SUPPORT SEEDS FOR #GIVINGTUESDAY

Support Seeds during Native Heritage Month.

In 2020/21, We Are the Seeds and our community witnessed a global movement of collective outrage at the continued fight for justice regarding racial, cultural, and economic disparities in our country. As a predominantly Indigenous staffed organization, these injustices are not new to us, and working to end them has been an integral part of our mission since the founding of We Are the Seeds. The volume of “calls to action” we received sparked an urgent need for our organization to be ready to step in with a specific perspective: to help facilitate the dialogue around social justice new to some institutions and to claim our place as contemporary Indigenous people living and working in urban Philadelphia.

At We Are the Seeds, we are often called upon to consult about land acknowledgments, moderate and participate in panel discussions, present on pertinent issues, and produce Indigenous programming for institutions and foundations. Seeds is an advocate for artists, activists, and culture bearers, advising on appropriate and necessary compensation for artistic and cultural labor. It is a critical time for We Are the Seeds as we build our capacity to manage the work required to effect positive change. This is a unique window of time where we can affirm our voices in historically white-led institutional structures. We are moving the needle in Philadelphia and we need your help to continue making an impact. Our small staff requires increased payroll hours and/or assistance from additional contract workers to eliminate burnout, a big issue in the BIPOC non-profit world. Social justice work can be draining, but it is essential. We Are the Seeds has the foundation and skills to continue making a change in Philadelphia and beyond. Your support helps us to sustain this critical work.

PAFA Panel discussion (2019) with Urie Ridgeway (Nanticoke Lenni-Lenape) on the importance of land and water to Indigenous people past and present. The panelists discussed environmental issues their tribal nations are facing today. 

Through our monthly and annual programming, our approach is to provide platforms for Indigenous artists and culture bearers to share knowledge from their own experiences and family histories. Native people teaching about Native life is a best practice for any current and future education on Indigenous cultures. We have a rotating and evolving schedule of programs including: We Are the Seeds Philadelphia: A Celebration of Indigenous Arts and Culture, an annual festival; Seeds Podcast: Stories of Indigenous Life, an expanded version of our globally syndicated weekly radio show with USALA Media/Voice of America; and Gathering Seeds 2.1, a monthly virtual artist workshop series, designed to connect with folks who may not be able to attend our events in person.

Red Blanket Singers, We Are the Seeds Philadelphia 2021

One of our most important roles at We Are the Seeds is to shore up gaps in representation. Through our unique position as one of the only Indigenous arts organizations on the East Coast, and in conversation with the expansive network of Native activists, performers, and knowledge keepers built over decades by our staff, we have identified the lack of a central hub for Indigenous artists in this region. Our strategy to address this issue was to create a way to be as visible as possible by securing a physical space, We Are the Seeds Contemporary at Cherry Street Pier, the first center for contemporary Indigenous art and culture in Philadelphia. From sharing images of our events on social media and partnering with institutions and other organizations to providing a platform for contemporary Indigenous voices - specifically highlighting and honoring those of our Elders - being seen by Native and non-Native audiences provides an enduring affirmation of our legacy and future.  

The Magic of Storytelling with Tchin, Assembly at Meredith Elementary School

The work we do at We Are the Seeds is unique in the northeast region and specifically, the city of Philadelphia. By providing platforms for Indigenous folks to tell our own stories, and by actively reclaiming space and advocating the work of Indigenous peoples, we enrich our own lived experiences, and those of non-Indigenous people and their children. We can only move forward when we, as a country, acknowledge and begin healing the wounds from this nation's violent and painful actions toward Native peoples. The work we do at We Are the Seeds benefits us all. 

Please help us reach our goal today!

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We Are the Seeds is raising funds on Facebook and wedid.it for a combined total of $15,000. If you would like to donate on our facebook campaign, please visit tinyurl.com/seedsfacebookcampaign