indigenous
partnerships
Reciprocity is one of the foundational values of Conscious Growth. We believe cultural regeneration must include long-term, reciprocal relationships with Indigenous communities and support for Indigenous sovereignty, cultural revitalization, and self-determination.
We recognize that we gather, learn, and steward the land on the ancestral homelands of Indigenous peoples. Our Indigenous Partnerships program is one way we seek to practice reciprocity by building authentic, long-term relationships rooted in respect, collaboration, and mutual support.
Since our earliest days, this commitment has taken many forms—from fundraising for Indigenous communities impacted by environmental disasters to supporting Indigenous-led cultural initiatives, grant writing, collaborative programming, language revitalization efforts, and creating space for Indigenous elders, artists, storytellers, educators, and knowledge holders to lead within the Conscious Growth Convergence.
We recognize that reciprocity is not a single event or transaction. It is an ongoing practice of listening, relationship, collaboration, and mutual support.
As these partnerships continue to grow, we remain committed to following Indigenous leadership while contributing our own gifts in service of cultural and ecological regeneration.
2026
echoes of ancestry
Our commitment to reciprocity expanded beyond hosting Indigenous leaders to supporting Indigenous-led initiatives throughout the year. Conscious Growth assisted Sisters of the One Drum with grant writing to strengthen their organizational capacity and support their own community programming. During CULTURA, we organized a silent auction benefiting Echoes of Ancestry, an Indigenous-led celebration of Indigenous Peoples' Day that uplifts Indigenous culture, ceremony, education, and community. At the 2026 Conscious Growth Convergence, we are honored to welcome back Kalapuya elders Esther and Shannin Stutzman, Sisters of the One Drum, and Paul Chiyokten, while also welcoming Acosia Red Elk—a ten-time World Champion Jingle Dress Dancer, Indigenous cultural leader, and social justice advocate. As these relationships continue to deepen, we remain committed to building long-term partnerships rooted in reciprocity, respect, and mutual support while following Indigenous leadership in the work of cultural and ecological regeneration.
2025
sisters of the one drum
In 2025, Conscious Growth deepened its relationships with Indigenous leaders by welcoming Sisters of the One Drum, an intertribal nonprofit organization dedicated to preserving and sharing Indigenous songs, ceremonies, cultural teachings, and the medicine of the drum. Sisters of the One Drum led the opening and closing ceremonies of the Conscious Growth Convergence and facilitated a community drumming workshop that invited participants to experience Indigenous traditions through rhythm, prayer, and collective song. We also welcomed back Kalapuya elders Esther Stutzman and Shannin Stutzman, who continued sharing stories, language, and cultural teachings, and Paul Chiyokten of Protectors of the Salish Sea, who spoke about Indigenous stewardship, protecting the waters of the Pacific Northwest, and restoring reciprocal relationships with the natural world. Together, these collaborations reflected our growing commitment to creating spaces where Indigenous voices, knowledge, and leadership are woven into the heart of our educational programs and community gatherings.
2024
kalapuya language project
At the Conscious Growth Convergence, we welcomed Kalapuya elders and storytellers Esther Stutzman and Shannin Stutzman to share the history, stories, and living traditions of the Kalapuya people, whose ancestral homelands encompass much of the Willamette Valley. They introduced participants to the Kalapuya Language Project, an ongoing effort of the Komemma Cultural Protection Association to reclaim, preserve, and revitalize the Kalapuya language for future generations. As part of this work, they shared the story behind the Kalapuya Dictionary—a landmark four-volume resource published in 2021 after more than seven years of research and collaboration. Drawing from historical archival records, ethnographic interviews, and the knowledge of Kalapuya families and descendants, including elder Esther Stutzman, the dictionary documents eleven Kalapuya dialects and serves as an invaluable resource for language revitalization. Their presence at the Convergence marked the beginning of meaningful relationships that continue to shape our organization today, reminding us that cultural regeneration includes protecting languages, stories, and the knowledge carried across generations.
2023
maui fire relief fundariser
In August 2023, the devastating fires on the island of Maui displaced thousands of people and destroyed much of the historic town of Lahaina, profoundly impacting Native Hawaiian families and communities. In response, Conscious Growth organized a community fundraiser at The Haven PDX in Portland. Together with our dear elder Moana Aluli Meyer—an Indigenous Hawaiian educator, cultural practitioner, and longtime member of Portland's community—we hosted an evening of music, community, and an art auction to raise funds for Native Hawaiian families who had lost their homes. The gathering reflected our belief that reciprocity means showing up for one another in times of need and supporting Indigenous communities through relationships grounded in care, respect, and solidarity.
2022
amplifying indigenous voices
In 2022, Conscious Growth received grant funding to launch the Conscious Growth Speaker Series, an educational program at EARTH Space PDX designed to amplify diverse voices and inspire meaningful conversations around community resilience, social justice, and cultural regeneration. The series featured Miguel Marquez Garcia, whose presentation, Reclaiming History for BIPOCs and How This Can Affect Mental Health, explored immigration, identity, and healing. It also welcomed Rosa Lopez, a first-generation American and Indigenous Mestiza from Michoacán, Mexico, whose presentation, Mutual Aid and CommUNITY Building, highlighted grassroots organizing, mutual aid, and the power of community care. Through shared meals, presentations, and discussion, the Speaker Series reflected our belief that cultural regeneration begins by listening to diverse voices and creating spaces where education inspires meaningful action.
2021
gather native foodways
Conscious Growth hosted a community screening and discussion of the documentary Gather at EARTH Space PDX. The film follows Indigenous leaders from across Turtle Island who are reclaiming traditional food systems as pathways toward healing, cultural revitalization, and food sovereignty. Through the stories of Native chefs, scientists, land stewards, and environmental advocates, Gather highlights the resilience of Indigenous communities working to restore relationships with land, food, and culture after generations of colonization. The evening created space for learning, dialogue, and reflection on the importance of Indigenous food sovereignty, ecological stewardship, and cultural resilience.
2020
water for warm springs
In 2020, Conscious Growth organized Elements of Change: Building Skills for Resilience, a community gathering that brought together educational workshops, activism, networking, live music, and local organizations to explore how stronger communities can respond to social and ecological challenges. The event also featured teachings from a local Indigenous elder, whose wisdom helped ground the gathering in a deeper understanding of relationship, resilience, and care for community and place. As part of the event, Conscious Growth organized a fundraiser benefiting The Chúush Fund: Water for Warm Springs. Following years of deferred infrastructure maintenance, the Confederated Tribes of Warm Springs experienced a catastrophic failure of their primary water system, leaving Oregon's largest reservation under a prolonged emergency declaration. Through community generosity, the event helped support tribal efforts to restore safe, reliable access to clean water. The gathering reflected Conscious Growth's growing commitment to weaving together education, community building, and reciprocity while supporting Indigenous communities facing immediate challenges.
2019
peace for amazonia
In 2019, widespread fires burned across the Amazon rainforest, drawing global attention to one of the world's most ecologically significant regions and the Indigenous communities whose ancestral territories were among those affected. The destruction threatened biodiversity, accelerated deforestation, and disrupted the lives of Indigenous peoples who have stewarded these forests for generations. In response, Conscious Growth organized Peace for Amazonia, a community fundraising event at Lloyd Center Mall in Portland, Oregon. Through live music, community gathering, and collective generosity, we raised nearly $1,000 for a small Brazilian nonprofit organization working directly with Indigenous communities living in the Amazon rainforest who were impacted by the fires. While modest in scale, this event marked the beginning of Conscious Growth's commitment to practicing reciprocity through tangible support for Indigenous communities.
Continuing the Journey
We recognize that meaningful relationships are built over time. Indigenous Partnerships is not a completed project but an ongoing practice—one rooted in humility, listening, accountability, and reciprocity.
As Conscious Growth continues to evolve, we look forward to deepening existing relationships, cultivating new partnerships, and supporting Indigenous-led efforts that strengthen communities, restore cultural traditions, and contribute to a more just and regenerative future for all.