b'"We Are Community" Reflections fromCommunity Member TashaFridiaCommunitybuildingisinherenttoIndigenouspeople.WearenaturallycommunalandoperateunderconceptslikeMitakuyeOyasin(Weareallrelated).Worldviewssuchasthisguideeverythingwedofromdecisionmaking,toovercomingchallenges,andplanningforfuturegenerations.Communitybuildinghasserved us well since time immemorial. We havebeenabletoprotectourwaysoflifeandempower our people to create brighter futuresforthosewhowillcomeafterus.Buildingcommunityrunsdeepwithinourcollective instilledineachofherchildrenthevalueofgivingmemoryandhasbeenmodeledandpassed backandlookingoutforthelessfortunateinourdown from our ancestors.community. She always had an open door, offeringfoodtoanyonewhocrossedherthreshold.BeyondUltimately,communitybuildingstartsatthe beingourmatriarchandbeloved,shehadanmicro level, at home. When I think of enhancing unapologeticcommitmenttoensuringthatNativethelivesofcommunitymembers,Ithinkabout peoplewererespectedandtreatedfairly.Inthethewomeninmyfamily.Theyinformedmy 1980sshecreatedacoalitionoftriballandownersunderstandingofwhatitmeanstobea and advocated for their rights. She was strong. Shecontributingmemberofcommunity.Their was community. teachingsweregroundedintraditionalspirituality,culture,history,andtribalvalues. Mygrandmother,FrancesWise,wasanoutspokenadvocate and activist throughout Indian Country. SheBoth of the relatives that come to mind paved wasrelentlessinhercommitmenttoIndigenousthewayforthesubsequentgenerationupon rights,bravelytakingastandandhighlightingthewhich to grow and improve. repercussions of truth telling regarding our historiesarounddiscrimination,genocide,assimilation,andMygreat-grandmother,BerdinaHolder,wasa racism.SheorganizedandcreatedcountlessstrongWichitawoman,raisedbyher organizations,events,andproteststoelevatethegrandparents. She was the mother of ten whovoices of the voiceless in our communities.'