Racist attack against Tlingit family in Shelton
Morena
I was disturbed to hear that a Tlingit family in Shelton, WA woke up last Thursday morning to find a burning cross and three nooses in front of their home.
This is clearly a racist attack and is designed to strike fear.
Here at Potlatch Fund we fund we find this attack to be repugnant. We encourage the Police to vigorously investigate this attack and prosecute this as a hate crime. Because, irrespective of any background stuff, this clearly is a hate crime.
At Potlatch Fund we do have a concern that such racist attacks against Native communities seem to receive less attention from the authorities. From our point of view, a racist attack is a racist attack. These attacks damage individuals, families and communities.
This kind of attack - while cowardly and sickening can lead to more overt acts. This is the reason that the authorities have to take action. We also believe that this kind of act is made possible because we live in a community where subtle and not so subtle racists attacks against Native Americans happen every day.
Many Native Americans are afraid to declare their own heritage because of the negative stereotypes that the mainstream community holds about them. It is time for the mainstream community to acknowledge the history of abuse against the indigenous peoples of the Americas and to start to change their attitudes. We will be a stronger community together if we can learn to get past such stereotypes and the racist baggage that goes along with them.
Naku noa
Ken Gordon
Exciting Week at Potlatch Fund
Morena
I am back in the office today following several days of travelling.
Last week Heather Miller and I travelled to the Umatilla Reservation in Oregon to provide a two day non-profit startup training. We had a small group in attendance who were interested in starting non-profits to run a Radio Station, to run language programs and for a Canoe Journey Society. Starting non-profits to provide these services mean that the door is eased open to help them find more funding. Non-profits also help provide liability protection to the volunteers providing these important services.
We emphasize in our trainings that non-profits are a reflection of needs in a community.
This was driven home to me on Saturday, when I travelled to Vancouver, WA to attend a Luau for the Ke Kukui Foundation. This small group had come to one of our non-profit startup trainings in Portland in 2009. They already had their non-profit underway and they were looking for guidance on good governance practices.
It was a delight to attend the fundraising Luau, which highlighted cultural performances from Hawaiian, Filipino, Maori, Tahitian and Tongan traditions. It was amazing to see the amount of work and the success of the work of this committed group of volunteers and the community need which they are responding to.
Of course the highlight of the evening for me was when the Tongan drummers called me up to the stage for some comedy relief. I decided to give it my all, however I have to say that despite all of my running I still “ain’t got no rhythm”. I was in a bright red grass skirt on the stage and I guess there will be some photos around at some stage.
Today, my staff and I are continuing our lessons in Lushootseed, and then Heather and I will be getting ready later in the week to travel to Spokane for a language conference.
Naku noa
Ken Gordon
A few thoughts on our Media Training today
Good evening!
As the newest Potlatch Fund staff member I would like to say a big hello to our online community! I have enjoyed the first few weeks here at Potlatch Fund and have been learning lots of great information as well as meeting tons of new folks. I would encourage everyone to take a few minutes and send me an email heather@potlatchfund.org or call me 206.624.6076 to introduce yourself, invite me to events, ask for trainings or make me aware of Seattle happenings!
In regards to learning new things, we held our yearly media training today. Ken and I were joined by Kathleen Warren and Megan Hilfer from Parsons PR and Lynda Mapes a reporter for the Seattle-Times. Each one presented fantastic information regarding how to get your foot in the door to the media world. They also spoke to the topic of controversial issues and specifically how to handle yourself when things go bad.
All of our presenters talked about the importance of social media in our society. I was reminded of the Potlatch Fund blog as we were talking. Prior to my move to Seattle I was working for a nonprofit organization in Montana that communicated with Potlatch Fund and stayed up to date on the trainings that were provided. As soon as I found out that a move to Seattle was in my near future I read this blog regularly to learn more about this organization and gain some understanding of the work they were doing. Having been on the job now for 3 weeks I am so grateful for our blog. It gave me some insight into what I was getting myself into! I feel like it aided my transition into a new position and a new city. So I say to you readers, you are gaining a really cool insight into the work we are doing here at Potlatch Fund and finding new ways to connect to each one of us on different and new levels through this platform of social media.
I think that social media is also essential for the folks present today. I hear the representatives from the Duwamish Longhouse and Cultural Center talk about their struggle for recognition and think, wow social media can be a platform to tell your story, get your young people involved and inform the public! I met leaders from newly forming nonprofit organizations and thought of ways they could use blogs and Facebook to make others aware of their efforts! I considered how a member of the group, working on Indian gaming issues could make a youtube video expressing her side of the story and send it to news stations and newspapers. I think the possibilities are endless and we are just beginning to find ways to tell our own stories and connect with others using these new platforms. I welcome other thoughts…
With that said, find me on Facebook and then become a fan of Potlatch Fund!
Back from Camping
Morena
My wife and I just returned from a weekend camping trip with a good group of friends. We camped at the Glacier View camping ground on Lake Wenatchee and we had an incredible weekend celebrating the birthday of our very good friend David.
Back at Potlatch Fund we are getting ready for another fund raising training that will run on Wednesday and Thursday this week. We had planned to run this training at the Tulalip Reservation but there was apparently some difficulty in finding a space there, so we will now host the training at the Social Justice Fund here in Seattle. This is only a very small space so if anyone is interested it is necessary to contact Lawrence at 206 624 6076 as soon as possible. Because this will be a smaller group there will be more time for hands on assistance.
I completed three longish training runs since my last blog, and things all seem on track. Running on the dirt roads around the camping ground must have been good for my feet as I had no foot pain - this is the first time for a very long time.
One of my Board members Shelley Hansen has agreed to sponsor me for the Seattle Marathon, and her contribution brings us up now to $1,170.
Anyway back to work and a long list of emails.
Have a great day.
Naku noa
Ken Gordon