Wisdom of the Elders, Inc
Wisdom of the Elders, Inc
A letter from the Executive Director – Teresa Montana
Give!Guide Kick off November 1st
We’re excited to share that we’re part of this year’s Give!Guide, an annual campaign by Willamette Week that makes it easy and fun to support local nonprofits! The campaign kicks off on November 1 and runs through December 31, giving you the chance to donate (starting at just $10) and help make a big impact in our community. Join us in celebrating the kickoff and give where it matters most at giveguide.org
Indigenous Archive Initiative
Indigenous Archive Initiative
Our Mission
Wisdom records, preserves, and shares oral history, cultural arts, language concepts, and traditional ecological knowledge of exemplary Native American elders, storytellers, and scientists in collaboration with diverse institutions, agencies, and organizations. Our vision: Native American cultural sustainability, multimedia education, and cultural reconciliation.
Wisdom Newsletter
Gratitude, Growth, and a Look Ahead: Exciting Updates for the Year to Come
Hello to our supporters, community, and partners, We hope you had a wonderful holiday season with your loved ones! First and foremost, we would like to express our heartfelt Thanks to all who generously contributed to our Year-End Fund Raiser via GiveGuide! Thank you...
Native Wisdom Documentary Film Update
Wisdom’s multimedia team is continuing its work on an educational film shared with the forestry service, and also filming a program that features a variety of Grandmothers stories.
Indigenous Traditional Ecological Knowledge: An Internship program
Wisdom of the Elders, Inc. is pleased to announce the (ITEK Program) Indigenous Traditional Ecological Knowledge. This program is designed for interns and focuses on traditional ecological knowledge passed down from generations.
Wisdom Projects, Community Action, & Events
Read more about what Wisdom of the Elders is doing in the community.
Sign Up: Blueprint Foundations 10-Year Anniversary Celebration
Blueprint Foundations is celebrating a remarkable 10 years of community impact, and you’re invited to join the festivities! This Saturday, August 23rd, come together with friends, family, and neighbors at Mt. Scott Park in SE Portland for a day filled with fun, food,...
Supporting the Portland Indigenous Marketplace: Upcoming Events & Fundraisers
Wisdom of the Elders is proud to share upcoming events and opportunities from our friends at the Portland Indigenous Marketplace. This grassroots nonprofit provides vital space for Indigenous artists, entrepreneurs, and culture-bearers to share their work with the...
Join Us: 8th Annual Medicine Gathering
Remember to bring your utensils, and no animals are allowed. The 8th Annual Medicine Gathering, hosted by the Pacific Northwest Council of Water Protectors, is returning to Oxbow Regional Park’s Eagle Camp from August 21–25, 2025. This gathering is a transformative...
Earth Sculpting and more with Wisdom of the Elders and Blueprint Foundation at the Back Five
At the Back Five, the land itself became a classroom this summer as Wisdom of the Elders and Blueprint Foundation came together for an innovative Earth Sculpting project. Youth from the community stepped into boots, gloves, and a new perspective — one where shaping...
Welcoming New Members to the Wisdom Family: Anthony Alvarado & Dean BlueEagle
At Wisdom of the Elders, we are always honored to grow our circle with individuals who bring passion, purpose, and deep cultural integrity to our shared mission. Today, we are thrilled to introduce two remarkable individuals who have recently joined our team—Dean...
Join Wisdom of the Elders at the 2025 Shady Pines Festival
We’re excited to announce that Wisdom of the Elders will be tabling at the 4th Annual Shady Pines Festival, happening July 17–20, 2025, at Camp Tasty’s in Sandy, Oregon. This grassroots music and arts festival is a celebration of creativity, community, and...
Made possible with support from these generous Partners, Funders, and sponsors
Notes from Wisdom’s Executive Director:
More updates coming soon… In the meantime, please read more of our Newsletters
Hello and greetings to all,
First, and foremost, we send you a massive Thank You to all of our partners and supporters. Our team celebrates all that you do to uplift our programs as we serve our shared communities. Just know that with each kind word of encouragement, each phone call, and every penny, it’s an opportunity for us to turn to each other with a celebratory word: well done, congratulations, way to go team, and a shared Thanks to each of you!
Your generosity is both deeply appreciated and heartfelt.
We are in the midst of creating an Apothecary for our Indigenous Traditional Ecological Knowledge Internship (ITEK), which is offered twice yearly. We are also deep in the planning process for our Seed-Saving & Sharing program while developing strategic plans to build new garden beds to grow Traditional First Foods.
As our ITEK students learn through classroom instruction and gain hands-on field experience, they all have a part in these processes.
Our community partners are, as always, so gracious to walk alongside us, providing their insight and encouragement to our students and our team. To you, we offer our gratitude for sharing our vision for future generations. You make Wisdom that much richer and add depth to our mission when you join us at the table or in the field to share our goals. The impact is felt all the way through our students, and they take that to fuel themselves into their path forward. To note, we have had previous interns go on to create their own business ventures.
I do hope you are doing well and enjoying the excellent fall colors of our beautiful Northwest! Indeed, my favorite time of year. I hope you enjoy the photo of the fantastic double rainbow.
I want to note that Wisdom is recruiting for additional Board Members. We are recruiting those with experience and interest in one or more of our programs and committees.
Ecological Restoration & Conservation, Curriculum Development, Multimedia / Film
Please reach out at your earliest convenience.



































