If you look at the “Our Team” page on the NB3 Foundation website, you might wonder why, at a Native-led organization, the first staff photo is a goofy-looking white guy. I’m the goofy-looking white guy (though I have had a haircut since that photo was taken) and I often wonder the same thing. Here’s the short version of who I am and how I ended up working for the NB3 Foundation.
I have never lived on land that my ancestors didn’t murder and swindle to steal. I was born in the traditional territory of the Chickasaw Nation, in present-day Memphis, Tennessee, and I first heard about the Notah Begay III Foundation when I was living on Zenú ancestral lands in present-day Cartagena, Colombia. In between, I grew up blissfully ignorant of my privilege as my parents fostered my love for the earth and commitment to working for justice. After graduating from the University of Memphis I moved to New Mexico to begin my career in education as a special education teacher at Cubero Elementary School.
That’s when I fell in love with the people and culture and land of this incredible place. Although I was already aware of the horrific history of European colonization, it was also when I truly began grappling with what it means to be a settler on Indigenous lands. I was blessed to work with several Indigenous educators who patiently answered my ignorant questions and provided the guidance and, when necessary, criticism that helped me begin to understand my role in working with Indigenous youth, families and communities. I will forever be grateful to these colleagues, my students and their families who welcomed me into their homes and communities for feasts and friendship.
In the following years, I trained and supported new teachers, led a youth development program, developed the vision for and served as founding principal of a new K-8 public charter school and taught 2nd grade in an international school in Colombia. Everywhere I have worked and visited I have witnessed the effects of the exploitation and subjugation inherent to European colonization and contrasted them with the practices of reciprocity, care and respect I was shown in Acoma and Laguna. My ancestors caused immeasurable harm in their selfish, foolish pursuit of wealth and ease and people who look like me continue to drive the world to its present place of disharmony and peril. All of my experiences and learnings in diverse work settings and communities solidified my belief that, in order to overcome our current ecological, social, political and spiritual crises, it is essential to replace practices of colonization with Indigenous wisdom and traditions sustained over millennia by Native communities.
My generation will not complete this work and the best contribution we can make is to support and protect the youth who will lead renewal and healing for our world. The experiences of my former students established the importance of safeguarding the holistic wellness of Native youth in order for them to develop into the leaders that we all need. I can think of no work more valuable than ensuring Native children achieve their full potential by advancing cultures of Native American community health so I was inspired to learn about the Notah Begay III Foundation and enthusiastically submitted my application for the Chief Operating Officer position in February.
I was immeasurably stoked in April when I received the call offering me that position and my excitement, motivation and gratitude have only grown over the past months. Being able to contribute to the Foundation’s work providing meaningful programs for youth, developing Indigenous-rooted evaluation and research models, and supporting the collective impact of Native youth-serving organizations has been challenging, instructive and, thanks to our remarkable staff, fun. When Justin resigned, I was honored that the Board of Directors asked me to fill the role of CEO on an interim basis and that is how my goofy picture ended up on the website.
I know that it is not my place to lead this organization and I am eager to support the Foundation’s next dynamic and innovative leader. I will always grapple with what my role should be in working with Native organizations and communities but, as long as the staff and leadership believe my work has worth, I will listen, learn, enjoy and contribute as much as I possibly can. I am humbled, inspired and grateful to be a part of such a phenomenal group of colleagues and can’t wait to see the progress towards our mission in 2021.
