What is WMAN?

It's a real social network!

As the mining sector globalized, so has the citizen response. For over a decade WMAN has provided a critical forum for communities and people facing mining in the United States and Canada. Nearly 100 organizations participate in this network. They represent the culturally and geographically diverse towns and cities impacted by this issue.

WMAN is democratic. We are governed by a Steering Committee of 21 community-based leaders, serving two year terms, filling designated regional and issue-based seats. More than half of our current Steering Committee is indigenous. Click here to view a copy of our current Steering Committee members.

WMAN multiplies our individual power; we are more than the sum of our parts. Together we build relationships that enable mutual support and cooperative action. We also provide trainings and consultation by experts in the fields of mining engineering, chemistry, hydrology, communications, policy, and legal rights.

WMAN provides resources. Through the generosity of the True North Foundation, WMAN joins the Indigenous Environmental Network in hosting a mini-grant program which now gives out $150,000 a year in $3,000 increments to locally based groups across the US and Canada. Many of those groups have limited ability to access other sources of funding. Our grantees put the funds to good use for things like mapping local resources, holding public meetings, scientific research, or traveling to meet with decision makers.

 WMAN is a network that runs all of these programs on a shoestring. We don’t compete with the groups that we seek to serve. Instead we raise just enough money to sustain a network that serves our members by providing access to information and support to help them obtain their goals. We do this by hosting binational conferences, managing list serves for sharing information, providing access to affordable expertise, and supporting “caucus” groups to share common concerns (including caucuses focused on Great Lakes’ area mining, uranium mining, a young people's caucus, and an Indigenous Caucus).

 To make a tax-deductible contribution to WMAN you may donate electronically by going to: http://www.wman-info.org/whoweare/donate. Or write your check to Western Organization of Resource Councils Education Project/WMAN, and mail to WORC, 220 S. 27th Street, Ste B, Billings, MT  59101.

 Each contribution to WMAN goes a long way -- a long way east, south, west and north -- in support of communities protecting their land, water, air and wildlife. Our health and wellbeing rely on them, on us, doing well.