Native communities know about philanthropy.
“Philanthropy in Indian Country is more important than ever, to reclaim what is lost and to build our communities,” says Potlatch Board President Amber Schulz-Oliver. “Whether you call it give-away or potlatch, we have always practiced systems to be able to redistribute wealth.”
Join us for our 18th Annual Gala on November 7 to find out how Potlatch Fund has been affirming and advancing the Native traditions of giving and generosity at a time when Native communities are grappling with the COVID-19 pandemic. Register here.
While the pandemic has highlighted deep inequities in how Native communities are funded by traditional philanthropy, it has also provided an opportunity for Potlatch Fund to further advance a model of giving that is anti-colonial and uniquely Indigenous.
“And as we develop our new norms, we strive to resist the colonialized ways of philanthropy and funding, which is grounded in mistrust,” says Executive Director Cleora Hill-Scott. “We seek to normalize flexibility built on trust.”
Hear from Celeste Whitewolf, who used a grant from Potlatch Fund to revive the traditional Native way of gathering, processing and weaving using natural materials. And from James Jaime, who was supported by Potlatch Fund as he sought to record and preserve the Quileute language for future generations. Find out from author Alyssa London how a Potlatch Fund grant helped get her book published so a new generation could benefit from its message of cultural identity and inclusivity.
While COVID-19 continues to challenge our communities, we also celebrate the opportunity we have to support Native youth, culture keepers, and artists in the days ahead.
We invite you to join us for an evening embracing the richness and diversity of our Native cultures, and the resilience of our communities.