Programs
Children on a language immersed playground at the Warm Springs K-8 Academy in Oregon
Language
Now endangered, our languages were the first to greet immigrants into our homelands. In our creation, the sounds and language of the earth itself gave root to our existence. Life ignited from the sky and the seasons, to the plants, to the animals, and to the Tíinma or Tanánma (Ichishkín) who came after. The Ichishkín Language prospered from those early generations. Since contact with the outside started many years ago, the health of our languages have been devastating. Therefore, we connect students to teachers, teachers to developers, and communities to culture. Our Languages remind us to continue for the sake of place, space, time, and identity.
Sharing at the Celilo Longhouse
Culture
Sharing knowledge generation to generation is what created our resiliency, prospering and adapting, withstanding the genocide and demise of the original first peoples. It is our belief that the creator provided naturally and we humbly lived accordingly. Our behavior reflected our understandings about the world, its spirit, and its occupants. It has been important to learn, demonstrate, acquire, and share the knowledge that has been bestowed onto our generations. Respect for one’s elders and their wisdom is paramount. We rely on our humility, our strengths, our tribal traditions, and our spirit to go forward.
Into the Pacific with youth on the ‘Nch’í Wána Canoe
Wellness
We believe that a healthy community of health conscious individuals provides for a more fulfilling life, wellness, and future. We intentionally create a sacred space that lifts barriers between people and opens fresh possibilities for connection, collaboration, and understanding. Our wellness programs hold the tensions and emotions that contribute to healing. The process is never about changing others, rather an invitation to change one’s relationship to oneself, to the community, and to the wider universe.
‘Nchi Wanapum Canoe Family
Purpose of the ritual: The Canoe Journey seeks to honor the centuries-old custom of transport, harvest and trade. The arrival is a grand ritual, marked by drumming, dancing and singing unique to the host tribe/s its/themself. Tribal elders and leaders proclaim their common history, renew alliances, or seek to start fresher, stronger ones. Tribes proclaim their mutual respect and need for each other. Relationships are strengthened, family ties are renewed, and young and old gather together during this drug and alcohol free event. Elders believe that through canoe pulling, a tribe achieves perfect harmony and balance and great healing occurs.
It is one of the deeply tragic ironies of history that European explorers failed to comprehend the protocol of welcoming and tradition of generosity deeply embedded in Northwest Native culture at the time of historic contact. The arrival of strangers on the shore was a common occasion. Differences of language and dress were accounted for in the welcoming protocol. Enemy and friend could be accommodated in dignity and generosity.
The CRÍID Foundation has served over 500 community members, elders, and youth combined in Oregon, Idaho and Washington
Connect
In January of 2010, the ‘Nchi Wanapum Canoe Family of the Warm Springs Indian Reservation began as an Elder and Adult Cultural Education Program for Native Youth to get to know their ancestry of the Columbia River and beyond.
Once they delved into the spiritual aspects of their ancestry, it became apparent that the understanding of the Ichishkiin language was vital in understanding the teachings from elders and adults alike.
Since this experience the CRÍID Foundation has made it our mission to pursue connections and relationships with people and programs throughout our region and communities. These connections contribute directly to our mission to revitalize our way of life, health, and speaking.
Create
The Arts drive CRÍID Foundation’s goal to include language, identity, community, advocacy, spirituality, culture, history, and pop-culture.
With students, we have created tule mats woven cedar, made baskets, bead worked, carved, story told, composed and sang songs, danced, designed murals, sewn cultural outfits, produced videos, and have included other areas of pop-culture youth are familiar with.
Our partners in the arts are vast throughout the Pacific Northwest where we implement one-day to two week arts programs for schools and districts alike.
The Arts provide us the platform to help us collaborate with youth and express in ways that offer healing, growth, and resiliency.
Grow
When we witnessed tribal youth investing in each other promoting cultural programs throughout their social circles, we knew we wanted to commit to growth as well by remaining in the student seat. Our youth, confident in the teachings and understandings they being provided were teaching and encouraging youth to seek and grow.
Youth take healthy risks, picking up drums to learn and share.
The CRÍID Foundation continues to encourage our youth, adults, and elders alike to become familiar with and own their sense of identity, share their understandings, grow their communities, and inspire generations.
The CRÍID Foundation continues to provide support to learn, grow, preserve, revitalize and live out our true presence on Earth.
