A Journey Into Indian Country
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lessons for philanthropy: a journey into indian country 1 indian country Inupiaq St. Lawrence Island Yupik Gwich’in Holikachuk Koyukon Deg Xinag Upper Tanana Hän Kuskokwim Yup’ik Tanacross Dena’ina Ahtna Upper Tanana U n a n g a n Eyak a q p i u g / S i i q T l i n g i t A l u t Haida Jamestown S’Klallam Muckleshoot Port Gamble S’Klallam Tulalip Nooksack Lower Elwha Klallam Samish Lummi Puyallup Upper Skagit Colville Confederated Tribes Kalispel Tribe Makah Swinomish Quileute Sauk Suiattle Hoh Stillaguamish Kootenai Quinault Skokomish WA Snoqualmie Blackfeet Rocky Boy’s Squaxin LUMMI MAKAH SuquamishNOOKSACK San Spokane Tribe Juan Wha LOWER tcom Shoalwater Bay ELWHA SAMISH KLALLAM Okan NisquallyClalla UPPER SKAG ogan m SWIN QUILEUT Isl OMISH and IT E JAMEST Ferry Confederated St Chehalis OWN Skag evens KLALLAM it Flathead HOH Pend Fort Belknap Je ST SAUK-SUIATTLE O fferson Cowlitz TULALIPILLAGUAMISH reille Fort Peck PORT GAMB QUINAULT S’KL LETribes of the Coeur d’Alene A Grand Ronde M LLAM CO LVILLE ason C Kitsap SUQUAMIS Snoh Che ONFEDERATED KALISPEL SKOKOMIS omish lan H SNOQUALMIE H TRIBES TRIBE G Yakama Nation Siletz rays Kin H g arbor SQUAXIN D MUCKLESHO ouglas SHOALWAT Nez Perce CHE PUY SPO ER HALIS ALLUP OT KANE MT NISQUALLY T BAY Thu RIBE rston L incoln P acific Kitt Pierce itas Gran t Spo WarmWah SpringsLewis Yakima kane kiakum Umatilla Adam C s COWLIT owlitz Z W CON hitman FEDERATED Coos, Lower Umpqua & Siuslaw TRIBES OF T YAKAMA NATIONHE Fr North Cheyenne Cow Creek Band anklin CClalark Crow rk Ska Gar mania field Co lumbia Kl Ben ickitat ton Walla Coquille Walla OR Asotin Klamath Burns Paiute ID Wind River NW Shoshoni Shoshone Bannock WY Top: Indigenous Peoples and Languages of Alaska, Alaska Native Language Center and Institute of Social and Economic Research, 2011 Bottom: Our thanks to Potlatch Fund for guiding us on the map of 5 Northwest states 2 table of contents thank you to native leaders and allies....................................................................................4 introduction ........................................................................................................................................................6 listen first ............................................................................................................................................................8 cultural identity matters ..................................................................................................................12 honor native voices ...................................................................................................................................16 learn from mistakes ................................................................................................................................20 the importance of storytelling ....................................................................................................24 build true partnerships ........................................................................................................................26 the long view ....................................................................................................................................................32 concluding thoughts ...............................................................................................................................34 3 thank you to native leaders and allies who helped us by participating in programs, hosting site visits, counseling us on approach, or in any way advancing our journey. 2006 Andrea Alexander, Makah Christine Dupres, Cowliatz/Cree Potlatch Fund Native American Youth and Family Center Jason Baldes, Eastern Shoshone Ken Gordon Young Warrior Society Potlatch Fund Jolene Catron, Navajo Nation Judge Cynthia Jordan Wind River Alliance Coeur d’Alene Tribal Court Justin Finkbonner, Lummi Nation Jo Ann Kauffmann, Nez Perce Potlatch Fund Kauffmann & Associates, Inc. Vonda Limpy, Northern Cheyenne Janie Leask, Haida/Tsimshian Prayer Lodge First Alaskans Institute Dr. Richard Littlebear, Northern Cheyenne Jeanie Louie, Coeur d’Alene Chief Dull Knife College Coeur d’Alene Tribe Dr. Henrietta Mann, Cheyenne/Arapaho Leslie Louie, Blackfoot Montana State University Coeur d’Alene Tribe Major Robinson, Northern Cheyenne Dr. Chris Meyer, Coeur d’Alene Governor’s Office of Indian Affairs Coeur d’Alene Tribe Redstone Consulting Kohl Miner, Ho-Chunk Rick Robinson, Northern Cheyenne Native Americans in Philanthropy Boys & Girls Club of the Northern Jim Murphy Cheyenne Nation Coeur d’Alene Tribe Bonnie Sachatello-Sawyer Judge Mary Pearson, Coeur d’Alene Hopa Mountain Coeur d’Alene Tribal Court Curtis Yarlott, Crow Tribe of Indians Joy Persall, Ontario Ojibwe St. Labre Indian School Native Americans in Philanthropy Dr. David Yarlott, Jr., Crow Tribe of Indians April Pierce, Kalispel Little Big Horn College Kalispel Tribe 2007 Lucille Echohawk, Pawnee Robert Spaulding Casey Family Programs Coeur d’Alene Tribe Ricardo Lopez, Aleut Marc Stewart Rasmuson Foundation Coeur d’Alene Tribe Dr. Martina Whelshula, Arrow Lakes Jeanette Taylor Spokane Tribal College Couer d’Alene Tribe The Healing Lodge of the Seven Nations 2009 Felix Aripa, Coeur d’Alene 2008 Doyle Anderson, Red Pheasant First Nation Coeur d’Alene Tribe Idaho State University, Native American Business Janeen Comenote, Quinault/Hesquiaht/Oglala Susan Anderson, Tlingit United Indians of All Tribes The CIRI Foundation David Cournoyer, Rosebud Sioux Dr. Johnel Barcus, Blackfoot Native Americans in Philanthropy Browning Community Development Corporation 4 Jenine Grey, Tlingit Tony Incashola, Flathead Chief Seattle Club Salish-Pend d’Oreille Cultural Committee Charles Hudson, Hidatsa Martin Jennings, Leech Lake Band of Ojibwe Columbia River Inter-Tribal Fish Commission Northwest Area Foundation Janie Leask, Haida/Tsimshian Darrell Kipp, Blackfoot First Alaskans Institute Blackfoot Language School Nichole Maher, Tlingit/Haida Veronica Maday, Bad River Band of Native American Youth and Family Center Lake Superior Chippewa Indian Nonprofit Association Byron Mallott, Tlingit First Alaskans Institute Tachini Pete, Salish Nkwusm Salish Language Revitalization Shelley Means, White Earth Chippewa/ Institute Oglala Lakota Native Americans in Philanthropy Gerald Sherman, Oglala Lakota Indian Nonprofit Association Matt Morton, Squaxin Island National Indian Child Welfare Association Marissa Spang, Northern Cheyenne/ Crow Nations Elizabeth Woody, Yakama Nation/Navajo Nation Boys & Girls Club of the Northern Native Arts and Cultures Foundation Cheyenne Nation 2010 Shasta Cano-Martin, Cheyenne River Geri Small, Northern Cheyenne Lummi Cedar Project Boys & Girls Club of the Northern Cheyenne Nation Natalie Charley, Quinault Indian Nation Taala Fund and Northwest Native Chamber organizations: Cheryl Crazy Bull, Sicangu Lakota American Indian Business Leaders Northwest Indian College Bobcat Singers Dull Knife Indian College Chandra Hampson, Winnebago/ Native Americans in Philanthropy White Earth Chippewa Native Arts and Cultures Foundation Enterprise Cascadia Nkwusm Salish Language School Potlatch Fund Darrell Hillaire, Lummi Nation Rose Creek Singers Lummi Youth Academy Salish-Kootenai College Kellie Jewett, Cheyenne River Sioux St. Labre Indian School First Nations Oweesta Corporation The Salish Institute Wind River Group Eric Jordan, Confederated Tribes of the Grand Ronde tribes: ONABEN Colville Confederated Tribe Crow Indian Nation Y. Elaine Stephens, Hopi/Cherokee Lummi Nation Native Americans in Philanthropy Northern Cheyenne Indian Nation Suquamish Tribe 2011 Johnny Arlee, Confederated Salish Tulalip Tribe and Kootenai Tribes Salish Kootenai College Dana Arviso, Diné Potlatch Fund …and to any who offered their reflection and Tina Begay, Navajo guidance whom we have forgotten to list. Salish Kootenai College The list identifies leaders and allies in the year they Carly Hare, Pawnee/Yankton Sioux began work with us. Native Americans in Philanthropy 5 introduction From the Northwest Coast to the Northern Plains, our region is rich with the history, art, and culture of its indigenous people. Its largest city is named for a Suquamish chief. Regional museums display masks, beadwork, and baskets that celebrate Native artistry. Totem poles grace city parks. In raw number, approximately half of the 565 federally recognized Tribal entities make their home in the six states that Philanthropy Northwest serves. The United States Census Bureau estimates roughly half a million Native people live in our region (or 3.7% of our population versus 1.4% nationally). Alaska Natives make up 19% of the Alaska population.1 In light of this, it is notable that organized philanthropy has relatively little engagement in Indian Country. Nationally, less than half of one percent of all foundation dollars are directed to Native people. Northwest numbers are slightly better, ranging between 1% and 2%.2 Still, the intersection between the region’s philanthropy and its indigenous people is modest. Additionally, most of the grants to Indian Country originate from a relatively small number of foundations. Considering that Native populations face such significant socio-economic challenges, this weak alignment between philanthropy and Native communities is all the more striking. In 2006, Philanthropy Northwest set out to promote more philanthropic engagement in Indian Country. We began that effort by acknowledging our limitations. Our staff knew very little about Indian Country. We had few relationships