Wisdom of the Elders, Inc
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
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...

Wisdom Projects, Community Action, & Events
Read more about what Wisdom of the Elders is doing in the community.
Don Motanic Receives the 2023 Earle R. Wilcox Award
In the heartfelt 2023 Earle R. Wilcox Award Acceptance video, Donald (Don) Motanic, a distinguished figure in the Native American community, and Wisdom of the Elders Board President, radiates humility and gratitude as he receives this prestigious honor. Having served...
Native Gathering Garden Tending Party and Native Plant Giveaway
Join in on the fun with Native Gathering Garden Saturday, April 29th, 10 AM –3 PM 5810 NE 72nd Ave., Portland, OR 97220. Gain experience learning about and giving native plants to the Indigenous community. There will be tools and refreshments provided while supplies...
Wisdom graciously receives First Nations Development Institute Award to assist with Growth
The First Nations Development Institute (FNDI) has awarded a grant to Wisdom of the Elders, Inc. under the Nourishing Native Foods and Health Initiative made possible through generous support from the Northwest Area Foundation and Agua Fund. This grant will help...
Congratulations to the 2022 Wisdom Workforce Development Interns
Congratulations to all of the recent graduates of the 2022 Wisdom Workforce Development Internship program. Click Here Wisdom is very proud of you all, and honored to be a part of your growth. Wisdom wants to encourage you to stay connected and active in this growing...
Wisdom receives the 2022 Environment and Sustainability Impact Award from Ninety-Nine Girlfriends
Over the last few months Wisdom has been hard at work writing a grant proposal for the 2022 Impact award which is provided by Ninety-nine girlfriends. Their organization makes annual, large, impactful grants in the Portland Metro/SW Washington region. They fund in...
Join us at the Portland Indigenous Marketplace
Join us for the Portland Indigenous Marketplace. An in-person Indigenous Marketplaces event for Spring/Summer 2022, the marketplace will be held at 432 NE 74th ave Portland, OR 97213 Portland Indigenous Marketplace supports indigenous artists and entrepreneurs by...

Notes from Wisdom’s Staff
More updates coming soon... In the meantime, please read more of our Newsletters
Hello and greetings to all,
November is Native American History Month, a time to honor the histories, languages, and knowledge that Indigenous communities have carried forward for generations. It is a fitting season for the work we share, where Traditional Ecological Knowledge sits at the heart of how we teach, grow, and gather. We are grateful to walk this path alongside you.
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 beautiful colors of late fall across our 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.



































