Workshops and Conferences

Our Homefires embody more than just warmth and sustenance; they symbolize our connection to the natural world and our ability to gather, cook, and thrive. The Homefires burn within each of us, uniting us and serving as a sacred beacon of our shared experience under colonization.

Our core biannual gathering, Keeping the Homefires Burning, reaffirms our commitment to preserving our cultures, traditions, languages, and ways of life as Indigenous Peoples.

An international gathering of hundreds of multigenerational, Indigenous culture bearers, artists, organizers, activists, and community leaders, Keeping the Homefires Burning renews and strengthens our purpose, healing, responsibilities, and love for our communities, Peoples, and lands.

Together, Indigenous organizers to collaborate, share insights, and rejuvenate their efforts. Keeping the Homefires Burning offered peer-learning sessions, training, and technical assistance to Indigenous women worldwide, including both experienced organizers and newcomers. These gatherings foster synergy and strategy development among grassroots community groups, particularly those in geo- graphically isolated regions.

As a largely matriarchal organization, we deeply respect and honor the strength of our women and Two-Spirit leaders who are truly the heart of their nations. Coming out of COVID-19, we knew we had to start healing and reconnecting by centering Indigenous women, girls, and Two-Spirits, many of whom experienced increased violence as a result of isolation.

In 2021, the first Heart of Her Nation gathering was organized in Sumeg Village for Indigenous women to collaborate in thought and healing and to strengthen generational ties with each other. This first convening brought together 124 women leaders. This spirit persisted in planning for the second Heart of Her Nation gathering, with the theme “Renewal,” in October 2022. Over 156 Indigenous women joined us worldwide, from 12 different countries, on Ohlone territory at the Asilomar Hotel and Conference Grounds.

For many of us, gathering in this capacity was a big step in breaking isolation, especially for the rural communities we serve worldwide. Mindful of the journeys and challenges that each community has faced throughout the pandemic, the spirit of renewal was centered throughout the two days of cultural sharing, wellness activities, and speaking engagements. While keeping this focus, we honored the migration of the monarch butterflies taking place during the gathering in Northern California. Like the butterflies, we traveled long distances intending to continue our Ancestors’ generational fortitude.

The gathering’s agenda reflected spaces of healing and rest while simultaneously fostering an environment of dialogue and new relation- ships. We had an array of speakers, from longtime community partners to new grantee projects. Topics included birth keeping, motherhood, and kinship; a plenary panel and talking circle discussing aspects of honoring the rights of Mother Earth; an empowering and heartfelt plenary conversation on reclaiming a world without violence against women, girls, and Two-Spirits; and a plenary conversation focusing on women and girls’ cultural vitality and leadership. This event also included an interactive art exhibit in honor of our missing and murdered Indigenous women and girls that was curated by Tara Trudell. Participants were able to contribute to the exhibit as well as create art in honor and memory of our sisters that they could also keep.