Innovation

ILA Frequently Asked Questions

bsantist — Tue, 29 Nov 2022 21:50:08 +0000

ILA Frequently Asked Questions

bsantist November 29, 2022

AIPI Blog

ILA Frequently Asked Questions

We have successfully completed the Fall 2022 cohort of the Indigenous Leadership Academy (ILA)! The application for the Spring 2023 cohort will open on December 5, 2022. Follow along with AIPI for upcoming blogs, posts and everything else ILA.

In this blog post, I wanted to answer some questions I’ve gotten from people about the Indigenous Leadership Academy. If you are an Indigenous person who wants to be a contributor to your community you should apply to this academy!

When does the application open?

The application will open on December 1, 2022. You can apply here: https://bit.ly/NDNLed

When does the application close?

The application will close on January 6, 2023 at 11:59 pm, so be sure to get your application in as soon as possible.

Who Can Apply?

Anyone who lives in the United States and meets the criteria listed on the application is welcome to apply. The application is open to residents nationwide. Arizona residents will comprise 50% of the accepted participants. Spaces are limited.

How is the cohort run?

The cohort will be taught exclusively on Zoom with class materials and participation on Canvas. The first module and the tenth modules are on a Saturday and are about six hours in length.The middle two through nine modules are held for one evening a week for three hours. We utilize Canvas and there is about 1.5 hours worth of reading each week. During the modules, we have guest speakers, and professionals on that module's topic. The guest speakers are such a great way to give life and context to each module. You will be given the steps to plan out a project of your choosing that will benefit your community in some way.

What will I learn about?

Module 1: Indigenous Leadership Practices

Module 2: Understanding Political and Economic Contexts in Indian Country

Module 3: Research, Data, and Indigenous Knowledge

Module 4: Innovation and Sustainable Enterprise-Building

Module 5: Response and Responsibility

Module 6: Communicating Your Story and Exhibiting Professional Etiquette

Module 7: Building Relationships and Growing Your Network

Module 8: Bridging Differences and Fostering Consensus

Module 9: Community-Centered Management Practices

Module 10: Developing Leadership Capacity and Looking to the Future

What kind of people am I going to be meeting?

There are people from all walks of life in the cohort. They all share the common goal of wanting to create something meaningful for their community. I enjoyed seeing how close they all became throughout the cohort and how much they continue to grow as leaders since completing the academy.

You can learn more about the Indigenous Leadership Academy here: https://aipi.asu.edu/indigenous-leadership-academy

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November 29, 2022

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Taking Care of Our First Mother

spesweviwridriclitrauespuuadruwujihuthacrijowosomijeclifrewr — Mon, 18 Apr 2022 21:20:30 +0000

Taking Care of Our First Mother

spesweviwridri… (not verified) April 18, 2022

AIPI Blog

Taking Care of Our First Mother

On Earth Day, we would like to highlight the deep relationship Indigenous peoples have to the land and how Indigenous peoples are responding to climate change around the world. It is an often-cited fact that Indigenous peoples are responsible for land that has 80 percent of the Earth’s biodiversity. Yet it is also true that Indigenous peoples face the brunt of climate change. Today, we focus on ways Indigenous peoples are planning for the future and highlight resources on climate change for Tribal Nations.

As inherent stewards of the land, Tribal Nations are already taking action. Yale 360 documented how the Swinomish are revitalizing their relationship with the ocean by building a clam garden that will be resistant to climate change. In talking about the climate change initiatives, Swinomish Tribal Senator Joseph Williams told Yale 360, “As long as we keep our kids excited about taking care of our environment, things remain optimistic.”

Many Tribal Nations have already created Climate Adaptation plans and begun future-focused projects. The Fond du Lac Band of Ojibwe are focusing on energy efficiency projects. They have created new public housing following Minnesota Green Energy Guidelines. Even Fond du Lac Band students are taking action: eighth graders initiated a “No More Idling” campaign for school buses and both the School Board and the Reservation Business Committee implemented the policy. The Upper Snake River Tribe Foundation, a partnership of four Tribal Nations, built a Climate Change Vulnerability Assessment for their region. They identified key species and how they are being impacted by the changing climate. The focus is on integrating Western science and Indigenous knowledge of the environment. The U.S. Climate Resilience Toolkit provides many more case studies of Tribal actions,

Is your Tribal Nation ready to take the next step to plan for climate change? Here are some helpful resources no matter where your Tribal Nation is in the process:

What can you do in your community today? The Imperial College of London has outlined some steps everyone can take to begin to make change: Eat less meat and dairy because these are major sources of greenhouse gasses. Try to avoid flying as much as possible, and carpool or use public transit (if it’s available in your community). Find ways to reduce your energy use at home. And of course, talk to the leaders in your community about what you want to see in the future, what values you hold, and what you all can do together.

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April 18, 2022

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Indigenous STEAM Reading List 2022

spesweviwridriclitrauespuuadruwujihuthacrijowosomijeclifrewr — Tue, 15 Feb 2022 19:56:54 +0000

Indigenous STEAM Reading List 2022

spesweviwridri… (not verified) February 15, 2022

AIPI Blog

Indigenous STEAM Reading List 2022

The Indigenous Leadership Academy is currently ongoing. Stay tuned to see updates about the program!

Kristen: When planning this next reading list, Elizabeth Quiroga, student archivist at the Labriola National American Indian Data Center (Labriola Center) and I had something completely different in mind. After some discussion, we decided that Indigenous STEAM would be our next reading list. We tried to stick to the same criteria that no book is more than $40 (US) and all books can be found at the Arizona State University library. Whenever possible, we link the books to the publisher and the Labriola Center, some of which are available through Open Stack.

Elizabeth: When putting together this month’s reading list Kristen and I found that, from an Indigenous perspective, the arts were practically inseparable from the Science, Technology, Engineering, and Mathematics fields. Our ancestors gathered data about the environment around them and passed that knowledge on to us through our languages, traditions, and cultures; which includes but is not limited to our stories, regalia, and other forms of traditional or cultural creative expressions. It’s in books like Roots of Our Renewal that we can see the influence of our ancestors' strategies for acquiring knowledge and conducting research for the future. Clint Carrol’s storytelling is engaging and creates a comprehensive approach to discussing ethnobotany and Cherokee environmental governance, regardless of your current familiarity with the topics.

Kristen: If you know me, you know I’m a foodie. My Instagram is dedicated to capturing photos of my meals. Sometimes works of art are very precise, and with cooking, you must also be precise. Elizabeth and I agreed that cookbooks apply to STEAM. With the mathematics of measurements, and the art of plating, coupled with the science of cooking, “The Sioux Chef’s Indigenous Kitchen” is my book choice. This book is special to me because I am Dakota and the recipes found in it are ones I grew up with. Sean Sherman takes great care in ensuring that all the recipes are created without the use of processed ingredients and are still flavorful. Traditional, ancestral ingredients are a guarantee to please your palate and liven up your Instagram! Who knows? You might even gain a few followers.

We hope you enjoy the list we curated on Indigenous STEAM. Happy reading!

Indigenous STEAM Reading List 2022:

The Science Of The Sacred

Physical access: Click here to view the book at the ASU library

“Modern medical science has finally caught up to what traditional healing systems have known for centuries. Many traditional healing techniques and medicines are often assumed to be archaic, outdated, or unscientific compared to modern Western medicine. Nicole Redvers, a naturopathic physician and member of the Deninu K’ue First Nation, analyzes modern Western medical practices using evidence-informed Indigenous healing practices and traditions from around the world–from sweat lodges and fermented foods to Ayurvedic doshas and meditation. Organized around various sciences, such as physics, genetics, and microbiology, the book explains the connection between traditional medicine and current research around epigenetics and quantum physics, for example, and includes over 600 citations. Redvers, who has traveled and worked with Indigenous groups around the world, shares the knowledge and teachings of health and wellness that have been passed down through the generations, tying this knowledge with current scientific advances. Knowing that the science backs up the traditional practice allows us to have earlier and more specific interventions that integrate age-old techniques with the advances in modern medicine and technology.” Source: Penguin Random House

Native Science

Physical access: Click here to view the book at the ASU library

“In Native Science, Gregory Cajete "tells the story" of Indigenous science as a way of understanding, experiencing, and feeling the natural world. He points to parallels and differences between the Indigenous science and Western science paradigms, with special emphasis on environmental/ecological studies. After discussing philosophical foundations, Cajete addresses such topics as history and myth, primal elements, social ecology, animals in myth and reality, plants and human health, and cosmology and astronomy.

In the Indigenous view, we human observers are in no way separate from the world and its creatures and forces. Because all creatures and forces are related and thus bear responsibility to and for one another, all are co-creators. Five centuries ago Europeans arrived on the American continent, but they did not listen to the people who had lived for millennia in spiritual and physical harmony with this land. In a time of global environmental degradation, the science and worldview of the continent's First Peoples offer perspectives that can help us work toward solutions.” Source: Amazon

Native American DNA

Physical access: Click here to view the book at the ASU library

“Because today’s DNA testing seems so compelling and powerful, increasing numbers of Native Americans have begun to believe their own metaphors: “in our blood” is giving way to “in our DNA.” In Native American DNA, Kim TallBear shows how Native American claims to land, resources, and sovereignty that have taken generations to ratify may be seriously—and permanently—undermined.” Source: University of Minnesota Press

Roots Of Our Renewal

Physical access: Click here to view the book at the ASU library

“Although their forced relocation of the late 1830s had devastating consequences for Cherokee society, the reconstituted Cherokee Nation west of the Mississippi eventually cultivated a special connection to the new land. In Roots of Our Renewal, Clint Carroll explores the interplay between tribal natural resource management programs and governance models that the Cherokee people have developed, showing how modern state forms can articulate alternative ways of interacting with and “governing” the environment.” Source: University of Minnesota Press

Plants Have So Much To Give Us, All We Have To Do Is Ask

Physical & electronic access: Click here to view the book at the ASU library

“In Plants Have So Much to Give Us, All We Have to Do Is Ask, Mary Siisip Geniusz makes Anishinaabe botanical information available to native and nonnative healers and educators and emphasizes the Anishinaabe culture that developed the knowledge and practice. Teaching the way she was taught—through stories—Geniusz brings the plants to life with narratives that explain their uses, meaning, and history.” Source: University of Minnesota Press

Braiding Sweetgrass

Physical & electronic access: Click here to view the book at the ASU library

“Drawing on her life as an indigenous scientist, a mother, and a woman, Kimmerer shows how other living beings—asters and goldenrod, strawberries and squash, salamanders, algae, and sweetgrass—offer us gifts and lessons, even if we’ve forgotten how to hear their voices. In a rich braid of reflections that range from the creation of Turtle Island to the forces that threaten its flourishing today, she circles toward a central argument: that the awakening of a wider ecological consciousness requires the acknowledgment and celebration of our reciprocal relationship with the rest of the living world. For only when we can hear the languages of other beings will we be capable of understanding the generosity of the earth, and learn to give our own gifts in return.” Source: Milkweed

The People Have Never Stopped Dancing

Physical & electronic access: Click here to view the book at the ASU library

“In this first major study of contemporary Native American dance, Jacqueline Shea Murphy shows how these concert performances are at once diverse and connected by common influences. Illustrating how Native dance enacts cultural connections to land, ancestors, and animals, as well as spiritual and political concerns, Shea Murphy challenges stereotypes and offers new ways of recognizing the agency of bodies on stage.” Source: University of Minnesota Press

The Fourth Eye

Physical & electronic access: Click here to view the book at the ASU library

“The Fourth Eye brings together Indigenous and non-Indigenous scholars to provide a critical and comprehensive account of the intricate and complex relationship between the media and Māori culture. Examining the Indigenous mediascape, The Fourth Eye shows how Māori filmmakers, actors, and media producers have depicted conflicts over citizenship rights and negotiated the representation of Indigenous people.” Source: University of Minnesota Press

The Sioux Chef's Indigenous Kitchen

Physical access: Click here to view the book at the ASU library

“Here is real food—our indigenous American fruits and vegetables, the wild and foraged ingredients, game and fish. Locally sourced, seasonal, "clean" ingredients and nose-to-tail cooking are nothing new to Sean Sherman, the Oglala Lakota chef and founder of The Sioux Chef. In his breakout book, The Sioux Chef's Indigenous Kitchen, Sherman shares his approach to creating boldly seasoned foods that are vibrant, healthful, at once elegant and easy.

Sherman dispels outdated notions of Native American fare—no fry bread or Indian tacos here—and no European staples such as wheat flour, dairy products, sugar, and domestic pork and beef. The Sioux Chef's healthful plates embrace venison and rabbit, river and lake trout, duck and quail, wild turkey, blueberries, sage, sumac, timpsula or wild turnip, plums, purslane, and abundant wildflowers. Contemporary and authentic, his dishes feature cedar braised bison, griddled wild rice cakes, amaranth crackers with smoked white bean paste, three sisters salad, deviled duck eggs, smoked turkey soup, dried meats, roasted corn sorbet, and hazelnut-maple bites.” Source: Birchbark Books

Modern Native Feast

Physical access: Click here to view the book at the ASU library

“Native American cuisine comes of age in this elegant, contemporary collection that reinterprets and updates traditional Native recipes with modern, healthy twists. Andrew George Jr. was head chef for Aboriginal foods at the 2010 Winter Olympics in Vancouver; his imaginative menus reflect the diverse new culinary landscape while being mindful of an ages-old reverence for the land and sea, reflecting the growing interest in a cuisine that is rapidly moving into the mainstream to become the "next big thing" among food trends. Andrew also works actively at making Native foods healthier and more nutritious; his recipes are lighter, less caloric, and include Asian touches, such as bison ribs with Thai spices, and a sushi roll with various cooked fish wrapped in nori. Other dishes include venison barley soup, wild berry crumble, sea asparagus salad, and buffalo tourtiere.” Source: Arsenal Pulp Press

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February 15, 2022

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Empowering the Next Set of Native Leaders

spesweviwridriclitrauespuuadruwujihuthacrijowosomijeclifrewr — Sat, 05 Jun 2021 15:48:00 +0000

Empowering the Next Set of Native Leaders

spesweviwridri… (not verified) June 5, 2021

AIPI Blog

Empowering the Next Set of Native Leaders

As AIPI grows, I think a lot about building the next generation of leaders. I think about who will replace me and my colleagues, as well as who will do the hard work on behalf of Tribal Nations in 10 years. I think a lot about not only building on this foundation, but also scaling it. I feel a great responsibility to create a pipeline of learning and mentorship. I am grateful to ASU leadership for their support of this vision, including President Michael Crow, Vice President Bryan Brayboy; Asst. Vice President Jacob Moore; Dean Koppell, and Dean Lietz. I am grateful for funders who also support this vision including the Ford Foundation, the Media Democracy Fund, and Arizona Public Service.

Now we begin implementing the vision. It starts with our new Thought Leaders Fellowship Program and our Indigenous Leadership Academy. We’re accepting applications through June 16th, 2021 for our Fellows Program. We hope to accept a Community Fellow and an Affiliated Faculty Fellow for the first cohort. Please do apply. We’re also meeting in June with the Indigenous Leadership Academy Community Advisory Board to advise us as we begin to build the structure and curriculum for this first of its kind program. Please reach out to us with any questions about either program.

But really, we’ve already been building, although not in a formal way. For example, since 2015 we’ve had five student workers, three of which were Indigenous. One, Christina Haswood, is now the youngest elected representative in the Kansas State Legislature. Our most recent student is Coby Klar, who graduated last month from ASU’s American Indian Studies Program. After two years of working with us, he is now a Research Associate at the National Congress of American Indians.

I’m excited about what lies ahead and the upcoming generation. I know that the work we do at AIPI is helping to build capacity for Indian Country. We hope you’ll consider supporting our efforts.

As always, #BeTheSolution

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June 5, 2021

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AIPI Launches Indigenous Leadership Academy

spesweviwridriclitrauespuuadruwujihuthacrijowosomijeclifrewr — Thu, 15 Apr 2021 20:59:00 +0000

AIPI Launches Indigenous Leadership Academy

spesweviwridri… (not verified) April 15, 2021

AIPI Blog

AIPI Launches Indigenous Leadership Academy

The American Indian Policy Institute (AIPI) is proud to announce the creation of the Indigenous Leadership Academy (ILA) under the leadership of Traci Morris, Ph.D. (Chickasaw Nation). This new initiative is in partnership with the ASU Office of Government & Community Engagement, and with seed funding from Arizona Public Service (APS). The Indigenous Leadership Academy will support emerging Indigenous leaders in expanding their knowledge, skills, and networks to address public policy issues and engagement in the Tribal government, non-profit, and private sectors.

Tribal governments, communities, nonprofits, and enterprises have challenges and objectives that differ from non-Indigenous entities. Today’s emerging leaders must know how to navigate the challenging environments and changing landscapes facing Tribal communities. These skills are particularly relevant due to the status of Tribal nations as sovereign nations within a nation. The COVID-19 pandemic has exposed major structural challenges in Tribal communities, and has highlighted the need for new models of understanding the future of “Indigeneity” in leadership. The ILA will provide program participants with the opportunity to explore these issues, and establish pathways that translate to positive impact for Indigenous people in urban and reservation communities.

The Indigenous Leadership Academy offers a nonpartisan approach that strives to increase the number of Indigenous leaders that can collaboratively work to bridge differences and build consensus on solutions that advance the quality of life for Indigenous people throughout the state, with the potential to expand to a national model.

Participants will benefit from some of the top faculty, industry professionals, and Tribal leaders with the skillset to apply these real-world principles in the workplace and community.

To learn more about the ILA, please join our mailing list here.

Read the ILA full press release here

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April 15, 2021

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Google Plus Codes - An Alternative Method for Mapping Tribal Lands

spesweviwridriclitrauespuuadruwujihuthacrijowosomijeclifrewr — Wed, 21 Oct 2020 18:00:00 +0000

Google Plus Codes - An Alternative Method for Mapping Tribal Lands

spesweviwridri… (not verified) October 21, 2020

AIPI Blog

Google Plus Codes - An Alternative Method for Mapping Tribal Lands

In a recent blog post, Google highlighted the work it has done with the Navajo Nation to adopt Google Plus Codes as an alternative to typical physical and mailing address options. In response to the COVID-19 pandemic, the Navajo Nation has utilized Plus Codes to map community Wi-Fi hot spots, food distribution and COVID-19 aide locations, and has partnered with shipping companies for the delivery of essential products and goods.

For many tribes, providing accurate physical and mailing addresses to homes and other buildings can be a major challenge due to geographical obstacles and infrastructure limitations. While some homes, businesses, and other structures may have a traditional address capable of mail delivery and searchable in online maps, many others may rely on a Post Office Box for mail delivery, which could be located near a tribal service center or in a nearby town off reservation. Physical addressing may often resort to descriptive mile markers and geographic landmarks to provide directions, such as, “pass mile marker 157, make a right on the first dirt road you see, cross the cattle guard, and drive another 5 miles until you reach a cluster of houses, mine is the third house on the right.”

While Native people are all too familiar with utilizing the “descriptive” physical addressing method of providing directions, the complications that accompany this method raises major concerns for a variety of reasons. The public safety community, for one, sees descriptive addressing as a challenge to providing proper and timely emergency response services. Some tribes have developed their own Geospatial Information System (GIS) mapping departments to work in tandem with federal agencies to map roads, utility lines, residential addresses, and other structures. However, more often than not these mapping systems serve a very specific function and are only accessible to certain federal and tribal authorities. The descriptive addressing method also raises questions about adequate access for voters during an election season and residents replying to the Census.

With its wealth of geographic information and mapping technology, Google has developed a new method of mapping using a computer algorithm to condense latitude and longitude points into a unique code that can be addressed anywhere on the planet using Google Maps. This new method of addressing and mapping is called, Google Plus Codes. An example of this mapping system can be seen below. While AIPI’s address is 201 N. Central Ave, Phoenix, AZ, 85004, Google Maps also makes reference to a Google Plus Code for AIPI’s offices, which is FW2G+9P Phoenix, Arizona. Clicking on the Plus Code hyperlink will take you to Chase Tower on Google Maps, which is the building where AIPI is located.

Google Plus Codes offers an alternative to traditional mapping and addressing services, as well as new opportunities for tribes still struggling with accurate addressing on their reservations. For example, the Navajo Nation Division of Community Development used Google Plus Codes to provide logistics support to COVID-19 relief efforts in rural areas, where approximately 50,000 properties lack a traditional address. Plus Codes have the potential to revolutionize service delivery on tribal lands. The innovative uses of this special tool remain to be explored by the ingenuity of Indigenous peoples.

The referenced media source is missing and needs to be re-embedded.

Posted on

October 21, 2020

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