This gift just didn't feel real; it felt like a scam because usually there are way more hoops to jump through to get funding. It takes experience and resources to showcase your work in a way people are willing to look at and value.

The risk of losing our language risks losing the deep meaning of our cultural ways, balance with the environment and our clear connections to the universe.

On receiving the gift from the Waterers, Gizhiigin said, “It is a great honor to be recognized by others doing similar work.

The future of our ability to care for our horses was at risk due to climate change. The gift gave us the ability to care for them at a very crucial time for our family.

Priding themselves on intentionality, Nis’to feels that’s what connects them to the values of the Waterers.

Funds provided by the Waterers allowed them to focus on building the organization's infrastructure and relieved them of the pressure of fundraising.

NAU and The Waterers both value healing, community, decolonial thinking, and trust-building. 

Immediate Distribution funds were used to pay their staff and artists and allow them the ability to strategically plan and make decisions about their future.

Her stories of boarding school survival are almost unbelievable and must be documented. This gift will give Grace the opportunity to return home to Alaska and reconnect with her land and people.

Being recognized  gave him “the go ahead to keep going with the work he had been doing” with equity and inclusion at the forefront. 

Quinn knows from experience that trans and trans-BIPOC individuals are not often given opportunities to do community work. “We have to work, show up, speak ten times harder.”

Sharon lives and works in a rural area and appreciates how much she can see from right where she is. “It keeps me growing and I can pass it along, which keeps our community growing and learning, too.”

Waterers are not only creating life, but they are also giving life and sustaining life. Seeing people from my community recognize my work is beautiful because it is rooted in building it.

This kind of stuff never happens to us; I never thought I would be where I’m at right now. This is everything I always wanted.

My message for those trying to serve their community is to keep going. You know, it’s a long, long, long process. But one day, your dream will come true.

Lawrence approaches funding from a standpoint of inquiry: he asks, what are you trying to do? What is it that you want? What’s your goal? What’s your mission statement? Not just in this one piece, but in your whole life? 

Kyle’s message to funders is, “If you can help somebody in a struggling community like a reservation, trust them. Trust that they’ll get the work done because they will.”