National Native American Heritage Month

To commemorate the month, and in continued celebration through the year, First Nations is featuring our Native Arts community partners and how they’re ensuring Native arts and culture continue to be valued and preserved. We’re also sharing news about our Tribal Lands Conservation Fund, as well as a series of virtual and in-person events to honor Native American heritage.

Tune in with Lead Program Officer Johnny McCraigie (Colville Tribes) to learn about Okanogan Basketweavers Association and the importance of uplifting Native culture and lifeways:

Webinar 3: Education Systems and Program at Jemez Pueblo with Kevin Shendo

Tuesday, Dec. 10, 10 am MT

Kevin Shendo, Director at The Pueblo of Jemez Department of Education, will share the story and work of the Jemez school system. Jemez Pueblo has created a model education system to strengthen the Jemez language and culture within the Pueblo.

Webinar 4: Impact of First Nations and Value of Your Support

Monday, Dec. 16, 2:30 pm MT

In this final webinar, First Nations’ JoAnn Melchor and First Nations’ President and CEO Michael E. Roberts (Tlingit) discuss First Nations’ language and cultural programs and projects occurring nationally and within New Mexico’s Pueblo communities. Mike will share how these programs and projects are sustained and made possible thanks to the support of individual givers, local and national foundations, and corporations.

Webinar Series Intro: Exploring the 19 Pueblos of New Mexico

The 19 Pueblos of New Mexico are a historic and important part of Indian Country that have contributed to Native American culture and lifeways since time immemorial. In this webinar, First Nations Vice President of Development, JoAnn Melchor (Santo Domingo Pueblo), reflected on the significance of these Pueblos and provided insights and perspectives about these incredible settings. As a lifelong resident and community advocate of Santo Domingo Pueblo, JoAnn highlighted Pueblo communities’ unique gifts and resilience, past and present. She shared a general overview of Pueblo history and New Mexico’s communities’ current state and demographics. Check out below the Q&A from this webinar!

Gathering for GATHER

First Nations was again proud to raise awareness, understanding, and appreciation of the
Native American food movement at a GATHER Film Screening last week at the Guild Cinema in Albuquerque, New Mexico. Here, First Nations’ Jackie Francke (Navajo) (left) and JoAnn Melchor (Santo Domingo Pueblo) (second from right) pose with Twila Cassadore and film director Sanjay Rawal. Twila is featured in GATHER for her work in restoring the traditional foods of the Apache people.

Celebrating Tananáwit

In our ongoing Native Arts highlights this month, we featured Tananáwit: A Community of Warm Springs Artists. This nonprofit, community-based arts organization supports Native artists from the Confederated Tribes of Warm Springs through educational and economic development opportunities. Learn more about how they give Native artists workspaces, tools, supplies, and more to create their art and sell it locally.

And, tune in to hear from Executive Director Deb Stacona (Confederated Tribes of Warm Springs) about Tananáwit’s impact in uplifting Native art and culture.

Webinar 2: History and Language Revitalization

Tuesday, Nov. 26, 2024, 10 am MT, Zoom Webinar

In this webinar, First Nations’ JoAnn Melchor has a conversation with Trisha Moquino (Pueblo Villages of Cochiti, Ohkay Owhingeh, and Kewa), founder of the Keres Children’s Learning Center in Cochiti Pueblo, New Mexico. Trisha shares the history of Pueblo languages and how KCLC navigates the challenges surrounding the loss of language and its revitalization.

Access the presentation materials.

Learn more about Keres Children’s Learning Center.