This Week at First Nations: June 2, 2023
Investing in Native Youth – New Grant Funding Awarded to 22 Native-Led Organizations
First Nations awarded multiple grants totaling $460,000 through our Native Youth and Culture Fund to Native-led nonprofits, community organizations, and tribes that provide youth opportunities that enhance culture and language awareness, and promote youth empowerment, leadership, and community building. This latest round of funding was made possible thanks to the many donors who gave generously to First Nations’ matching gift campaign last summer. Read about the 2022 grantees here.
Strengthening Conservation Planning at the Pueblo of Acoma
First Nations’ five-day Conservation Planning Training & Workshop, held last month in collaboration with Acoma Department of Natural Resources, guided attendees through the development of conservation plans using a mix of hands-on learning, field work, and classroom instruction.
On Day 2 of the training, featured here, First Nations’ consultant Clayton Harvey covered soil characteristics and evaluation, consultant Annette Bravo covered wildlife habitat and range health assessment, and First Nations’ Leiloni Begaye covered plant identification, plant production, and composition. Watch for more training highlights from First Nations in the weeks to come!
First Nations Shares Insights on Native American Graves Protection and Repatriation Act
In May, First Nations’ California Tribal Fund Program Officer Sabine Talaugon joined fellow speakers on “Challenging Colonialism,” a podcast created to amplify Indigenous perspectives on issues of concern to Native California communities. In “You Have Disturbed our Ancestors,” Sabine discusses how NAGPRA is a human rights law, bringing some respect and integrity to centuries of inappropriate interaction with Native American ancestral remains and the colonial mindset that continues in this country. Listen to the podcast here.
Introducing “The Result of…” by First Nations Intern Matthew Concho
As part of First Nations’ overall approach to investing in Native youth and ensuring the health and sustainability of Native communities, we’re amplifying the voice of our Summer Intern Matthew Concho. This summer, Matthew will write a monthly column, “The Result of…,” describing his experience supporting First Nations’ mission and his interest in the status of infrastructures on Indian reservations. Matthew is a freshman at the University of New Mexico, and is majoring in construction management. Watch for his first installment June 30, 2023.
Denver Museum of Nature and Science to Shut Down Indigenous Exhibit
The North American Indian Cultures Hall at the Denver Museum of Nature and Science will soon close as it perpetuates harmful stereotypes and centers white, dominant culture, reports CBS Colorado. The exhibit, installed in 1978, has culturally insensitive language, and the displays treat Indigenous people as relics of the past. Donna Chrisjohn, a consultant on the project and member of Denver American Indian Commission, asserts that it is important to have accurate information and portrayal of who we are. Read more.
Photo credit CBS
New York’s Latest One-of-a-Kind Store ‘Like an Indigenous-Futurist Version of Warhol’s Factory’
This week, The Guardian features an interview with entrepreneurs Liana Shewey and Korina Emmerich, who have opened the boutique Relative Arts NYC, which carries pieces by Indigenous designers and hosts literary readings, album releases and art installations by Indigenous artists. They say the merchandise builds on their mission to shatter stereotypes and speaks to “Indigenous futurism,” an emerging art and design movement that leans away from cliches. Read more.
Photo credit Maria Spann/The Guardian
