Workshops
Boarding Schools, Apologies & Right Relationships
Workshop coming soon. Inquire for more information.
Beyond Colonial Interventions
Workshop coming soon. Inquire for more information.
Never Been Idle
This is a workshop about 500 years of indigenous resistance that began in 1452. With a Native American perspective and incorporating traditional teachings and stories, and how the Doctrine of Discovery was the foundation for the historic colonization, genocide, relocation, termination, forced assimilation of Native Americans. We will discuss historical trauma in which we are all inflicted because of colonization, and how colonization has impacted indigenous people. Healing from historical trauma spiritually strengthens individuals, gives participants more guidance from Spirit, and empowers them to work toward fulfilling their purpose.
We will delve into the Natives connection with the land, environment, and ‘Spirit’. Explore how to incorporate ‘Spirit’ into the activism you do. Discuss how to start organizing nonviolent direct actions that are Spirit-led instead of ego/mind-led.
Fire is Sacred, Part I: History of Colonization
There has been an increased interest in working with Native tribes in various capacities that honor their traditional practices. This workshop is meant for anyone who wants to work with Natives in a respectful way, learn about Native Americans, or learn about the impact of colonization and Native resistance to it.
Before we can go straight into real-world work together and learn Traditional practices (such as cultural burns) we need to first:
Educate ourselves on the history of colonization
Understand how colonization has impacted indigenous people
Acknowledge our collective past
Learn how to identify and begin healing historical trauma
Focus on present healing, which often leads participants to become aware of how historical trauma has impacted them
This is a workshop about 500 years of indigenous resistance that began in 1452. With a Native American perspective and incorporating traditional teachings and stories, and how the Doctrine of Discovery was the foundation for the historic colonization, genocide, relocation, termination, forced assimilation of Native Americans.
Fire is Sacred, Part II: Healing Historical Trauma
There has been an increased interest in working with Native tribes in various capacities that honor their traditional practices. This workshop is meant for anyone who wants to work with Natives in a respectful way, learn about Native Americans, or learn about the impact and their resistance to colonization.
Before we can go straight into practices (such as cultural burns) we need to first:
Educate ourselves on the history of colonization
Understand how colonization has impacted indigenous people
Acknowledge our collective past
Focus on the present healing often leads participants to become aware of how historical trauma has impacted them
How to identify and begin healing historical trauma
We offer suggestions on how to be a good ally, how to uncover your own ancestral history, and more. Our workshops include storytelling, self-reflection, role play, break-out one-on-one sessions, and small group discussions. We will learn positive actions individuals can take to learn how to be a good ally and minimize harm to Natives you wish to work with.
Fire is Sacred, Part III: Spiritual Activism
There has been an increased interest in working with Native tribes in various capacities that honor their traditional practices. This workshop is meant for anyone who wants to work with Natives in a respectful way, learn about Native Americans, or learn about the impact of colonization and Native resistance to it.
Before we can go straight into real-world work together and learn Traditional practices (such as cultural burns) we need to first:
Educate ourselves on the history of colonization
Understand how colonization has impacted indigenous people
Acknowledge our collective past
Learn how to identify and begin healing historical trauma
Focus on present healing, which often leads participants to become aware of how historical trauma has impacted them
In this third workshop of the Fire is Sacred series, we delve into Natives’ connection with the land, environment, and Spirit. We will explore how to incorporate ‘Spirit’ into the activism you do, and discuss how to start organizing nonviolent direct actions that are Spirit-led instead of ego/mind-led.
Our workshops include storytelling, self-reflection, role play, break-out one-on-one sessions, and small group discussions.
History of Colonization
This is a workshop about 500 years of indigenous resistance that began in 1452. With a Native American perspective and incorporating traditional teachings and stories, and how the Doctrine of Discovery was the foundation for the historic colonization, genocide, relocation, termination, forced assimilation of Native Americans.
Healing from Historical Trauma
To heal from historical trauma, you must first understand how colonization has impacted indigenous people. By acknowledging our collective past and focusing on the present healing often leads participants to become aware of historical barriers that can be effectively removed in a safe and comfortable environment.
Spiritual Activism
This workshop delves into Natives' connection with the land, environment, and Spirit. Explore how to incorporate ‘Spirit’ into the activism you do. Discuss how to start organizing nonviolent direct actions that are Spirit-led instead of ego/mind-led.
Native Youth Resolution Development
This workshop is designed for Native youth (middle to high school). We will teach Native youth about the impact of climate change. And, how the extraction industries are affecting our environment and contributes to global warming, rising sea levels, extreme weather change, and decline of the salmon. How they can make a difference by drafting a resolution they can present to their tribal councils, local government councils, organizations, and/or schools.
The objectives for this workshop include:
Enhance the Native youth’s knowledge about climate change
Support treaty rights and tribal sovereignty
How they can become active in local efforts to ‘Protect the Sacred’
Native Youth Nonviolent Direct Action
A nonviolent direct-action workshop that has a Native perspective and focus for Native youth (middle school, high school). Identifying the issue and develop a plan on how you could educate others about the issue, build alliances, and take action.
A focus on solutions: direct action is most effective when it illustrates the injustice it seeks to correct. There are many types of direct action, including:
Boycotts — refusal to buy products
Marches and rallies
Letter-writing and petition campaigns
Political action and voting
Public art and performance
Learn why Native-led movements are different than conventional activism and how to work effectively with allies.
Native Youth Large Banner-Making
Using large letter banners is a simple way to make your message visible while doing an action, event, or rally. It’s a great group activity that can be finished in 4 – 8 hours depending on how many people are helping. The recommended age group for this workshop is 8 – 18 years old.
We provide all the materials except for the poles in which the banner can be attached to. You may find extension poles, PVC pipe, or bamboo poles at local hardware stores.
Idle No More helped with organizing the Paddle to Standing Rock and provided the banners. We have several hand-painted banners like the one in front that says ‘Water Is Life’ that was painted with the help Native artist Andrew Morrison (Apache, Haida). This workshop would be working on developing a large banner such as what is near the back of the canoes.
The Seventh Fire
Explore how working with Natives toward common goals of social and environmental justice involves letting go of unconscious racism and privilege. Learn what it means to be a good ally, and how that taking the lead from indigenous activists and community leaders will benefit us all.
The Seventh Fire: Part II
Learn how colonization has been affecting your interactions with Natives, how to respectfully attend Native events, and support indigenous-led work in the community. By breaking cycles of oppression you are affirming your commitment toward dismantling racism, and helping to make a better world for us all.
Fragile No More
We are developing a workshop to address the cause and effects of white fragility, especially in today's activism, and to help provide solutions that encourage decolonization and respect.
Historically, environmentalism has focused on the experiences and goals of higher-income, white males. Today environmentalists that are looking to “diversify” the movement must put aside their own agenda, and seek to listen, learn from, and join the global movement of indigenous and communities of color.
The objectives for these workshops include:
Educate non-Native allies how to work with Native Americans doing activism
Authentic alliance building that reflects indigenous-led organizing and strategies
Prepare participants for volunteer opportunities at Native community events
How to support Native activism rather than perpetuating colonial systems of oppression
Honor indigenous traditions without appropriating their cultures
This life-changing workshop incorporates traditional Native American teachings that are even more relevant and needed today. We will offer some suggestions on how to be a good ally and form partnerships with the traditional stewards of this land.
Offering self-reflection, group participation, role play, one-on-one and small group discussions, group meditation, and finally positive actions individuals can take. By acknowledging our collective past and focusing on the present healing often leads participants to become aware of historical barriers that can be effectively removed in a safe and comfortable environment.
Want to host a workshop, or the entire series? Contact Sweetwater Nannauck here.
Testimonials
“I am a MSW and MPA student at the University of Washington, when I walked into a recent “Decolonizing Your Activism” training, I was greeted by laughter coming from the kitchen, a hot pot of coffee, a table brimming with potluck items, and warm welcome from volunteer greeters. These “volunteers” were participants, learning by doing that we all have a role to play in this work. I quickly went to work. The heart of the training itself is stories. Sweetwater talks about how her own family has been impacted by historical trauma. It seemed to me that storytelling was Sweetwater’s way of honoring her ancestors and continuing the cultural practices that contributes to her peoples’ resiliency and wisdom. Sweetwater’s stories sparked an authenticity and presence among the participants. Through her stories, and her vulnerability in sharing them, Sweetwater modeled to participants our path toward collective healing. Prior to the training, I knew full well that reclaiming our narratives, and interweaving them in the story of humanity, is a powerful means to transforming trauma. I had, however, not experienced the impact of this process in transforming collective trauma. The effect was profoundly moving, and I had multiple tear-filled conversations with other participants as a result.”
~ Student in Seattle ~
“This spirit of collective action and collective healing carried throughout the day, as I formed healing relationships with other participants who offered their spirit and wisdom in service of shaping my understanding of how I show up in community, and a vision of a peace-filled community we can co-create together. At the close of the training, participants swept the floors of the AFSC meeting hall, prayed together, each in our own way, and hugged goodbye. I left knowing that I have a role in this good work and Sweetwater’s wisdom of collective healing to serve as a guide. I am sincerely grateful for this opportunity.”
~ A.R. in Seattle ~
“Participants in Sweetwater’s workshop had three things happen to us:
We gained more information about the history and legacies of North American native peoples than we could ever have imagined taking in within such a short time.
We became closer than we could have imagined with our seating neighbors.
I’m convinced that we all had inner transformative experiences that left us more aware and liberated from guilt, shame and fear than we ever knew we needed to be or could be!”
~ R. H. in Seattle ~
“Sweetwater’s workshop was well organized and very informative, clearly outlining the horrific history of dispossession and genocide against the indigenous population here. But it was when we got to the role play that it reached way beyond the facts and my feeble attempts to distance myself via my intellect, and reached right into my heart. It sounded so simple. One person would take the oppressor role, one the oppressed. The script was short and limited. I won’t spoil it by sharing the details, but in the few minutes we spent enacting abuse and forgiveness, I reached parts of myself and emotions about the horrendous history and its ongoing legacy today that I didn’t even know I had. I broke down sobbing, and was not the only one. I highly recommend the workshop. Denial is a powerful defense, and if we’re stuck in it we cannot take action to make real change. Experiencing the grief and working through it frees us to heal and take powerful steps toward racial equity and change.”
~ V.S. in Seattle ~