Current Issue

September 2021

Dear Friends,

Right now, there is a growing awareness throughout the country about the need for greater justice across all facets of our lives, from the environment, to our economies, to our social interactions. Growing as well is First Nations’ continued commitment to the Native communities that are advancing this justice and that hold the answers to the biggest challenges our world faces today.

This fall, we share a few stories that illustrate that commitment, and we again thank you for your continued support of First Nations and the communities we serve.

The September 2021 Indian Giver features:

• Guided to Learn, Inspired to Thrive – With support from First Nations’ 2021 GATHER Food Sovereignty Grant, the O Makuʻu Ke Kahua Community Center is hosting a new curriculum of workshops designed to help community members invest in their own food systems, feed their families, and thrive through challenges.
• A Creative Space for Oceti Sakowin Writers – This year, the Oak Lake Writers’ Society Tribal Writing Retreat shifted to a virtual format, welcoming even more Oceti Sakowin writers and expanding the reach of this first-of-its-kind writers’ platform.
• Native Youth Business Plan Competition Fosters Culture, Opens Doors – For Victor Corpuz (Laguna), presenting a business plan before a gathering of Native business leaders and entrepreneurs provided not only a skills-building exercise, but an opportunity to acknowledge and celebrate the ingenuity of Native people. This article recaps Victor’s experience and showcases this inspiring event.

Plus:

• Knowledge Makers, Knowledge Sharers – 2020 Luce Indigenous Knowledge Fellow  Lloyd Kumulāʻau. Sing, Jr. (Native Hawaiian) is sharing knowledge about both ʻ ieʻ ie basket weaving and traditional Hawaiian carving, helping preserve precious cultural art forms.
• Spotlight on Innovative Teen – Meet high school senior Jacob Stein, who reached out to First Nations about his small-dollar approach to creating a big impact for nonprofits, while instilling a habit of philanthropy in young people like himself. 

Read the full issue here.