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
Native American Heritage Month
As the seasons change and the year draws to a close, we pause to reflect with gratitude for the stories, songs, and teachings passed down through generations. This wisdom guides us toward healing, balance, and a deeper connection to the Earth we all share. We are grateful to Elders, culture keepers, youth, and community members whose resilience and creativity shape our future. Through our programs in ecological education, cultural arts, multimedia storytelling, and community building, we celebrate Indigenous traditions and invite everyone to join us in listening, learning, and giving thanks for the wisdom that sustains us all.
Wisdom Projects, Community Action, & Events
Read more about what Wisdom of the Elders is doing in the community.
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...
Girls STEAM Institute Presents: The Global Team Business Challenge 2025
She Solves: Mental Health Solutions in the Digital World October 4–5, 2025 | ENGAGEXR Platform Watch the video below to learn more about this groundbreaking event. The world needs bold ideas—and bold young women to bring them to life. This fall, the Girls STEAM...
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.