INDIAN GIVER is published quarterly by First Nations to share the impact of the Native-led projects and initiatives we invest in and to celebrate the strength and future of Native communities. The phrase INDIAN GIVER entered the English language under historical circumstances that distorted its meaning within Native American culture, where it never carried the negative cargo we know it by today. The true meaning signifies a willingness to care, an expectation of sharing; and a cultural commitment to reciprocity that was not to be questioned. Indian giving was and is the future wealth of society.
March 2025 Newsletter
Highlights from First Nations, Gratitude for You
Dear Friends,
Welcome to the March 2025 issue of Indian Giver, First Nations’ quarterly newsletter.
In this first issue of the new year, we share a story about the Natural Resources Department of the Mooretown Rancheria of Maidu Indians of California. We also highlight our Tribal Food Systems Research Fellowship, Luce Indigenous Knowledge Fellowship, and the importance of amplifying Indigenous knowledge. And, as our series of films on Native ecological stewardship concludes, we recap all the stories in celebration of the amazing efforts of our Stewarding Native Lands community partners.
In our Donor Spotlight, you’ll meet Sophia Sutherlun, a Californian-turned-Texan who, as a trauma therapist, has a special interest in donating to causes for Native women. And 2024 Luce Indigenous Knowledge Fellow Ivan MacDonald, an award-winning Indigenous filmmaker, updates us on the documentaries he is working on, including his recently released film, “Bring Them Home,” about the Blackfeet Tribe returning bison to their ancestral homelands.
Thank you for your continued support of First Nations.
Mooretown Rancheria Leads with Tribal Expertise
The Natural Resources Department of the Mooretown Rancheria of Maidu Indians of California is ideally positioned to ensure that climate resiliency efforts incorporate the cultural and traditional ecological knowledge that has sustained the Maidu Indians since before recorded time. Now, through a new land acquisition and grassroots support, the tribe is building on its expertise to create even greater impact for the climate and the environment. Read more.
Luce Indigenous Knowledge Fellows Perpetuate Native Lifeways and Ingenuity
There are 574 federally recognized tribes in the United States, along with 400 more that are not federally recognized. Backing each tribe are robust and unique knowledge bases that are not only rooted in centuries-old wisdom, but also continuously evolving, providing a rich resource for understanding and managing the challenges that many communities face today. Indigenous knowledge is not only a knowledge base, but also, an Indigenous perspective that informs future learnings and interactions. It is both know-how and approach.
As First Nations wraps up the first all-cohort gathering of the Luce Indigenous Knowledge Fellowship, we reflect on the purpose of the fellowship and the importance of acknowledging, celebrating, and amplifying Indigenous knowledge ― for the good of Native communities and all of society. Read more.
New Films Highlight Conservation and Traditional Knowledge
Across the country, Native communities are cultivating traditional knowledge and experience to steward Native resources and lands in ways that are creating long-term benefits for the environment, society, and the future. First Nations is helping support this knowledge and experience through our Indigenous Partnership to Advance Native American Communities and Producers project, made possible with funding from the USDA Natural Resource Conservation Services.
An exciting component of the project is the production of four films highlighting models of successful tribal stewardship practices. Throughout the last year, the films have been featured at screenings and gatherings and through First Nations’ website and social media channels. With the last film wrapping up this month, First Nations highlights them all collectively here.
Meet 2024 Luce Indigenous Knowledge Fellow Ivan MacDonald
Ever since Ivan MacDonald (Blackfeet Tribe) was 10 years old, he has been drawn to films. He would sneak downstairs at night, while his family slept, to watch movies on satellite TV, like “Pulp Fiction” and “Blue Velvet.” Today, MacDonald and his sister, Ivy, are Emmy Award-winning documentary filmmakers who specialize in Indigenous storytelling. They have completed three documentaries, with another three in production. Their most recent film, “Bring Them Home,” came out last spring and details how their tribe, the Blackfeet, is bringing back bison to their ancestral homelands. The 2024 Luce Indigenous Knowledge Fellow served as both director and producer, alongside Ivy and Lily Gladstone, the executive producer, and first Native American actress to win a Golden Globe Award. Read more.
From Fund Raiser to Fund Giver
Sophia Sutherlun has been on both sides of philanthropy ― as a fundraiser for an international human rights organization in Washington, D.C. and now as a longtime donor to First Nations. A licensed trauma therapist, Sutherlun is a mother of two girls, and she is passionate about supporting causes centered around women ― particularly Native women. She has her sights set on leveraging her therapy experience to one day help the Missing and Murdered Indigenous Women (MMIW) movement. “As a woman, I want to ally myself with my Native sisters who experience such high rates of violence without justice,” she says. And as a mother of young girls, she is further motivated to create a safer world for them, too. Read more.
