Indigenous Peoples Task Force

Giving the next generation of Native youth a chance to know their culture and develop their resilience gives us hope. The Indigenous Peoples Task Force offers four programs for young people.

Can you make a donation in support of our youth? Support from individual donors helps us respond to unexpected and be there for our youth when they need us most.

Ikidowin (Peer Education and Acting Ensemble)
The ensemble meets year-round developing plays that address social issues important to the community. At after-school meetings they practice Native culture with tobacco ceremonies, learn about, and use traditional medicines. Ikidowin actors often begin in 6th grade and develop throughout Middle and High School. Theater is a great model for increasing leadership and continual skill development. Ikidowin actors show commitment to the program, reliably attending rehearsal, engaging with the community, being part of advocating for policies to promote Native American rights, health, and safety.

Keep the Fire Alive (KTFA) (suicide prevention)
Each year 15 Native young adults 18-24 yrs old are accepted into the Keep the Fire Alive Internship Program. The interns gain confidence in their Native identity and professional work experience through many cultural and professional development trainings alongside a 200 hour paid internship. Many interns oncintue to work with the organizations where they begin their internship. Keep the Fire Alive also includes a Community Readiness Model assessment to identify our community’s readiness to talk about suicide prevention and substance abuse. 

Waybinagay (substance abuse prevention)
Waybinagay is a commercial tobacco, alcohol and drugs prevention and cessation program for Indigenous youth and young adults ages 11-26. It focuses specifically on restoring honor to the sacred plant, Asemaa (tobacco). Waybinagay uses an 8-session curriculum to educate youth on the ceremonial and cultural significance of Asemaa and reconnect them with traditional medicine. Waybinagay is part of a larger vision to return first medicines to native peoples and restore generational knowledge pathways through youth education.

Indigi-Baby Food Project
Indigi-Baby is a sustainable food project that attempts to address disproportionately high rates of chronic illnesses in Indigenous children. We aim to increase access to and availability of baby food made from traditional Indigenous food, such as squash, wild rice, and berries and to pass on teachings to youth. We are ramping up to hire and train native youth on sustainable food production, manufacturing, packaging, and marketing of Indigi-Baby products. Our curriculum also incorporates how spirituality and ceremony are part of decolonizing our food system and building food sovereignty.

We appreciate your support! Together we are building resilient and creative Native youth.