At Native Americans in Philanthropy, every day is a good day to be Indigenous. And every Indigenous Peoples’ Day is more than a holiday- it's a powerful reminder of the strength, brilliance, and enduring presence of Native peoples across Turtle Island. It’s also an opportunity to honor the legacy of our ancestors while celebrating the breathing cultures that thrive today. 

In this Indigenous Peoples’ Day blog, we are proud to center the voices of our staff—community leaders from across Indian Country—who share what this day means to them, how they celebrate, and how they carry their identities into their professional and personal lives. 

As we spotlight their work, we also recognize that celebration must be paired with education. That’s why we’ve curated a range of resources to support a deeper understanding of Native histories, contributions, and the ongoing challenges we face. These tools are designed to help our partners in philanthropy take action rooted in respect, accountability, and truth. 

We invite you to join us—not just today, but every day—in honoring Indigenous Peoples by investing in our communities, listening to our stories, and standing with us in solidarity. Whether you’re just beginning your learning journey or are seeking to deepen your impact, we hope these reflections and resources serve as a meaningful guide forward. 

Brian Barlow, Data & Research Administrator (Cherokee Nation) 

What makes Indigenous Peoples’ Day important to you? 

“I feel it is important to me because it’s one day set aside in the entire year specifically to recognize and celebrate the resilience of Indigenous people. In my small town, it’s a powerful experience to walk down Main Street as part of the Indigenous Peoples' Day March.” 

Could you share how you, your family, and/or your Tribal Nation celebrates Indigenous Peoples’ Day? 

“In Tahlequah, they’ve created an organization called, the Indigenous Peoples Alliance. Each year, this group partners with campus offices and student organizations at Northeastern State University to host an Indigenous Peoples’ Day celebration and march.” 

In what other ways do you feel proud to represent your culture, whether personally or professionally? 

“Professionally and personally, I strive to represent myself, my family, my community, and my Tribe with humility, integrity, and principle. I seek balance (U-tv-ye-hi) within all of my relationships.” 

Please share a short description of your personal passion project that you'd like to share with our network. 

“4Next7 is an Indigenous and youth-led organization which stands with respect for the past seven generations and hope for the next seven generations.” 

Sidney Navarro, Engagement Coordinator (Diné/Chicana) 

What makes Indigenous Peoples’ Day important to you? 

“Every day is Indigenous Peoples’ Day–nayye! But really, it’s a day to celebrate our ancestors, our communities, and ourselves and the accomplishments every day!” 

Could you share how you, your family, and/or your Tribal Nation celebrates Indigenous Peoples’ Day? 

“As Diné, we call ‘Thanksgiving’: Tazhí (Turkey) Day. The Diné language is descriptive, but I also think it was a way our Elders protected us from celebrating colonization. 

We often share about our Creation Stories and history of The Long Walk. We talk of how Turkey was the last to escape the previous world due to flooding, but she ended up saving Diné as she carried seeds in her feathers. Within my family, my Shíma shared that my great grandma, as a baby that did not have brown eyes, made it home to Diné Bikéyah from the Long Walk. She went on to live to be ~116 years old, living through area turmoil and trauma while raising her own family until late in life. Just as Turkey did, she miraculously persevered for our family and matriarchal line by planting the seeds just as Turkey did.

Now, with the wide designation of Indigenous Peoples' Day, we will continue to celebrate the culture, history, language, love, and strength amongst our families. We must celebrate the strength of those that came before us, around us, and after us, as we will always walk interlaced with history.

In what other ways do you feel proud to represent your culture, whether personally or professionally? 

“I feel incredibly proud every day! I've really grown into being an ‘Auntie’ in the last few years, and passing on our cultures and languages to my nieces and nephews has been a beautiful gift. I'm also grateful that I get to work with some of the best relatives who also want to better our communities and uplift Indigenous voices.

When I first arrived at NAP, I was immediately immersed with Native Youth Grantmakers. It was an incredible experience to see a group of Native philanthropic professionals curating knowledge of all aspects to assist Native Youth Grantmakers, and one another, while keeping culture centrally incorporated. This also introduced me to an incredible group of young adults doing amazing things for Indian country that have become family. I am incredibly proud of their accomplishments, who they are as people, and the light they shine when they are around.

When walking into a room smelling of sage or cedar, while in a New York City high rise, while strategizing on how to help Indigenous communities brings many emotions. As a professional, I wished I had that same community when I began my non-profit sector career. NAP truly feels like home, and Cheí’s hogan.

Please share a short description of your personal passion project that you'd like to share with our network. 

I want to give a shoutout to three organizations that provide an abundance of love and culture while doing amazing things in their communities, AISES, Native Voices Rising, and Urban Indigenous Collective.

Dr. Jessa Rae Growing Thunder, Director of Tribal Nations Initiatives (Fort Peck Assiniboine/Sioux) 

What makes Indigenous Peoples’ Day important to you? 

“Every day is Indigenous Peoples' Day 😊” 

Could you share how you, your family, and/or your Tribal Nation celebrates Indigenous Peoples’ Day? 

“Now that my girls are four and five, we're starting to teach them more about what it means to identify as Dakota/Nakoda/Dine women. Up to this point, it's been a part of their everyday lives and not anything that makes them "different" or an "other". So, this year we'll be powwow dancing in some new jingle dresses and letting the girls bask in everything they love about their communities.” 

In what other ways do you feel proud to represent your culture, whether personally or professionally? 

“I am the first Dr. Growing Thunder, Ph.D. but I will not be the last. My Unci is the last of her siblings and has endured a lifetime of various traumas. Through it all she always persevered, even when others would tell her the Growing Thunder name would not amount to anything. My Unci is a living legacy of the path she has forged. To honor her, as the oldest grandchild, I promised she would witness the first Dr. Growing Thunder enter rooms and create change. I'm proud to bring honor to her, my family, and my community. Our names are one way we carry our cultures, our knowledges, our histories, and our futurities.” 

Please share a short description of your personal passion project that you'd like to share with our network.  

“I am a third-generation beadwork and quillwork artist, meaning I have learned at the same table with my mom and grandmother. My daughters are the fourth generation. My Unci is our matriarch, and many of my siblings (first cousins) are all artists because of the path she paved for traditional arts. Over the past year and a half, I've been a co-producer on a documentary following my family’s artistic traditions and community work. 

We finished filming on 9/25 and now we're in the next editing phase. Once we've finalized the documentary, we'll bring the film home, followed by other viewings that support educational opportunities. We will also have it tour with my families forthcoming retrospective exhibition touring from 2027-2028.” 

To learn more about the Growing Thunder family and their art, please watch: “Faces from the Interior: Growing Thunder Collective”

Learn more about Native Americans in Philanthropy's incredible team in October’s MEC webinar!  

Native Americans in Philanthropy (NAP) celebrates Indigenous Peoples’ Day 2025 with an exclusive panel spotlighting more of our team members. Through their work at NAP and their impressive community engagement, our staff advocate for, strengthen, and uplift Native self-determination daily. Become a member today to hear them share how they celebrate Indigenous resilience and pride in practice every day. We are honored to work with these community leaders in transforming the philanthropic sector and celebrate the ongoing legacy our relatives are creating for future generations. 

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As part of our mission to educate our network to dramatically increase philanthropic investments in Native communities and transform the philanthropic sector’s relationship with Indigenous communities, we recognize strong foundational knowledge is needed before diving into more nuanced conversations.  

Below you will find a range of educational resources that should give you a better understanding of Native peoples and the issues we take head-on at Native Americans in Philanthropy. We are honored to share both our own resources as well as others from our partners in the field; we encourage you to take these forward in a good way. 

"Language and Learning Resource for Non-Indigenous People", Native Americans in Philanthropy

This resource is an initial reference for funders and other philanthropy professionals exploring the intersection of Indigenous Peoples and philanthropy. At Native Americans in Philanthropy, we are actively working to Indigenize the philanthropic process; developing shared understandings through education and communication is part of that effort. 

We created this resource for those who wish to begin or expand their understanding of Indigenous communities and how they intersect with the philanthropy sector. This resource is not a one-size-fits-all guide to working with Indigenous Peoples, Tribal Nations, or Indigenous-led organizations. Please treat it as an entry point, not a checkbox.  

"For Our Future: An Advocate's Guide to Supporting Indigenous Peoples' Day", Illuminative

Illuminative’s “For Our Future: An Advocate’s Guide to Supporting Indigenous Peoples’ Day” recognizes the importance of acknowledging that Americans have been fed a false history. The story told of Native peoples in history books erases the trauma and persecution carried out upon Native communities and ignores the truth of our resiliency and strength. Celebrating Indigenous Peoples’ Day is an important part of our movement—it is an opportunity to recognize and celebrate Native peoples, our resiliency and our future, in the present. 

Visit Illimunative’s resources page for guides, lesson plans, and other tools: https://illuminative.org/resources/ 

"Indigenous Centered" Report, Native Americans in Philanthropy

Learn more about the importance of investing in Native communities through NAP’s Indigenous Centered Report which found that Native Americans receive less than 0.4% of philanthropic dollars. This report examines the current relationship community foundations have with Native Americans across the United States while also highlighting ways in which the community foundation field can improve their accountability to Native communities. 

Access “Indigenous Centered: Improving Equity and Accountability for Native American Communities with Community Foundations” here: https://indigenouscentered.nativephilanthropy.org/  

This roundup of resources is a great starting point for further education and exploration of our rich people, nations, and cultures.  Please visit our Events page to learn more about our philanthropy education programs and consider becoming a member of Native Americans in Philanthropy. 

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