The Strength of Tradition Empowers the Future

A program of Seventh Generation Fund for Indigenous Peoples that supports Indigenous grassroots organizations protecting Mother Earth’s natural systems and ability to nurture and sustain life.

Since 1492 we have witnessed and survived a sickness that the Doctrine of Discovery brought to the western hemisphere and throughout other parts of the world. Monolithic regimes brought by colonialism justified the domination and objectification of Mother Earth. Through domination, control and brutality we have seen water, land, air, and species be exploited with little hesitation by state sanctioned private industries. Indigenous ways of understanding relationships to all human and non-human kinship have been undermined, silenced, and repressed in the last 500 years.

We are now witnessing International arenas such as the United Nations begin to amplify the voices of Indigenous Peoples in climate actions and conversations. A 2019 UN report found that although Indigenous Peoples only make up 5% of the global population, we protect 80% of Mother Earth’s Biodiversity. With that, we are also seeing more people are now advocating for private property owners and governments to give land back to Indigenous Peoples as a necessary step to addressing climate change and centuries of wrongdoings.

Seventh Generation Fund for Indigenous Peoples is dedicated to the self-determination and sovereignty of Native Nations. Since the inception of the organization, the board has always comprised of resilient Indigenous cultural bearers from throughout the Indigenous World. In 2016 with the support of the Christensen Fund, we launched our Tradition Bearers for Bio-Cultural Diversity Fellowship where we were able to recognize Individuals, elders and culturally anchored Indigenous Peoples who are strengthened by tradition and are empowering the future.

In this publication you will read submissions from a selection of our current board members alongside some of our Tradition Bearer for Bio-cultural Diversity Fellows from 2017, 2018, and 2019. We asked them to reflect and share on climate chaos, prophecy and rebalancing. As you read through this publication, we invite you to do the same.

Carlrey Arroyo (Yoeme, Xicanx)
Land Defenders and Water Protectors