About the 100M&Change Challenge
Building upon thousands of years of Ancestral knowledge, statewide community support, and a steadfast belief in our ability to bring healing across generations, the Alaska Native Heritage Center, in partnership with the Alaska Federation of Natives, is honored to apply for the 100M&Change Challenge hosted by the MacArthur Foundation.
Our proposal is spearheaded by leaders who have profoundly benefited from Ancestral wisdom, community guidance, and deep cultural connections. We believe it is our responsibility to expand access to our rich cultural heritage, using it as a catalyst for healing past wounds and fostering systemic transformation.
Throughout this five-year project, we are committed to operationalizing the fundamental belief that connection to culture is our most powerful form of medicine. Our approach integrates traditional knowledge with community-led strategies to develop a robust model for healing and empowerment.
Guided by the invaluable insights of our community, Cultural Advisory Committees, and the visionary expertise of two Alaska Native MacArthur Geniuses, Dr. Katherine Gottlieb and Sven Haakanson, our initiative will be rooted in proven, strength-based practices while innovating for the future.
Our work will benefit all Alaskans through comprehensive education, heightened awareness, and active engagement. By addressing both the symptomatic issues and root causes of intergenerational trauma, we aim to provide cohesive and holistic healing.
Addressing these deep-seated issues requires innovative solutions, and we are prepared to develop a model that is not only effective but also replicable. This project represents a significant step towards systemic change and community-wide healing, and we are excited to lead this transformative effort.
Here is a video that provides further insight into our vision: Watch Video
On behalf of the Alaska Native Heritage Center staff, we extend our deepest gratitude to the Alaska Federation of Natives leadership, Gwich’in Elder Louis Tritt Law, and Brad Hillwig for their invaluable support in making this grant application possible. We also offer a heartfelt Quyana to the MacArthur Foundation for hosting this challenge. For more information about this opportunity or if you would like to get involved should our grant application be selected, please contact ANHC President and CEO Emily Edenshaw (Yup’ik/Inupiaq) at [email protected]. We are in this work together.
