Wisdom of the Elders, Inc.

Types

Cultural Organizations Non-Government Organizations Non-Profit Organizations

About Wisdom of the Elders, Inc.

Wisdom of the Elders, Inc. is a Portland, OR-based organization dedicated to recording, preserving, and sharing the rich cultural heritage of Native American communities. Since its founding in 1993, Wisdom has developed comprehensive multimedia initiatives that document oral history, cultural arts, language concepts, and traditional ecological knowledge from exemplary Native American elders, storytellers, and indigenous scientists. The organization collaborates with diverse institutions, agencies, and organizations to ensure authentic representation and broad accessibility of these invaluable resources.

The organization operates several specialized programs designed to serve Native American communities and the broader public. The Wisdom Workforce Development program provides Native American adults with environmental assessment and habitat restoration training through service learning partnerships across local natural areas. The Indigenous Traditional Ecological Knowledge (ITEK) initiative delivers culturally-tailored multimedia environmental science education to K-12 public schools, complemented by youth leadership programs focused on service-learning activities. Wisdom's multimedia projects include the Native Wisdom Documentary Film Series, the Wisdom of the Elders Radio Program, and the Discovering Our Story Television Program, which have documented over 400 Native elders and indigenous leaders. Additionally, the organization has developed 36 sets of health and wellness curriculum addressing historical trauma and building community resilience. Through two decades of public cultural events—including eleven annual Northwest Indian Storytellers gatherings, film festivals, screenings, and symposiums—Wisdom of the Elders continues to advance its vision of Native American cultural sustainability, multimedia education, and cultural reconciliation throughout the Portland region and beyond.