|
The Indigenous Women's Network (IWN) was established as a grass roots
initiative mandated by over 200 Indigenous women at a gathering at
Yelm, Washington in 1985 and established/lead by a group of strong,
committed activists (Founding Mothers ). IWN has evolved over the last
twenty years into a coalition of native women from rural and urban
communities using Indigenous values to resolve contemporary problems;
acting as a champion of Indigenous Women, both Nationally and
Internationally. Over those years IWN is proud of its many
accomplishments and the programs that have been developed that provide
information, education, training, support and leadership development to
Indigenous Women across the Americas. Our mission has always been that
IWN will serve as a major driving force behind Indigenous communities,
mobilizing for change and addressing the myriad of issues affecting
Indigenous women and their families, Mother earth and the environment,
cultural/spiritual beliefs and traditions, health and tribal
governance.
Recent changes that occurred at IWN which included passing of some of
the Founding Mothers and changes in staffing led IWN to complete a year
of intensive capacity building that resulted in exciting leadership
changes, a focused direction and prioritized programming that is now
strengthening and transforming the organization to move forward with
our vision, taking a more strategic and organized approach. IWN has
emerged from this transition with more clarity and direction than ever
before and has led us to develop and begin implementation of bold
strategies that will ensure the long-term viability and sustainability
of our work. It has also helped us recognize that we must continue to
build capacity within our organization so that we can successfully
advocate for our constituency, in the Americas and throughout the
world. 1
The planning process that we have undertaken has caused our working
environment to be transformed to promote creative thinking, a high
level of enthusiasm and a renewed commitment on the part of Board and
staff. We offer this report and strategic plan for 2006 to our past and
current funders so they can see how the resources they have provided us
has helped us to move forward and as an invitation to potential
partners that are also creative, enthusiastic and committed toward our
vision and our future.
During the capacity building process, the Board developed a three-year
strategic plan that is specific, realistic, and achievable and
addresses the following organizational priorities.
- Securing financial sustainability for the organization
- Ongoing constituency and young leadership development
- Streamlining program development and focusing on "signature" programs
- Ensuring sustainability of Alma de Mujer while protecting the land and resources
ORGANIZATIONAL OVERVIEW
Vision
Our vision is based on the vision given by our Elders and the Original
Instructions inherited by our Grandmothers. We understand that, in
caring for Mother Earth, we care for ourselves. Women are the mothers
of our Nations, and we share the responsibility of being life givers,
nurturers, and sustainers of like with our Mother Earth
Values
- Self determination
- Sovereignty
- Self Sufficiency
- Tolerance
- Reciprocity
- Respect for human rights
- Working within the vision of the Elders
- Cultural and biological diversity
- Leadership roles for women
- Control over our bodies and improved health
- Balance between ourselves, our families, our communities, our Nations, and Mother Earth
- Respect for Indigenous land claims
Mission
Based on our vision, IWN serves as a major driving force behind
Indigenous communities; mobilizing for change by addressing issues
affecting Indigenous women and their families as well as Mother earth
and the environment, our cultural/spiritual beliefs and traditions, our
health and our tribal government. As a nonprofit organization, IWN
seeks to support and develop social, economic and cultural projects
that utilize appropriate and sustainable technology based on
traditional philosophy and practices.
Organizational History (1985-2005)
The Indigenous Women's Network (IWN) emerged from a gathering of over
200 Native women activists held at Yelm, Washington in 1985. The
organization was established by a group of activist Native American
women who committed their lives as activists in our movement. Under
their visionary leadership, IWN have become known for inspiring,
strategic, pro-active and affirming events, training programs and
publications that reach and link Indigenous women together in a network
that includes award winning artists, activists, authors, community
leaders, educators, attorneys and traditional healers. IWN also
connects Indigenous women activists together in order to share
information, ideas, and support. The approach in development and
delivery of our culturally centered programs rely on these and other
seasoned Indigenous women activists and leaders who share their
experience, teach, mentor and assist in development of critical tools
for organizing for sustainable communities. IWN has provided the means
and opportunities for Indigenous women to participate in the political
discussions relevant to our communities, to share their knowledge, and
to learn from nationally and internationally recognized activists,
artists, educators, and of course, Indigenous women Elders of the
Americas.
IWN continues to leverage support and resources that allow Indigenous
women to gather in safe spaces and discuss and define critical issues
among themselves, to mentor each other and to develop strategies to
participate in policy-making and direct advocacy for ourselves, our
families and our communities.
Accomplishments
- Building the capacity of over 250 Indigenous women each year
through workshops and gatherings to increase skills in organizational
management and project development, in culturally sensitive settings.
-
Training Indigenous women leaders who have established ongoing,
sustainable projects in their communities in South Dakota, addressing
cultural preservation, health and youth education issues.
-
Creating and publishing Indigenous Woman magazine since 1991 to provide the voice for Indigenous women nationally.
-
Advocating for Indigenous sovereignty and human rights by representing
Indigenous women at United Nations events for the past 13years,
addressing the environment, populations, economic development, and
human rights as they affect women.
-
Maintaining a ten-year youth program to serve low income Latino and Native American youth in the Austin area.
-
Served over 250 women during fiscal year 2002 through training
institutes, the Emerging Activist Cultural Arts Camp & Concert, the
UN World Conference on Sustainability, UN Indigenous Peoples Working
Group, Indigenous Woman magazine, Alma de Mujer Internships and
medicinal plant programs.
Our Constituency - Indigenous Women and our families
For complex reasons referring to a great deal of history and current
conditions, Indigenous peoples worldwide have become endangered
species. Through genocide, disease, development and imposed, foreign
economic structures, Indigenous peoples have become marginalized in
terms of a voice in the majority government, socially, and
economically. In the United States - unarguably the wealthiest, most
powerful nation on Earth - Indigenous peoples have the highest
unemployment, worst housing conditions, highest poverty levels, poorest
health and shortest life expectancy of any group in the country -
including other minorities.
Through years of ineffective problem solving that occurred outside and
without the input of the Indigenous community and led to failure after
failure, it is now widely recognized and cited as "best practice" that
any successful solution must come from within our community. As
Indigenous women, we have always been problem solvers in our
communities and we along with our sisters have worked sometimes quietly
but with much strength to support our families and communities in
addressing the many issues we face. Indigenous women are a critical
resource in our communities having worked courageously to bring
important issues affecting our communities to the forefront. Yet too
often, we have not been given the opportunity to speak and participate
in political platforms and community forums, to present testimony, or
to have a say within tribal government or boardrooms. However, our
voice has grown stronger. Since the early 1970s, we have asserted
ourselves in ongoing dialogues and are assuming greater authority in
the governance of our Nations and communities.
By caring for our children, we are often the first to realize threats
to our communities' health - and the first to recognize solutions. We
see our communities in a holistic fashion, seeing issues of education
and illiteracy, environmental and personal health, natural resource
management, housing, economic development, preservation of Native
language and culture, and spirituality as interrelated and
interdependent. We cannot - and should not - fix the one without
somehow addressing another.
Indigenous women, having few other places to turn, come to IWN for help
in facing the struggles in their communities with cultural,
environmental and economic threats. As civil society unfolds in
reservation communities, Indigenous women and nonprofit organizations
need to organize to form a united voice and to create our vision for
our future. We need Native-controlled organizations for this
organizing and development. We need to be able to pass on and acquire
new skills and knowledge to new leaders - particularly young women -
through our traditional ways of sharing orally and demonstrating, in a
safe and nurturing atmosphere.
IWN believes that successful Indigenous leaders must come from within a
community and have strong cultural and tribal ties. Even the experts
agree with us: "Strategies that build on the strengths of community
identity and culture are more likely to succeed than those imposed
externally."2
Our premise for our work lies in our belief that community change as
well as global change can be achieved for the benefit of Indigenous
peoples through developing strong leaders.
Signature Programs
- The Women's Gathering, the strength of IWN since 1985
Since to first gathering at Yelm in 1985, the Women's Gathering has
been the strength of IWN giving direction to our organization. The
Gathering is held at the community level and brings together between
100-200 Indigenous Women from across the Americas. Marking IWN
twentieth year anniversary, we have scheduled the next gathering in
2005 back where it all started Yelm, Washington. This years gathering
will be an opportunity to celebrate and evaluate 20 years of Indigenous
women's leadership, to identify the continuing needs of our
constituency, and to receive critical guidance from our communities for
our work in years to come.
- Indigenous Woman is the only magazine in existence that is written by,
for and about Indigenous women. The magazine increases Native and
non-Native understanding of issues affecting Indigenous peoples, and
provides a basis for cultural and political exchange.
- Alma de Mujer - Home of IWN since 1996
Alma de Mujer, the home of IWN, was donated to the organization in
1996. Alma is a 22 acre paradise located in the Balcones Canyon
Preserve and is a safe haven for six of the eight animals on the
endangered species list, including the Yellow-Cheeked Warbler, the
Black Vireo and the Salamander. Alma has provided IWN with office and
program space and operated as a retreat center and a place where
Indigenous people from the Austin community could gather and where
progressive organizations could re-energize and continue their work
promoting social change. IWN has charged nominal fees to users of Alma
and have identified the need over the years of creating a more
sustainable plan around Alma's operation. IWN is also committed to
maintaining the environmental integrity of the land and taking the
utmost care and having respect for the part of our Mother Earth that
has been entrusted to us. The focus on Alma this year will be twofold:
a) development of a business plan to ensure the financial
sustainability and b) a land management plan to ensure that the land
will be taken care of in a way that honors our Mother earth and that is
in keeping with our vision, mission and the wishes of our Founding
Mothers.
- The Emerging Activist Leadership Program - IWN Flagship Program since 1998
The Emerging Activist Leadership Program provides an internship
opportunity that takes place over the course of a year to five young
Indigenous women leaders. The program will prepare these five
Indigenous women to lead the organization in the future by mentoring
them to become leaders in the movement for a greater empowerment of
Indigenous women, and for the preservation of Indigenous values and
culture throughout the world.
Leadership
Through the last twenty (20) years, IWN has maintained their original
values, vision and mission through the dedicated service of the
Founding Mothers and the Native women activists who have consistently
been an intrecal part of the organization from the beginning. In recent
years however, IWN entered into a time of transition resulting from the
passing of several of the Founding Mothers and leaders, the consequent
grief and continuing the demanding work that has taken place over the
last 20 years. The surviving Founding Mothers, a group of tenacious and
visionary women who have sustained the organization through difficult
times, provided the leadership through the transitional period
resulting in an historic changing of the guard in 2004 with the
Founding Mothers and the Kahunas (Elders) becoming advisors on a new
Honorary Board, and new leadership which includes Board members who
have been with IWN for a number of years stepping into critical roles
on the governing Board.
A new generation of Indigenous women - including graduates of the first
Emerging Activist Leadership Program - now leads IWN. Strengthening the
acumen and capacity of IWN leadership through bold programs that
support the ongoing development, recruitment, and succession is a
priority for the next three years.
----
1. Capacity building
in 2004 was carried out with the support of the Ford Foundation, the
Unitarian Universalist VEATCH Program at Shelter Rock, the Sister Fund,
the Tides Foundation, and the Environmental Support Center
2. Quote from a March 1992 survey of American Indian-Alaska Native
Youth Health by Drs. Blum, Harmon, Harris, Bergeisen and Resnick.
|
Signature Programs 
