Outstanding Philanthropist Awards

We honor the Native tradition of giving each year by recognizing outstanding philanthropists within Indian Country.

Chad Lewis

Chad Lewis is being honored for his role in helping the Duwamish Tribe to achieve their dream of attaining their own longhouse in Seattle. The history for the Duwamish Tribe in Seattle is one of tragedy and hope. From the time the first white settlers arrived in 1851 through the mid-1890s, Duwamish longhouses were burned and their inhabitants were banned from the city. Thirty years ago the descendants of the Duwamish dared to dream that they could build a longhouse to restore a place on their ancestral land. Hundreds of people and supporters were involved–too numerous to mention here. Among them was Mr. Lewis who came to the project as a volunteer just over four years ago. Mr. Lewis reinvigorated fundraising efforts, connected with foundations and other funders, and helped the Tribe to plot a course of action for its future. The Duwamish Longhouse and Cultural Center exists today in a large part because of his efforts.

Shakopee Mdewakanton Sioux

Since federal recognition in 1969, the Shakopee Mdewakanton Sioux (Dakota) Community has worked diligently to achieve a significant level of self-sufficiency and a meaningful level of self-determination. The SMSC utilizes resources from gaming and non-gaming enterprises to first and foremost meet its responsibilities to its Tribal membership. The Shakopee Mdewakanton Sioux Community also makes payments to city and county governments to cover the cost of services provided by those local jurisdictions to the Community. When the SMSC’s needs are met, it has the good fortune to assist others. There continue to be overwhelming unmet needs in Indian Country, and since it is their cultural and social tradition to assist those in need, the SMSC membership has authorized sharing financial assistance with other Tribes and Indian and non-Indian organizations through a charitable giving program. To the Shakopee Mdewakanton, being a good neighbor is an extension of the cultural tradition of being a good relative. The Dakota people believe that all living beings are relatives and should be treated not only with dignity and respect, but also helped in their day-to-day lives. The common expression Mitakuye Owasin, "We Are All Related," is often used to end prayers and ceremonies. The SMSC is grateful for the opportunity to provide significant financial assistance to other Tribes and charitable organizations through a charitable giving program.

Sheryl Fryberg (Tulalip)

We all have the power to be philanthropists and our next recipient, Sheryl Fryberg from Tulalip, epitomizes this as she has been making regular monthly contribution to Potlatch Fund since at least 2006. Ms. Fryberg makes this contribution to Potlatch Fund because a Potlatch Fund canoe journey grant back in 2006 had helped her family join the journey that year, and that the journey had literally been a life changing and life saving event for two of her children. Ms. Fryberg really wants other young people to have the huge benefits that she saw accrue for her children and the only way she could be sure of this happening was to write this monthly check to Potlatch Fund.

Bill & Melinda Gates Foundation

The Bill & Melinda Gates Foundation over the last several years has been very good to Indian Country in the Northwest. They have been very good with their money, with the provision of major grants to over half of the Tribes and most of the Native non-profits in the region. Over half of the grants to Potlatch Fund, for example, have in turn been redistributed to support the Canoe Journeys and emerging Native non-profits in the region.

Potlatch Fund watches foundation grants closely and at times up to 35% of the Pacific Northwest Grants have gone to Indian Country. This level of funding is 100 times higher than the long term national average and this support for Indian Country needs to be honored. Over and above the dollars given to Indian Country, we also know that we have a friend and supporter in the Bill & Melinda Gates Foundation. Foundation processes have been fine tuned to make it easier for Indian Country, they understand the timelines that exist and they help to introduce Indian Country projects to other funders. Most importantly they are just great people to work with.

Potlatch Fund had already decided to honor the Bill and Melinda Gates Foundation this year when we also learnt that Annie Clark was resigning to pursue new opportunities on the East coast. It is not overstating the fact that this news rippled like an earthquake throughout the communities with which we work. Indian Country has seen Ms. Clark as our friend, supporter and our advocate. She is a beguiling sense of humor and an amazing laugh and a deep and sincere commitment to the communities in which we all work. Ms. Clark through her own commitment and passion has helped to humanize and make the Bill and Melinda Gates foundation accessible to this group who did not previously have a relationship with philanthropy.

So tonight you are getting a two for one, a chance to honor the foundation for their amazing work and a chance to honor Annie who we all love and to wish her all the best as she heads off on this new adventure.