INDIGENOUS ROOTS & REPARATION FND

INDIGENOUS ROOTS & REPARATION FOUNDATION (IRRF) CONTINUED TO EXPAND ITS CULTURAL, EDUCATIONAL, AND COMMUNITY-BASED PROGRAMMING THROUGHOUT THE YEAR, WELCOMING TRIBAL MEMBERS AND THE BROADER COMMUNITY ONTO THE P'SQUOSA HOMELAND TO LEARN, GATHER, AND STRENGTHEN RELATIONSHIPS GROUNDED IN TRADITIONAL TEACHINGS. A CORE FOCUS OF IRRF'S WORK REMAINS ITS LAND BACK INITIATIVE, THROUGH WHICH THE ORGANIZATION IS ACTIVELY FUNDRAISING TO PURCHASE LAND THAT WILL SERVE AS A PERMANENT SPACE FOR CEREMONY, CULTURAL PRACTICE, INTERGENERATIONAL LEARNING, AND COMMUNITY WELLNESS. A. IRRF HOSTED ONE OF ITS LARGEST PROGRAMS TO DATE, THE INDIAN HEMP SYMPOSIUM, IN WENATCHEE, WASHINGTON. THIS FIRST-OF-ITS-KIND REGIONAL GATHERING WELCOMED TRIBAL MEMBERS AND DESCENDANTS FROM ACROSS INDIAN COUNTRY, INCLUDING PARTICIPANTS TRAVELING FROM BRITISH COLUMBIA, IDAHO, MONTANA, OREGON, AND THROUGHOUT WASHINGTON STATE. THE SYMPOSIUM FEATURED PRACTITIONER-LED PRESENTATIONS ON TRADITIONAL PLANT PROCESSING, A DEDICATED YOUTH DAY, AND A TWO-DAY COMMUNITY GATHERING. ATTENDEES RANGED IN AGE FROM 8 TO 75, REFLECTING IRRF'S COMMITMENT TO INTERGENERATIONAL LEARNING AND CULTURAL REVITALIZATION. B. THROUGH PARTNERSHIP WITH NCW LIBRARIES, IRRF HOSTED MULTIPLE INDIGENOUS-LED BOOK CLUBS, BOTH IN-PERSON AND VIRTUAL. THE WENATCHEE LIBRARY AND LEAVENWORTH LIBRARY SITES PROVIDED WELCOMING SPACES FOR YOUNG ADULTS, AND ELDERS (AGES YOUNG ADULT TO 70) TO READ AND DISCUSS WORKS BY INDIGENOUS AUTHORS. THESE GATHERINGS FOSTERED DIALOGUE, STORYTELLING, AND COMMUNITY CONNECTION. C. DURING NATIVE AMERICAN HERITAGE MONTH, IRRF PARTNERED WITH THE WENATCHEE VALLEY MUSEUM TO HOST ITS ANNUAL FILM & PANEL SERIES FEATURING THE DOCUMENTARY FISH WAR. IRRF ELDERS AND STAFF PARTICIPATED IN POST-FILM DISCUSSIONS, PROVIDING CULTURAL AND HISTORICAL CONTEXT. IRRF ALSO PARTNERED WITH THE RUBY THEATER IN CHELAN, WASHINGTON, TO HOST AN ADDITIONAL SCREENING AND PANEL DISCUSSION, WHERE BOARD MEMBERS ENGAGED COMMUNITY MEMBERS IN DIALOGUE. D. IRRF PARTICIPATED IN THE EARTH DAY FAIR HOSTED BY SUSTAINABLE NCW, SHARING INFORMATION ABOUT ITS PROGRAMS, CONDUCTING A COMMUNITY SURVEY, AND INCREASING PUBLIC AWARENESS ABOUT INDIGENOUS-LED LAND STEWARDSHIP AND CULTURAL INITIATIVES. E. IN CONTINUED COMMITMENT TO HONORING ELDERS, IRRF CARRIED OUT ITS THIRD ANNUAL HOLIDAY GIFT-GIVING PROGRAM FOR RESIDENTS OF THE COLVILLE CONVALESCENT CENTER IN NESPELEM, WASHINGTON. STAFF, BOARD MEMBERS, AND VOLUNTEERS PURCHASED AND DELIVERED GIFTS BASED ON PERSONALIZED LISTS PROVIDED BY THE CENTER. THIS EFFORT ENSURES THAT ELDERS ARE RECOGNIZED, CELEBRATED, AND SUPPORTED DURING THE HOLIDAY SEASON. THROUGH THESE PROGRAMS AND PARTNERSHIPS, IRRF STRENGTHENED COMMUNITY HEALTH, ADVANCED CULTURAL REVITALIZATION, AND INCREASED REGIONAL AWARENESS OF INDIGENOUS ISSUES.