Say hello to the new Potlatch Fund Executive Committee! L-R: Jordann Lankford (president), Mer Parker (vice president), Celina Phair (treasurer), Amber Schulz-Oliver (secretary), Brie Coyle Jones (compliance officer) The Potlatch Fund Board of Directors gathered on Saturday, January 27th in Portland, OR, for the annual public meeting where they reorganized their leadership and set goals for the year. The board established three committees for this year – the finance committee, grantmaking committee and the gala committee. The board voted on new executive committee members and welcomed Jordann Lankford (Gross Ventre/Little Shell) as the new president, Mer Parker (Makah) as vice president, Celina Phair (Lummi Nation) as treasurer, Amber Schulz-Oliver (Celilo/Yakama) as secretary and Brie Coyle Jones (Quileute Desc.) as compliance
Community Relations and Innovation Grant
Announcing the 2023 Community Relations and Innovation Grantees Potlatch Fund is pleased to announce the new 2023 Community Relations and Innovation (CRI) Fund grantees. This grant supports individual Native artists, Native organizations and tribal entities that continue to focus on ‘the people on the ground’ in Native communities who are committed to serving the needs of their community. For this inaugural round, Potlatch Fund granted 44 grants totaling $396,800 to individual Native artists, organizations, and tribal entities in Washington, Idaho, Oregon and Montana. Funds will support these grantees to expand their vital work for long lasting positive impacts in their communities. The Community Relations and Innovation Fund was established to simplify our grant practices. This first round sought applicants
Potlatch Fund Staffing Announcement
The Potlatch Fund Board of Directors wishes to inform you of the transition of the Executive Director position. After three years of service Cleora Hill-Scott has transitioned out of the role of Executive Director. The Board is actively working to ensure a smooth transition. In the interim, Rebecca Miles and Shannon Kopelva will step into the role as Co-Directors as they have both proven track records within the Potlatch Fund and are committed to maintaining stability and continuity in operations. We understand the importance of transparency in our relationship with our valued funders, community partners, grantees and NW tribes and we are dedicated to providing updates on our progress. Our commitment to the Potlatch Fund’s mission is unwavering and we
Registration Is Open For The Uplifting Artists Celebration!
You’re Invited! Join us on Saturday, October 22, 2022 at the Seattle Art Museum from 6:30 pm to 10:00 pm for the Uplifting Artists Celebration! We come together to celebrate 20+ years of Native artist grantees and their intrinsic benefit to our communities through art, culture, music, language and service. REGISTER HERE Your ticket incudes food, drinks, gallery access, shop at our Native art market, live music, fashion show and fun. This is a 21+ event. Potlatch Fund Artist Grantees: Email info@nullpotlatchfund.org for a discount code to register for the event. Sponsorships: Opportunities are available, email development@nullpotlatchfund.org or click the Sponsor Our Event button on the registration page. COVID-19: Please be prepared to present a COVID-19 vaccination card with proof of initial vaccination and booster or a
Determined to Make a Difference, Mikailah Thompson
Mikailah Thompson, Black Nimíipuu (Nez Perce): Determined to make a difference Mikailah is an artist, activist & entrepreneur. A Resiliency Fund Grantee Partner from Idaho, Mikailah lifts up and embraces both her communities through her work and activism. Mikailah co-hosts the podcast Quantum Theory with fellow artist Kellen Lewis, Black Nimíipuu (Nez Perce). The podcast amplifies Black-Indigenous voices as they share their own personal experiences of being biracial. In episode 33, MITA’ÁPTIT WAX̣ MITÁAT, Thirty-Three: Listening Waves, Diversify they discuss viewing recommendations. Here’s what they’re watching and learning from: They’ve Gotta Have Us, 2019, a docuseries that traces the history of Black cinema, created by Simon Frederick. Available on Netflix. RUMBLE: The Indians Who Rocked the World, 2018, a documentary
2021 Message from Cleora Hill-Scott
A New Year Message from Our Executive Director, Cleora Hill-Scott Dear friends of Potlatch Fund, As we greet the New Year, we pause to say thank you. Without your generosity, Potlatch Fund could not do the critical and necessary work of supporting Native communities as they meet the ongoing challenges of a worldwide pandemic. We invite you to help us with this important and life-saving work. In the past 12 months, we launched a new initiative—the Resiliency Fund—in order to keep moving resources as quickly as possible to our Native families. Our intention with the Resiliency Fund was to supply much-needed funding to individuals and organizations on the ground in hard-hit communities. But it was also to learn about the
Dancer, Sunmiet Maben
For Sunmiet Maben, The Dance Goes On Madras, OregonA Resiliency Fund Grantee Partner Sunmiet Maben grew up dancing. On the Warm Springs Reservation in north-central Oregon, dancing was an integral part of worship services, social gatherings including pow wows, and funerals. “We kind of joked that I danced before I was born,” she says. “And I say that about my son because while I was pregnant, I was still dancing.” At the same time, Sunmiet was not so enthusiastic about sports in general, which “was a huge, huge thing on the reservation.” “I was not athletic,” she says. “I was not good at basketball, I’m not good at softball and volleyball. I was little and that just wasn’t my thing.
Mariana Harvey works to build community and empower youth
Join Potlatch Fund as we celebrate the beautiful vibrancy of our Native communities at Potlatch Fund’s 19th Annual Gala on November 6, 2021. This will be a virtual event. Featured Performers include, Raye Zaragoza, Khu.éex’, and Hailey Tayathy. [Read More]
Program with Reservation Roots Brings Hope and Healing Through Music
Join Potlatch Fund as we celebrate the beautiful vibrancy of our Native communities at Potlatch Fund’s 19th Annual Gala on November 6, 2021. This will be a virtual event. Featured Performers include, Raye Zaragoza, Khu.éex’, and Hailey Tayathy. [Read More]
The Resiliency Fund Reveals Immense and Enduring Need in Native Communities
The Resiliency Fund Reveals Immense and Enduring Need in Native Communities To Our Giving Partners, Early in 2021, we asked for funding and your trust, and you gave us both. The result was the Resiliency Fund, representing a new, more inclusive vision of grantmaking. With the Resiliency Fund, we removed barriers by streamlining our application process and broadening eligibility requirements. We reached deeper than ever into our communities. Starting in June, the applications flooded into our Seattle office from every corner of our four-state service area—and many of them were from first-time applicants. Through their stories, we learned just how big and pervasive the needs remain in Indian Country. Now, we ask for your continued help as the COVID-19 pandemic