Tribal Entities Connect, in collaboration with Pueblo Action Alliance presented the “Red Dress, Red Tie” Social Fundraiser on Sunday, February 16th, 2020, 6:00 p.m. - 9:00 p.m. at Flamenco Works, Inc. This formal event included music by DJ Waefunky, a special Indigenous-based dinner by Cleo's Blue Corn Kitchen, and guest speaker, Alicia Ortega (Santa Clara/ Pojoaque Pueblo) of Native Women Lead. This event supports a future collaborative project through Tribal Entities Connect called Indigenous Women Rize in partnership with Pueblo Action Alliance, and includes other local partnerships in the southwest. This was also a special night to celebrate loved ones around folks and surrounding community. 

View more information on Indigenous Women Rize under our Projects tab. 

Tribal Entities Connect (TEC) held their annual Advisory Board meeting in September 2019 with their members to give updates on projects, funding opportunities, and gain more insight for future endeavors. First and foremost, TEC introduced Pablo Soto, as a newly selected Advisory Board member for the organization and will be giving his support and guidance to the group. TEC also introduced Alyssa Redhouse, as the first high school intern to work alongside TEC projects, and will be overseeing the groups social media aspects including Facebook, Instagram, and website. As a collective, the co-founders have been discussing moving TEC forward into establishing their own 501(c)(3) status, and began developing their Bylaws and Articles of Incorporation as part of the process. These were presented before the board and approved with their signatures during their meeting. Other updates included Teamtribe Volleyball Academy final reports and progress after concluding the first project year, and expecting a second year of funding from Notah Begay III Foundation in the amount of $22,000. The Indigenous Women Rize project was awarded $15,000 through the Seventh Generation Fund for Indigenous Peoples, Inc. in May 2019, and is currently underway with strategically planning the workshop series to pilot in March 2020. Lastly, TEC shared working on updating their current logo design for social media and outreach materials, by collaborating with Michelle Lowden, the founder of Milo Creations, who specializes in hand-painted Pueblo jewelry and designs.

Tribal Entities Connect had four out of the five Advisory Board Members sign into their positions. Shannon Douma, Margaret (Guida) Leicester, Hope Alvarado, and Leola Tsinnajinnie-Paquin. These individuals will provide guidance, leadership, and experience to our organization. We are truly grateful for their commitment to our group. Here’s to our 2018-19 Advisory Board Members! 

Tribal Entities Connect created an agreement with the SouthWest Organizing Project (SWOP) in July 2018, to become our fiscal sponsor for Tribal Entities Connect. We now have everything we need to continue growing, and actively creating a difference within our communities. This sponsorship is the first part of our journey, and we want to remember this moment in recognition of the steps we have taken to begin something new. A great thank you to our supporters and collaboration partners we have gained over the past year. Here’s to Tribal Entities Connect!

In mid-August, TEC received a phone call from the director of the Notah Begay III Foundation (NB3). They have awarded TEC, and eight other organizations, a grant amount of $20,000 to support projects dedicated enhancing healthier Indigenous youth. TEC created a project to develop and implement a local volleyball academy for the Indigenous youth in urban Albuquerque, NM, and the surrounding Pueblo communities. It is an honor and definitely a milestone TEC will remember. Here’s a start to Tribal Entities Connect and the future projects!

Not too long ago, three ambitious and amazing Indigenous individuals were put together to make a change for tribal communities. We began meeting regularly for coffee and dinner, discussing the needs and lack of accessibility that Indigenous folks have to the available resources within the southwest region. All of us have experienced the challenges with entering and completing educational institution systems, and the hardships that come with it being an Indigenous person. We recognize and wish to support resources already available for Indigenous Peoples, and want to further enhance our connections to them for Indigenous Peoples everywhere.