News

The Council for Native Hawaiian Advancement (CHNA) is partnering with Kamehameha Schools to launch the Mahi‘ai Scale-up, which will help local farmers and food distributors grow businesses. CNHA will provide participants with business training through a special edition of its KuHana Business Program focused on food system businesses. The 10-week intensive program will offer technical assistance services and various courses to help participants grow and strengthen their businesses. Mahi’ai is the Hawaiian word for farmer or the act of farming. West Hawaii Today

It’s only January, and 2021 is proving to be a historic year for Native American leadership. The 117th Congress is seating a record number of Native representatives, including Yvette Herrell (R-NM) the first Native American woman from the Republican Party. Rep. Deb Haaland (D-NM) has been nominated to serve as the Secretary of the Interior, the first Native American to do so. Our partners are also working to increase Native representation in leadership positions. Searching for Inclusion, a new study from the First Nations Development Institute, examines hiring practices of U.S. foundations as they relate to the hiring of Native Americans.

Native Americans made their voices heard through a record-breaking voter turnout in 2020. It’s part of a broader trend of Native advocacy for representation in politics, the arts, sports, the economy and the military. In this month’s newsletter, we share some of the ways our partners and other organizations are increasing Native American’s representation and advocacy.

November marks Native American Heritage Month, a chance to mark the rich ancestry and traditions of Native Americans. November is also home to Election Day, a chance to make Native voices heard. Our partners work to amplify the voices of Native peoples and their cultures, whether through policy and economic development, or arts and traditional culture.

The Fall season in North America marks two holidays meaningful to Native communities. The first is Indigenous People’s Day, which is observed instead of Columbus Day in dozens of towns and states. The second is Thanksgiving. This year marks the 400th anniversary of the landing of the Mayflower, yet the role of the Wampanoag people of Massachusetts is only beginning to see serious historical study. The evolution of these holidays mark a trend of Native scholars, writers and artists reclaiming their history and traditions. This quarter’s issue of Aperture Magazine, perhaps the world’s leading art photography journal, is guest-edited by Wendy Red Star and features works by Native artists, photographers and writers. And our partners are working with Native communities, leadership and youth to reclaim their artistic, economic and even gastronomic sovereignty.