HOW WE WORK

Our work is driven by the visions of indigenous community leaders and responsive to indigenous societal values.

Our core principles are as follows:

• We espouse a strength-based view of the struggles of indigenous populations, which entails focusing on the resilience, fortitude, wellness and empowerment of indigenous communities.

• We believe in indigenous solutions.

• We are committed to religious neutrality and support culturally appropriate and internally motivated groups and solutions so that programs are intrinsic to the people they aim to serve.

• We refrain from intentional assimilation and try to remain vigilant about unintentional assimilation. 

• We support only high-quality programs.

• We take small steps in a fiscally responsible manner to ensure good management, careful self-assessment, and long-term relationship building.

• We are guided by the concept of relationship rather than charity.

• We are neutral on internal political issues and abstain from internal conflict.

• We do not rely on Tribal governments or the Federal government for financial support.

• We support Tribal sovereignty; we exist for the people.

• We engage only those practitioners, advisers, and others who share these values.