Wisdom of the Elders, Inc
A letter from the Executive Director - Teresa Montana
Indigenous Archive Initiative
The Wisdom of the Elders, Inc. Indigenous Archive Initiative is a monumental endeavor to preserve and share the rich cultural heritage and wisdom of Indigenous communities. By digitizing and organizing over two decades of recorded video footage, we are creating an accessible online interactive database. Please support our mission by donating to our fund today.
Our Mission
"Wisdom of the Elders revitalizes and sustains Indigenous cultures by capturing the knowledge of Native elders through film, radio, and story — and carrying it into living practice: restoring ecosystems, renewing ancestral food and medicine systems, and building career pathways for Native youth and adults.
Our Vision: A future where Native cultures are seen and heard, ecosystems are healed, and Indigenous knowledge guides how we all live with the land."
Wisdom Newsletter
2026 Wisdom of the Elders Winter Newsletter: Reflection, Renewal, Responsibility
As the new year begins, Wisdom of the Elders reflects with gratitude and looks ahead. Across our programs, we are honoring important milestones, continuing our work with intention, and preparing for the opportunities and responsibilities of the year ahead.
Wisdom Projects, Community Action, & Events
Read more about what Wisdom of the Elders is doing in the community.
Celebrating Community at REI Beaverton’s Fall Member Days
On Sunday, September 14th, our team had the privilege of joining REI Beaverton’s Fall Member Days Event—and what an incredible day it was! From start to finish, the energy was buzzing as members, families, and outdoor enthusiasts filled the store to connect, learn,...
Celebrate Día de los Muertos at Zenger Farm
Zenger Farm is opening its doors for a special Día de los Muertos Celebration on Saturday, November 1st, from 11 AM to 3 PM. This beloved cultural tradition will be honored with food, music, community, and reflection at the farm, located at 11741 SE Foster Rd,...
Designing for the Future: From Oregon to New York City
Korina Emmerich’s Journey to Fashion’s Biggest Stage A Historic Moment in New York City Fashion The lights dim, the beat rises, and the runway fills with colors, textures, and stories that have never before been given such a stage. Indigenous Fashion Week NYC (INYFW)...
Join Us for Indigenous Peoples’ Day 2025
Join Us for Indigenous Peoples' Day 2025 in Portland—food, pow wow, vendors, and community celebration. At Wisdom of the Elders, we believe in the power of gathering, sharing stories, and celebrating the strength of our communities. This October, we’re honored to...
Supporting Portland Film: August Highlights
At Wisdom of the Elders, we are proud to stand alongside our friends at Portland Events & Film as they continue to uplift and strengthen the local film industry. Like us, they are dedicated to telling powerful stories and building opportunities for filmmakers and...
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,...
Made possible with support from these generous Partners, Funders, and sponsors
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.