The Ambassadors Program, 2013/14 Class

The Ambassadors Program 2013/14 Class

A Message from the Founding President

Now is the time for Indigenous peoples to define ourselves

within the context of our own cultures, what kind of leaders we need for the 21st century. Webster’s dictionary defines a

“leader” as one in charge or command of others. Americans for Indian Opportunity and our Program Advisors understand

that leadership is a shared responsibility and effective Indian leaders often act more like diplomats than commanders. For that reason, we call participants in our Indigenous leadership program, “Ambassadors.”

In traditional Comanche culture, each individual has their own special inner strength or “medicine.”

Different kinds of leaders are needed for different types of societal responsibilities. The Ambassadors will

identify for themselves the types of leadership qualities and skills needed by our societies, and they will focus on how best to weave their cultural traditions into a contemporary context.

Native peoples understand that relationships define our roles and shape our responsibilities to our communities. Tribal people know that these relationships and responsibilities are reciprocal and cyclical in

nature. An understanding of our own identity and our place among our own peoples creates pathways for us to strengthen ourselves, give back to our communities and broaden our horizons, giving us our role in the greater scheme of things and allowing us to be contributing citizens of our tribe and global Indigeneity,

where we are. This shared AIO Ambassador experience enriches our sense of connectedness to each other and to our tribes, and will help us find our place in the Universe.

LaDonna Harris, Comanche

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INDIGENOUS Values The Ambassadors Program is the only national and international leadership initiative in the United States encouraging participants to weave their respective traditional tribal values into a contemporary reality. It provides a creative combination of curriculum and experiential learning activities, including mentorship, personal reflection, dialogue with national decision-makers, anti-racism/culture of oppression training, community organizing, communications skills-building, and a discovery process into traditional Indigenous values. The Program is organized around four basic core cultural values: RELATIONSHIPS Kinship – In the most profound sense, we are all related. Humans are related to both each other and to all things. We are “the very stuff of stars,” meaning we have a kinship with rocks, plants, animals and the Earth.

4R’s

RECIPROCITY Interconnectedness – Our relationships and responsibilities shape our roles in life and are reciprocal. Articulation and an understanding that all things are connected and cyclical are fundamental in knowing how we fit into the Universe. AIO views leadership as a reciprocal, shared responsibility.

RESPONSIBILITY Community – We have a duty to care for our relatives. Each human is accountable for the wellbeing of their kin. And, if we call the Earth our mother, then we have an obligation to care for her. We must respect the impact of our lives on the natural and social environments.

REDISTRIBUTION Generosity – Our reciprocal relationships and responsibilities guide us to share our resources. The collective and communal traditions of our ancestors teach us that wealth must be shared for the greater good of the whole. In contemporary society that includes the sharing of information, expertise and resources.

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AIO’s Ambassador Program

In the early 1990’S, a prestigious group of Native Americans, Alaska Natives, and other advisors, met to help conceptualize a program that would foster growth amongst the Native American community. The Ambassadors Program helps early to mid-career Native professionals strengthen, within an Indigenous cultural context, their ability to improve the well-being and growth of their communities. AIO nurtures a new generation of leaders through experiential learning activities and specialized curriculum that reaffirms cultural values and identity, and helps emerging community leaders incorporate these values into solutions that build sustainable communities.

In 1993, the Ambassadors Program began, and to date, AIO has successfully completed eleven classes, training more than 200 emerging Indigenous leaders, spread across thirty-six states, five countries and representing over 100 tribes.

Ambassador alumni are elected officials, CEO’s, school principals, tribal administrators and community activists who have moved past the culture of oppression and victim mentality — leaders steeped in their culture who can offer holistic strategies for moving global Indigeneity forward.

Current Ambassador Home Country/State

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PROMOTING INDIGENOUS VALUE-BASED LEADERSHIP

Ambassadors are usually in the age range of 25-35. They represent a cross section of the population. Both urban and rural-based individuals are selected. Program selectors attempt to build a class of diverse individuals through a selection matrix that accounts for gender, regional, tribal, social, educational and professional consideration. Ambassadors selected tend to be early to mid-career, representing an array of professions, including law enforcement, health, public administration, the arts, business, telecommunications, education and tribal governance. Each Ambassador brings to the Program a rich background and the unique values of their tribes and communities.

While participating for two years, Ambassadors remain in their communities and come together for four week-long gatherings in communities across the nation and visit at least one Indigenous community outside the United States (past gatherings have occurred in Bolivia, Guatemala, Mexico, New Zealand, Peru, and Venezuela). Also, each Ambassador creates and carries out a community project, during their tenure in the Program. This community initiative hones the Ambassadors leadership skills while being of direct benefit to his/her community.

Janice Bueltmann, Native Hawaiian Community Advancement and Resource Development Director Hawaii Island United Way Hilo, Hawai’i janice.bueltmann@gmail.com

Aia I Hea Ka Wai a Kāne? Where is the Water of Kāne?

Where is the Wealth of Hawai’i?

After a series of intergenerational discussions and dialogue, the project was designed to develop culturally relevant strength-based financial literacy resources for Native families. These resources will incorporate cultural principles and values regarding stewardship, long-term planning and saving, as well as sacrifice and generosity. The resources will also include information on how behavior changes in times of scarcity and abundance.

Dalene Coriz, Santo Domingo Pueblo Program Planner

The Leadership Institute at the Santa Fe Indian School Santa Fe, New Mexico daecoriz@sfis.k12.nm.us

Brave Girls Brave Girls is an educational and empowering program focusing on positive youth development among Native American young women in order to prevent “at risk” behaviors. A creative combination of activities, trainings, and guest presenters will provide the girls with the tools to make good decisions, avoid risky behavior, and experience overall well-being.

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COMMUNITY INITIATIVES OF THE 2013/14 CLASS

Lindsay Early, Comanche Nation Intern to the Chairman Comanche Nation Lawton, Oklahoma lindsaye@comanchenation.com

Strengthening Our Native Voices The purpose of this project is to increase the number of Native American voters in Oklahoma. Increasing Native American voter participation in the state will encourage state law makers to implement policies benefitting Native Americans and tribal governments.

Dionne Fonoti, Samoan Filmmaker/Anthropologist

National University of Samoa Apia, Samoa dionnefonoti@gmail.com

Arts Exchange Program Young, emerging Samoan artists will come to the U.S. for an arts exchange or study abroad program. Participating artists will major in Samoan studies with a focus on culture and during their junior and senior years, students will spend a semester in the United States to gain exposure to U.S.-based Indigenous art and artists.

Dewey Kk’ołeyo Hoffman, Ruby Tribe – Koyukon Athabascan Development Manager Alaska Native Heritage Center Anchorage, Alaska Dewey.g.hoffman@gmail.com

Athabascan Language Immersion Camps Building the groundwork for an Athabascan language academy, immersion camps will grow language learners’ skill and knowledge of the language, and will encourage resolutions to live traditional Athabascan values in a contemporary society.

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PROMOTING INDIGENOUS VALUE-BASED LEADERSHIP

Dustin Owl Johnson, Saginaw Chippewa Indian Tribe of Michigan Independent Filmmaker Haslett, Michigan DustinOwl@gmail.com

Online Community Project A hybrid of an online resource and social network of a community of young leaders, this project will be an online platform, specializing in promoting, discovering, and discussing the most current Indigenous perspectives.

The initiative will expand the positive representation of both Indigenous peoples and our worldviews.

Kevin Killer, Oglala Sioux / Kiowa State Representative / Co-Director

South Dakota State Legislature / Native Youth Leadership Alliance Pine Ridge, South Dakota kevin@nativeyouthleadership.org

Promoting Leadership From Within Continuing the work of the Native Youth Leadership Alliance (NYLA), this project will aid in the transition of youth participants into leadership roles within the organization. NYLA engages students on their level and provides long term support.

The goal is that those who complete the program will move into leadership so that NYLA completes a circle for young Native leaders—connecting education to action.

Matthew Morton, Squaxin Island Tribe Executive Director

Native American Youth and Family Center Portland, Oregon matthewm@nayapdx.org

NAYA Generations NAYA Generations will be an intentional community in Portland, Oregon designed to bring foster children into permanent homes in a supportive intergenerational living environment. NAYA Generations will focus on adoption (and permanent guardianship) of Native American children (and others) currently in the child welfare system, addressing the over-representation of Native American children in foster care in Oregon.

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COMMUNITY INITIATIVES OF THE 2013/14 CLASS

Tsubasa Okitsu, Ainu Clerical Personnel

Tokyo Office of the Foundation for Research & Promotion of Ainu Culture Tokyo, Japan tsbskt881@gmail.com

Creating a New Network of the Greater Tokyo Ainu The purpose of this initiative is to activate the greater Tokyo Ainu community by creating opportunities for interaction, sharing of information and exchanging opinions. The group will be made up of people who identify themselves as Ainu who want to learn about Ainu and, together, begin to create the future of Ainu, strengthening the Ainu identity and advancing Ainu society.

Marisa Page, Pawnee Nation of Oklahoma Institutional Advancement Officer Americans for Indian Opportunity Albuquerque, New Mexico mpage@aio.org

Albuquerque Urban Indian Alliance The ABQ Alliance will establish a well-connected network of Native American-serving non-profits/NGO’s, Indian owned businesses, students, and other community activists from the Albuquerque metro area who will collaborate, form working relationships and come together to discuss contemporary issues and identify collective actions to address common concerns.

Leroy “Buster” Silva, Pueblo of Laguna Junior/Senior Dean of Students Native American Community Academy Albuquerque, New Mexico wellness_silva@nacaschool.org

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Ka’waika Endurance Club The Endurance Club will to promote health and fitness and, will help motivate the people of Laguna Pueblo to push their bodies to do things they never thought possible. Within the past few years, members of the Laguna Pueblo community have taken huge steps in making physical fitness a part of their lives. The Zumba craze and local celebratory fun runs/walks (usually associated with Feast Days) have changed the lives of Laguna men and women. The Endurance Club would be the next step in making other fitness goals a reality.

PROMOTING INDIGENOUS VALUE-BASED LEADERSHIP

Candice E. Skenandore, Oneida Tribe of Indians of Wisconsin Legislative Analyst Oneida Tribe of Indians of Wisconsin Green Bay, Wisconsin cskena10@oneidanation.org

Leading by Example: How to be an Effective Communicator This research project will examine and analyze different communication techniques and techniques used by effective communicators. The purpose of this initiative is to gain a better understanding of what it takes to be an effective communicator and to use effective communication techniques to resolve disputes, build and maintain relationships and promote ideas and values. In order for a leader to be effective, he/she must be able to express his/her ideas to promote change and in doing this, he/she must be an effective communicator.

Courtney Ruark-Thompson, Cherokee Nation Director of Government Relations

Cherokee Nation and Cherokee Nation Businesses Tahlequah, Oklahoma cruark@gmail.com

The Power of Our Voices: Erasing the Stigma of Mental Illness and Substance Abuse Institutionalizing Indigenous values-based messaging and traditional storytelling as a vehicle, Our Voices will encourage Native Oklahoma communities to talk honestly about experiences with mental illness and substance abuse in order to begin to erase the stigma surrounding these diseases and encourage Native peoples to seek treatment early and without shame.

The project aims to teach people how to share their own stories and be vulnerable to show others that they are not alone in what they experience. This will reinforce that these diseases are not a matter of morals or will power, and they affect people from all walks of life.

Shuar Velasquez, Wampis / AwajĂşn Researcher Tendiendo Puentes Lima, Peru shuarvr@hotmail.com

Consejo Nativo para las Inversiones Comunitarias (CNIC) Native Council on Community Investments This Council will constitute a national institution to defend the interests and economic values of Indigenous communities in the Peruvian jungle. This initiative seeks to ensure that Indigenous peoples can also enjoy just and equal economic benefits without losing their identity.

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COMMUNITY INITIATIVES OF THE 2013/14 CLASS

Linier Yapu Guiterrez, Huatajata Junior Architect Office of Architecture El Alto, Bolivia linieryapu11@hotmail.com

Bolivians for Indigenous Opportunity (BIO) Once established, BIO will be a sister organization to AIO, focusing on developing leaderships skills and networks among Indigenous Bolivians so that they may best serve their communities and country. The project would utilize the Ambassador model curriculum tailored for the Indigenous peoples of Bolivia.

Joshua Zunie, Zuni Film Distribution and Development Zunie Entertainment Los Angeles, California josh@zunientertainment.com

TV/Film Script Writing Project The TV/Film Script Writing Project is designed to increase the percentage of Native American/Indigenous people in the entertainment industry.

Through workshops, high school students will gain an understanding of the business, creative, and talent management aspects of the entertainment industry and will be better prepared for a career in the field. Overall, the goal is to “showcase student’s talents” with a script, build self-confidence, and start their professional portfolios – creating a positive perception of Natives in entertainment one script at a time.

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Please contact AIO if you would like more information.

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Americans for Indian Opportunity advances, from an Indigenous worldview, the cultural, political and economic rights of Indigenous peoples in the United States and around the world. Founded by LaDonna Harris (Comanche) and a cohort of her fellow Native American activists in 1970, AIO draws upon traditional Indigenous philosophies to foster value-based leadership, inspire stakeholder-driven solutions, and convene visionary leaders to probe contemporary issues and address the challenges of the new century. Governed by a Board of international Indigenous leaders, AIO also seeks to create innovative international Indigenous interactions that contribute Indigenous worldviews to the global discussion. AIO is a national nonprofit organization, headquartered in Albuquerque, New Mexico.

AIO BOARD MEMBERS Mr. John Beaver, Muscogee Creek The Honorable Michael Chapman, Menominee Ms. Kate Cherrington, Maori Dr. Alexander Christakis Dr. Amanda Cobb, Chickasaw Mr. Andrew Ebona, Tlingit Ms. LaDonna Harris, Comanche Mr. Louie LaRose, Winnebago Tribe of Nebraska Ms. Grace McCullah-Ryan, Navajo Ms. LeeAnn Muntz, Maori

The Honorable Jerry Muskrat, Cherokee Mr. Bentham Ohia, Maori Ms. Teresa Peterson, Upper Sioux Community Tribe The Honorable Ivan Posey, Eastern Shoshone Ms. Faith Roessel, Navajo Mr. Terry Tanner, Salish/Kootenai Mr. Gilbert H. Thompson, Mississippi Choctaw The Honorable Eddie Tullis, Poarch Creek Mr. James Washinawatok, Menominee/Akwesasne Mohawk Ms. Judy Winchester, Pokagon Band Potawatomi

1001 Marquette Ave NW Albuquerque, NM 87102 Phone: (505) 842-8677 | Fax: (505) 842-8658 Website: www.aio.org | Email: AIO@aio.org