Warm Springs Community Action Team

This project will support elder artists and share traditional knowledge of basketmaking, beading, singing, drumming, and mural arts with 40-120 tribal youth in order to nurture the next generation of traditional arts in Warm Springs. The project will create short films that capture and tell important tribal arts stories/knowledge.

Program Opportunity Statement (Recommended 300 words or less) There is unreliable internet connection, poor infrastructure, poor networking systems, outdated technology, lack of IT support, few companies to contract IT services, and lack of cybersecurity. 54.8% of individuals have internet access in their homes. There are many unemployed tribal members. Warm Springs is experiencing poverty. Electricity is expensive and unreliable. There are frequent power outages. WSCAT has identified some of the basic technology and employment needs in Warm Springs and will work with low-income individuals to build the skills needed to be successful. WSCAT created a new program, the Technology Workforce Development program. The Technology Workforce Analyst is working on researching and developing the workforce program. This new program will train local tribal members in the field of technology. This program will provide training opportunities to increase technology, IT and computer skills, assist individuals in job placement, and be a technology resource. The program will create a solar installation, solar maintenance, and solar training program. This may include collaborating with other businesses in the local area to purchase equipment, provide apprenticeships, internships, or other training opportunities. Our project will help bridge the skill gap and create a skilled tribal workforce to ultimately assist in sustaining tribal sovereignty. Not all individuals have access to computers, tablets, smartphones, or the internet. The grant will assist in purchasing the technology equipment required to train individuals in the technology field. Training may include online courses and in person classes. A limited supply of technology may also be checked out on a loan basis, to complete the training from the comfort of their own home. Many homes do not have internet access or have poor internet connection. Providing mobile hotspots would give these individuals access to the internet to have the opportunity to attend these training sessions.

Participation in the training will increase organizational knowledge in development and financial stability by providing Tamanwit with the resources to create a strong and successful organization. The non-profit will be able to leverage this new knowledge to develop fundraising plans that will make the organization more sustainable.

This project will launch the Warm Springs Artisans' Community (WSAC). WSAC will no longer be a dream, but a reality. WSAC will be a nonprofit organization utilizing cooperative principles, enabling artists to leverage assets, collaborate with other artists, increase their business management skills, and set them up for business success.