between INM SF Bay and EPPA, a Restorative Justice (RJ) process with trusted facilitators was begun between INM grandmothers Pennie Opal Plant and Alison Ehara-Brown, and EPPA staff Chris, Kazu, and the other staff member of EPPA in 2021-2022.
As Indigenous grandmothers, Pennie and Alison believe in working collaboratively with people of integrity at this crucial time in history. We know that people make mistakes. We have ourselves collectively and individually made mistakes, addressed them, and come back into balance with other groups and individuals. When difficulties arose with other groups in our Climate Justice work, people have been open to hear a new perspective, apologize and learn lessons for moving forward in a good way. The grandmothers entered this RJ process with a deeply genuine sense of what might be possible.
The RJ process lasted about a year. From the beginning, the grandmothers made it clear that they were only seeking accountability and growth that could be incorporated into EPPA’s work. The grandmothers’ experience with Chris and Kazu during this process was deeply unsatisfactory with both men.
Because it was so difficult to reach a place where a productive circle of accountability was possible, the INM grandmothers also asked for assistance from two respected members of the Bay Area Climate Justice community who generously agreed to meet several times with the three EPPA staff members. Chris refused to participate and abandoned the RJ process with INM SF Bay. Kazu and the other staff member stayed with the RJ process and continued to work with these allies. They both agreed to write a statement of accountability and apology. They were offered examples of thoughtful apologies between ally organizations and Indigenous frontline groups. The grandmothers were told to expect a letter soon.
After waiting patiently for over six months they found out that the other staff member had long since drafted a statement that Kazu ignored. Instead of engaging or seeking help where he was stuck, he ignored the waiting grandmothers and prevented what could have been a better resolution. After leaving EPPA, the other staff member shared the content of their draft statement with the grandmothers. Their statement took extensive accountability for their actions and issued a heartfelt apology that was deeply moving. The grandmothers are extremely disappointed that Kazu refused to finalize and issue this agreed-upon statement of accountability and apology.
After ending the RJ process the grandmothers reached out to the EPPA Board with their concerns about these two men and the integrity of EPPA, especially with the work they do in prisons where the power dynamic is so unequal.
The Board’s response to the grandmothers has been thorough, respectful, thoughtful, and diligent. They took the grandmother’s concerns seriously and did an internal investigation into what happened. In response to this investigation, Chris resigned immediately. Kazu later resigned when the Board decided an apology was necessary. The Board issued a public apology to INM SF Bay which was released on April 5th.
The grandmothers were appalled to read the public narrative that Kazu put out both on Facebook on March 16, 2023, and in a mass email that he sent from the EPPA listserve. He used the organization’s resources to publicize his personal narrative. This narrative was not approved by, and the content of his statement itself was not agreed upon by the Board of EPPA. The betrayal of trust with both the EPPA Board and INM SF Bay is stunning.
The INM SF Bay grandmothers feel it is important to alert the Bay Area community, the Buddhist community, Beloved Community Network, Canticle Farm, Thrive Network, Fierce Vulnerability, Yet To Be Named Network and The Embodiment Project to this experience. INM SF Bay will not work with these two men again. We pray that both Chris and Kazu have supportive people who can help them understand this disturbing process that harmed many people.
The EPPA Board has earned the deep respect and trust of INM SF Bay in the way they handled this difficult matter. We are hopeful that with the Board’s leadership, EPPA will come back into alignment with their values and mission. We are grateful for their public apology to INM SF Bay and INM SF Bay’s Line 3 delegate. We wish them the best in rebuilding EPPA in a good way and encourage others to support them in this important work.
Statement of Concern from Idle No More SF Bay
Grandmothers of Idle No More SF Bay feel it is our responsibility to alert community members to our experience with two men who have caused harm to a Native woman in INM SF Bay, an ally of INM SF Bay, and other BIPOC people who were part of a delegation to Line 3 in the Spring of 2021. This delegation was organized by staff at East Point Peace Academy (EPPA), specifically Chris Moore-Backman and Kazu Haga. Chris’s behavior during and after the delegation and Kazu’s defensiveness in the aftermath that followed are the reasons for this statement.
INM SF Bay grandmothers went through a restorative justice process in 2021-2022 with Chris, Kazu, and another EPPA staff member to try to repair the harm between the two organizations.
The delegation to Line 3 was organized by EPPA staff, primarily Chris and Kazu with support from one other staff person. An INM SF Bay member participated in the April 2021 delegation, which met online for several months prior to leaving. The delegation chose the INM SF Bay Indigenous woman to take the lead as group facilitator and sole liaison to the Line 3 camps. Chris and one other EPPA staff member traveled with the delegation. Group agreements were made to ensure cohesion and the safety and well-being of all members of the group, some of whom were undocumented. EPPA raised funds for the Line 3 delegation, including a Gofundme that raised $11,753.
During the drive it became apparent that Chris was violating the group agreements. He undermined the leadership of the Native woman liaison to the camps, shouted at her and lost his temper several times. The violations of the agreements continued upon arrival at the Line 3 camps and Chris became emotionally overwhelmed when concerns about his behavior were raised. His behavior at Line 3 also violated the protocols, stated values and code of conduct required of guests stepping into this sensitive frontline area.
The delegates did their best to work with EPPA staff to resolve the issues. White ally and BIPOC members stretched to work with Chris and hold him accountable. In response, Chris, the EPPA staff member, and the delegate who rented the van left and drove back to California with all of the resources for the delegates, stranding the delegation at Line 3. The delegates were shocked and emotionally distraught at being abandoned by EPPA on many levels. The delegates had no transportation and no funds were left for meals or expenses. In response, to care for all who remained, the INM ally rented a car with her own funds which were later reimbursed by INM (a frontline, Indigenous woman-led, all volunteer, unfunded grassroots organization) which additionally sent thousands of dollars to support the delegation. Afterwards, efforts made by the BIPOC contingent to address the harm with Kazu were frustrating. Most just moved on, having lost respect for EPPA and Chris.
INM’s delegate and ally returned traumatized, exhausted, and shocked by the betrayal, never wanting to have anything to do with EPPA again. In an effort to repair the relationship between INM SF Bay and EPPA, a Restorative Justice (RJ) process with trusted facilitators was begun between INM grandmothers Pennie Opal Plant and Alison Ehara-Brown, and EPPA staff Chris, Kazu, and the other staff member of EPPA in 2021-2022.
As Indigenous grandmothers, Pennie and Alison believe in working collaboratively with people of integrity at this crucial time in history. We know that people make mistakes. We have ourselves collectively and individually made mistakes, addressed them, and come back into balance with other groups and individuals. When difficulties arose with other groups in our Climate Justice work, people have been open to hear a new perspective, apologize and learn lessons for moving forward in a good way. The grandmothers entered this RJ process with a deeply genuine sense of what might be possible.
The RJ process lasted about a year. From the beginning, the grandmothers made it clear that they were only seeking accountability and growth that could be incorporated into EPPA’s work. The grandmothers’ experience with Chris and Kazu during this process was deeply unsatisfactory with both men.
Because it was so difficult to reach a place where a productive circle of accountability was possible, the INM grandmothers also asked for assistance from two respected members of the Bay Area Climate Justice community who generously agreed to meet several times with the three EPPA staff members. Chris refused to participate and abandoned the RJ process with INM SF Bay. Kazu and the other staff member stayed with the RJ process and continued to work with these allies. They both agreed to write a statement of accountability and apology. They were offered examples of thoughtful apologies between ally organizations and Indigenous frontline groups. The grandmothers were told to expect a letter soon.
After waiting patiently for over six months they found out that the other staff member had long since drafted a statement that Kazu ignored. Instead of engaging or seeking help where he was stuck, he ignored the waiting grandmothers and prevented what could have been a better resolution. After leaving EPPA, the other staff member shared the content of their draft statement with the grandmothers. Their statement took extensive accountability for their actions and issued a heartfelt apology that was deeply moving. The grandmothers are extremely disappointed that Kazu refused to finalize and issue this agreed-upon statement of accountability and apology.
After ending the RJ process the grandmothers reached out to the EPPA Board with their concerns about these two men and the integrity of EPPA, especially with the work they do in prisons where the power dynamic is so unequal.
The Board’s response to the grandmothers has been thorough, respectful, thoughtful, and diligent. They took the grandmother’s concerns seriously and did an internal investigation into what happened. In response to this investigation, Chris resigned immediately. Kazu later resigned when the Board decided an apology was necessary. The Board issued a public apology to INM SF Bay which was released on April 5th.
The grandmothers were appalled to read the public narrative that Kazu put out both on Facebook on March 16, 2023, and in a mass email that he sent from the EPPA listserve. He used the organization’s resources to publicize his personal narrative. This narrative was not approved by, and the content of his statement itself was not agreed upon by the Board of EPPA. The betrayal of trust with both the EPPA Board and INM SF Bay is stunning.
The INM SF Bay grandmothers feel it is important to alert the Bay Area community, the Buddhist community, Beloved Community Network, Canticle Farm, Thrive Network, Fierce Vulnerability, Yet To Be Named Network and The Embodiment Project to this experience. INM SF Bay will not work with these two men again. We pray that both Chris and Kazu have supportive people who can help them understand this disturbing process that harmed many people.
The EPPA Board has earned the deep respect and trust of INM SF Bay in the way they handled this difficult matter. We are hopeful that with the Board’s leadership, EPPA will come back into alignment with their values and mission. We are grateful for their public apology to INM SF Bay and INM SF Bay’s Line 3 delegate. We wish them the best in rebuilding EPPA in a good way and encourage others to support them in this important work.