Ep 108 | Constance Parng: Super Auntie to Native Nations of the Auntie Sewing Squad

Dec 21, 2020

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A note from Talking Taiwan host Felicia Lin:

Constance Parng, an actress, writer and healer who’s earned the title of Super Auntie to Native Nations of the Auntie Sewing Squad. Constance spoke with me about her work to support the highly vulnerable Native American communities and her connection to Taiwan. Through this conversation she reveals that the lack of access to basic things like running water and proper health care on reservations have deeply rooted origins. COVID-19 has exposed this reality that existed pre-pandemic. She hopes that bringing awareness to systemic injustices like this can lead to more people taking action to rectify the situation.

As Constance put it “by doing acts of compassion we are not only helping and saving others but also helping and saving ourselves."

Here’s a little preview of what we talked about in this podcast episode:

Constance’s connection to Taiwan
How Constance got involved with the Auntie Sewing Squad
Why Constance prefers to use the term Native Nations instead of First Nations, Native American, Tribal Nations, Indigenous Nations, Native Communities
The living conditions of the Navajo Nation reservation
How 35-40% of the Navajo Nation reservation does not have running water
Families need to travel a distance to get water which they must then ration for cooking, drinking or washing their hands
How violations of treat rights and Systemic racism have contributed to the current living conditions on reservations
Why the Lakota Well Being Project is fundraising for an additional ambulance
How reservations are like third world nations within the United States
How people can donate to the Lakota Well Being Project
Medshare providing medical supplies to Standing Rock
Constance estimates that she’s been responsible for getting 60,000 masks too indigenous communities
Winter coat drive for Standing Rock
The conditions at Standing Rock
The discrimination that exists in the border towns outside of reservations
Constance’s call out to people who have supported the Dakota Access Pipeline Protests to support Standing Rock now in their time of need during COVID
South Dakota has one of the lowest life expectancy rates in the U.S.
The Dakota Access Pipeline Protests
The lack of adequate health care and the long term effects on the native peoples who live on the on a reservation
The April 20th conversation Constance had a with Bettina who was connected to a group of seamstresses who sew for Navajo Nations
The uranium mining that has happened on native reservations and its hazardous health effects
How people can help by donating to the ambulance fund, the Auntie Sewing Squad, art supplies for kids, winter coats
How Constance has been connected to many amazing people from all walks of life through this work she’s been doing for the Native Nations
The difference between the Navajo Nation and Hopi Nation
How deliveries of supplies and essentials are coordinated
The “fortress of gratitude” where donations can be dropped off
How acts of compassion not only help others but actually can serve to help ourselves
How the mother of one of Constance’s contacts at Navajo Nation has COVID-19
The impact of curfews that have been imposed on reservations
The CARES Act
Mutual aid and nonprofit groups that Constance has worked with have told her that the Auntie Sewing Squad and Lakota Well Being Project have done more for them than their own tribal government or the federal government