Tradition Bearers Fellowship
Indigenous individuals who are grounded culturally and in the community are the focus of this Fellowship. They seldom have the financial resources and time for deeper contemplation in their own culture or the chance to engage and explore new skills and empower their leadership. The Tradition Bearers Fellowship provides support for individual Indigenous leaders to focus on, reflect, and contemplate the trajectory of their work in stewardship for biological diversity and cultural identity.
During the year-long span of this fellowship, recipients will expand their education (through traditional knowledge, education systems, or other capacity building activities), engage more extensively in their culture, and explore the esoteric knowledge of the bio- and cultural-diversity of the world. This exploration may be fulfilled through the expression of traditional language and/or stewardship practices in relation to Mother Earth.
How to Apply
We are not currently accepting applications for the Fellowship.
Provide a 2-4 page personal statement outlining their experience in community-based work, including how this work impacts or continues to advance in their communities, and how this Fellowship may be beneficial. Applications must accompany 2-3 letters of recommendation and a photograph of the applicant. Selected fellows are required to submit an outcome as a report from this Fellowship within 18 months of the award date.
- Name
- Date
- Indigenous Affiliation
- Date of Birth
- Affiliated Organization
- Occupation
- Phone
- Mailing Address, City, State, Zip, Country (Canada or United States)
- A brief summary (4-6 sentences) of your submission must also be included.
If awarded, indicate whether funds will be distributed to an organization or directly to the awardee. Include contact information and applicable Tax ID or completed W-9 Form.
Materials may be submitted electronically at fellowship@7genfund.org or mailed to our office at P.O. Box 4569 Arcata, CA 95518. For further information, please contact Louis Gordon, Program Director, at our office at 707-825-7640 or at fellowship@7genfund.org. An email receipt will be sent within 5 days of submission.
Ideal Candidates
The following descriptions will be used to select recipients for the fellowship and encapsulate those who should apply:
- Identify as Indigenous.
- Leads work in their communities in a culturally appropriate manner. The community affected must be Indigenous to the continental United States or Canada.
- Demonstrates 15 or more years of experience conducting bio-cultural and traditionally-focused grassroots organizing efforts.
- Applicants who are inspirational to and empower their communities.
- Applicants who would greatly benefit from this prize both financially and socially through network building.
- Indigenous employees or Affiliates are only eligible for this fellowship through work they accomplish outside of their employer-related responsibilities.
Requirements for Fellowship Awardees
Fellowship awardees will be required to submit a report highlighting the learnings, impacts, and differences this opportunity has made in empowering and fostering their leadership. Narrative reports will be required and may include multi-media materials (i.e. writings, artwork, photographs of bead-work/ regalia making/ etc., poster, and/or videos) at the conclusion of their fellowship experience. Report submissions should convey the fellowship benefits provided to the awardee and their community.
Desired Outcomes
Short Term:
- Promote and direct attention towards Indigenous leaders throughout philanthropy.
- Provide special focus and investment for reflection, engagement, and empowerment for dedicated community leaders.
- Advance the skills and capacity of awardees.
- Rejuvenate and inspire pathways for traditional stewardship practices (of Native homelands and Mother Earth) as well as strengthening esoteric knowledge.
- Potential outcomes and reports may be incorporated into Red Paper publications.
Long Term:
- Awardees further nurture and advance their leadership into a stronger role in their communities.
- Skills and capacity of awardees are reinvested into their Indigenous communities.
- Awardees’ learnings are shared through collective community-based organizing and peer-learning opportunities.
A rare opportunity for Indigenous leaders to take a deeper inquiry and reflection into their culture and work.
