What We’re Proud Of:
Community Success Stories
Indigenous Centered Land Rematriation
As one of our fiscally sponsored projects, Itsu Circle is a collective of women leaders representing Unrecognized Indigenous Tribes, Nations, non-profits, and groups from across California and beyond. Working closely with experts, they created culturally informed reporting models that bridge the gap between Indigenous and Western ways of knowing, allowing them to expand their initial circle to meet the needs of many women across the State.
Itsu Circle:
Bridging Spiritual Pathways and Practices Between Buddhist and Indigenous Leaders
Honoring long-time relationships with Indigenous leaders by taking small steps to maintain the commitments for generations to come.
As an ongoing partner in recognizing and honoring Indigenous Sovereignty, we continue to support the San Francisco Zen Center in working towards Indigenous Engagement Practices that allow for healthy and thriving Indigenous relationships and co-stewardship.
San Francisco Zen Center
Taos Healing and Reconciliation Project:
A four-year initiative requested by the historically harmed communities of Taos, New Mexico, and piloted by Indigenous and POC-led reconciliation efforts
Services:
Design, management, and hosting of an annual health fair
Community education offerings, including free and low-cost services by Indigenous healers to historical Taos communities
A Learning Journey for white-identified community members from the Community for Racial Healing, teaching good guest practices to create supportive community partnerships
Outcomes:
“Healing and reconciliation” became a well-understood and often-used phrase in many sectors of activity, denoting unity and purpose in the community of Taos led by the Red Willow people, the Indigenous people of Taos
A private collective of Red Willow women continued to collaborate on ongoing projects since HRI’s first engagement in the area, and is planning for a healing and reconciliation gathering on their lands in the future.
Over a period of two and a half years, a community coalition, led by Asian American and Pacific Island leaders, successfully ended a multi-decade harmful pageant known as the Feast of Lanterns. HRI provided community education services to one of the FOL organizers and facilitated reconciliation support for the entire committee, whose members ultimately stood by the AAPI community and participated in the final campaign to permanently end Pacific Grove’s Feast of Lanterns.
Coalition for Asian Justice
Ends Feast of Lanterns in Pacific Grove
“This issue extends beyond the boundaries of Pacific Grove. There has been a loud message that it is not OK to paint Caucasian women in yellow face. We’ve evolved. It’s time to move forward, accept accountability and make amends”
Original Monterey Herald article: Pressure Mounts Against PG’s Feast of Lanterns
Coalition of Activists
HRI stands with the Coalition’s message that “Our community can evolve, learn from our past, make apologies, and then grow beyond our status quo to become a role model throughout our country of how to make long over due change with kindness” -Coalition for Asian Justice
Read more about the coalition of activists on our post here.
Indigenous-Led Reconciliation
The Mending the Sacred Hoop All Nations Gathering for Monterey County tribes took place in November of 2020. Hosted by the Esselen Tribe of Monterey County, it led to significant formal bridge-building between Nations in support of specific sovereign needs.
The goals of this ongoing effort include:
Supporting stewardship of the land
Supporting tribal relations
Providing opportunities for sharing from those who may not have had a chance to share, and
Giving tribal members the necessary tools to spread news of this land to other tribal and general public communities
Mending the Sacred Hoop All Nations Gathering:
The Historic Land Return of 1200 acres to the Esselen Tribe of Monterey County
HRI partnered with it’s affiliate, MWC, to support the Tribe’s internal Peacemaking capacity, governance practices, and to ensure their ability to receive this land, honor their sovereign needs, and proceed with building towards their Nation’s goals for the future. Our ongoing collaborations continue to support their relationship with ancestral lands and community partners.
Services:
Indigenous governance support
A healing and reconciliation process for the council and many of its members
Facilitated Peacemaking circles
Outcomes:
Strengthened Tribal Peacemaking skills
Improved Tribal Governance practices
1,200 acres of Land Back returns
Reconciliation and Return: Indigenous Land in Monterey County
1,200 acres of ancestral land, now under the protection of Indigenous stewards.
