This Week at First Nations: October 6, 2023
Monday is Indigenous Peoples Day
At First Nations, every day is Indigenous Peoples Day. But on Monday, we join states and cities throughout the country in an official day of acknowledgement and appreciation of the cultures and contributions of Native peoples.
We shine a light on our Reclaiming Native Truth project and encourage people to help shift the narrative – increasing visibility of Native Americans, removing biases and barriers, and adding to a collective vision for improving the lives of all Native Peoples. To celebrate Native Americans on Monday and year-round, learn more in this Call to Action video.
Note: First Nations’ offices will be closed Monday in honor of the day.
It’s Time to Be ‘Invisible No More’
In our continuing work to improve policies and practices surrounding Native Americans, we’re happy to announce that Invisible No More: Voices from Native America is now available. The result of a multi-year collaboration between First Nations and The Nonprofit Quarterly, the book is a groundbreaking collection of stories by Native American leaders who are advancing cultural grounding and nation-building in the areas of community, environmental justice, and economic justice.
Co-editor Raymond Foxworth, Ph.D., explains that, in many ways, Invisible No More started on Indigenous Peoples Day in 2019, with the launch of our first article series highlighting the voices of Native community leaders with Steve Dubb and the team at The Nonprofit Quarterly. Read more about the history of the day and the call to action of Invisible No More in this blog post by Dr. Foxworth.
In celebration of Indigenous Peoples Day, Invisible No More is available for a limited time at a special rate. Preorder yours here and save 25%. Use promo code: VISIBLE
· Learn more about the book from editors Dr. Foxworth and Steve Dubb.
· Read insights from the publisher – Starting Monday on Indigenous Peoples Day, access the blog post from Island Press.
· Watch for ongoing promotions and conversations about Invisible No More as we approach the official release date.
2023 Luce Indigenous Knowledge Fellow Earns Top Alaska Artist Award
Anna Brown Ehlers, a member of First Nations’ 2023 cohort of Luce Indigenous Knowledge Fellows, was awarded the $50,000 Distinguished Artist Award by the Rasmuson Foundation ─ the highest honor given to 36 Alaska artists, makers, and culture bearers through its annual Individual Artist Awards. Anna is a celebrated Chilkat weaver from Juneau, Alaska, renowned over her 30+-year career for creating beautiful weavings for ceremonial and cultural use, and for passing on her knowledge to hundreds of students and apprentices. Congratulations, Anna!
Photo credit Rasmuson Foundation
Remaking the Economy: Movement Economies
How do people not only develop a vision of a democratic economy rooted in values of solidarity, but also organize to make that vision a collective reality? To address this question, First Nations’ A-dae Romero-Briones (Cochiti/Kiowa) joined fellow contributors of The Nonprofit Quarterly’s summer economic justice magazine for a 90-minute conversation on the concept of movement economies, and how they believe movement groups can be effective agents in advancing systemic economic change. Watch the webinar here.
ZYEP Art Apprentices Participate in Cultural Demonstration Program
Through the Emerging Artist Apprenticeship, a program of First Nations’ community partner Zuni Youth Enrichment Project, three young artists from Pueblo of Zuni attended the Grand Canyon Cultural Demonstration Program, where they had the opportunity to present their culture and artistry, while engaging with the public about the significance of traditional arts and what revitalization means for the future of Zuni people. Native News Online reports how the ZYEP program not only provides art instruction, but also connects young artists with experienced mentors who can help guide them on their artistic journeys. Read more.
Photo credit Zuni Youth Enrichment Project, Native News Online
Final Reminder: Register Now for Conservation Training
In collaboration with Acoma Department of Natural Resources, First Nations is hosting another five-day Conservation Planning Training & Workshop through our Advancing Agribusiness & Ecological Stewardship in the Southwest project.
Act now before October 8! The training will be held October 16 to 20, 2023, at the Pueblo of Acoma Auditorium. Registration is first-come, first-served, and limited to 20 Native agricultural producers in Pueblo of Acoma. Learn more and register.
Canada’s First Provincial First Nations Premier Elected in Manitoba
Manitoba has elected Canada’s first provincial First Nations premier: Wab Kinew, the 41-year-old head of the New Democratic Party, who has led the province’s party since 2017. Kinew’s win this week cements his place as the first First Nations politician to serve as a premier. The Guardian reports that Kinew, the son of an Anishinaabe chief, spent his youth on Onigaming First Nation land in the neighboring province of Ontario. Read more.
Photo credit The Guardian, Canadian Press, Shutterstock
Minnesota to Celebrate Indigenous Peoples Day as State-Recognized for First Time Ever
For the first time, Minnesota will observe Indigenous Peoples Day as a state-recognized holiday, and schools remaining open will dedicate at least one hour to educating students about the day’s significance, reports Native News Online. Minnesota lawmakers officially passed HF 211, which mandates that Indigenous Peoples Day school observance is required, Indigenous Peoples Day is a state holiday, and Christopher Columbus Day is eliminated as a state holiday. According to the article, the move is the latest in the state’s efforts to require the education of non-Natives on Native American issues, both historical and contemporary.
Photo credit Native News Online, Canva