AIR Summer 22

This Summer 2022 we looked into how Tribal Cultural Landscapes (TCLs) develop. They develop based on how we use resources, how we are vested in our environment and how our cultural stories develop within the region. These landscapes are where we lived then and now; they are our homes.

Our summer program, as one example of TCLs, will look at the essential tool of basketry and their uses in our society before they were replaced by newer items and then today have become symbols of contemporary art. To craft a basket, one had specific areas to gather materials, then made the basket into various shapes (plaques, more bowl shapes) and utilized them as tools to eat on and/or carry materials, then sometimes our loved ones were buried with these items. In the other aspect of our summer program, we will learn about pursuing higher education, meet our mentors and fellow Native students and simply have fun and enjoy each other's company.

This summer was a great summer, we had over 100 participants, 12 Tribal Nations, 17 Tribes, 5 organizations participating in working with our Native Youth. This summer we challenged our fears, created an understanding of why can say Tribal Territory, made new friends and simply had fun accomplishing this.

More importantly it was all of us who made this project work (students, mentors, coordinators and parents). Our projects are community based and encourage all to share their ideas. For this ideal, we thank everyone who participated in our summer and thank you for sharing the Summer of 2022 with us.