Book Description Review Quotes Contents Case Studies & Excerpts Blogs
Book Description

For too long, Native American people in the United States have been stereotyped as vestiges of the past, invisible citizens in their own land obliged to remind others, “We are still here!” Yet today, Native leaders are at the center of social change, challenging philanthropic organizations that have historically excluded Native people, and fighting for economic and environmental justice.

Edited by Raymond Foxworth of First Nations Development Institute and Steve Dubb of The Nonprofit Quarterly, Invisible No More is a groundbreaking collection of stories by Native American leaders, many of them women, who are leading the way through cultural grounding and nation-building in the areas of community, environmental justice, and economic justice. Authors in the collection come from over a dozen Native nations, including communities in Alaska and Hawaiʻi. Chapters are grouped by themes of challenging philanthropy, protecting community resources, environmental justice, and economic justice. While telling their stories, authors excavate the history and ongoing effects of genocide and colonialism, reminding readers how philanthropic wealth often stems from the theft of Native land and resources, as well as how major national parks such as Yosemite were “conserved” by forcibly expelling Native residents. At the same time, the authors detail ways that readers might imagine the world differently, presenting stories of Native community building that offer benefits for all. Accepting this invitation to reset assumptions can be at once profound and pragmatic. For instance, wildfires in large measure result from recent Western land mismanagement; Native techniques practiced for thousands of years can help manage fire for everyone’s benefit.

In a world facing a mounting climate crisis and record economic inequality, Invisible No More exposes the deep wounds of a racist past while offering a powerful call to care for one another and the planet. Indigenous communities have much to offer, not the least of which are solutions gleaned from cultural knowledge developed over generations.
 

Review Quotes

"Invisible No More reminds us about the abundance of knowledge, power, and leadership in Indigenous communities across this country—past, present, and future. The solutions and constructivism are a gift to the world; it is imperative that we listen."
Nichole June Maher, CEO, Inatai Foundation

"The voices in this collection of Indigenous peoples are the manifestation of our ancestors’ prayers realized. Their actions and intent come from the most sacred calling—being of service to our people. These authors are the Ogimaag (Chiefs) of our modern age."
Chrystel Cornelius (Ojibwa-Oneida), President and CEO, Oweesta Corporation

"Invisible No More weaves together traditions of reciprocity and commitments to community organizing that shift power to the original protectors of land and water. These critical writings connect gender and land-based violence, philanthropy and exploitation, and sovereignty and stewardship, while protecting language, land, and loved ones."
Carmen Rojas, President and CEO, Marguerite Casey Foundation

"These writings are an opportunity to reset relationships between mainstream environmental organizations—often white dominated—and Native communities. Invisible No More will be indispensable in the struggle against social injustice, climate change, and environmental degradation."
Ramón J. Cruz, former President, Sierra Club

Contents

Foreword: "We Are Not Invisible!" by Michael Roberts
Acknowledgments

Introduction
Steve Dubb
Part I: Indigenous Perspectives on Philanthropy
Chapter 1: Philanthropy and Native Communities: Toward a More Just Future
Raymond Foxworth
Chapter 2:  Building on Our Strengths: Centering Native People and Native Languages
Brooke Mosay Ammann, Valerie Segrest, and Lisa Wilson
Chapter 3: Challenging Harmful Philanthropic Practices
Sarah EchoHawk and Trisha Moquino
Chapter 4: Envisioning a Healthy Relationship between Money and Power
Sarah Kastelic and Sherry Salway Black

Part II: Protecting the Environment
Chapter 5: Fire, Forests, and Our Lands: An Indigenous Ecological Perspective
Hilary Renick
Chapter 6: Our Bodies Are the Front Lines: Responding to Land-Based Gender Violence
Annita Lucchesi
Chapter 7: Fisheries and Stewardship: Lessons from Native Hawaiian Aquaculture
Brenda Asuncion, Miwa Tamanaha, Kevin K.J. Chang, and Kim Moa
Chapter 8: Fire and the Coast Salish Three Sisters
Samuel Barr
Chapter 9: The Pendulum of Climate: A Hopi Story
Monica Nuvamsa
Chapter 10: Healthy Land, Healthy Food, Healthy People: A Cochiti Invitation to Join Us at the Table
A-dae Romero Briones

Part III: Indigenous Perspectives on Environmental Justice
Chapter 11: Preserving Our Place: Isle de Jean Charles
Chantel Comardelle
Chapter 12: Reconciling the Past May Be the Only Way to a Sustainable Future
Trisha Kehaulani Watson-Sproat
Chapter 13: An Indigenous Vision for Our Collective Future: Becoming Earth's Stewards Again
Native Peoples Action
Chapter 14: Regeneration—from the Beginning
A-dae Romero Briones

Part IV: Building Native Economies, Toward an Indigenous Economics
Chapter 15: Advancing Economic Sovereignty: Lifting Up Native Voices for Justice
Raymond Foxworth
Chapter 16: Moving beyond the Five Cs of Lending: A New Model of Credit for Indian Country
Jaime Gloshay and Vanessa Roanhorse
Chapter 17: Rewriting the Rules: Putting Trust Lands to Work for Native American Benefit
Lakota Vogel
Chapter 18: Helping Native Business Owners Thrive: How to Build a Supportive Ecosystem
Heather Fleming
Chapter 19: Building Community through Finance: A Wisconsin Native CDFI's Story
Fern Orie
Chapter 20: Radical Economics: Centering Indigenous Knowledge, Restoring the Circle
Vanessa Roanhorse
Afterword: Building a House of Knowledge
Carly Bad Heart Bull

About the Contributors
About the Editors
Sources
Index
 

Case Studies & Excerpts

Read an excerpt below or download it here.

Blogs

Indigenous Peoples' Day—Native Voices Are Invisible No More

By Raymond Foxworth / On October 9th, 2023

In many ways, Invisible No More: Voices from Native America started on Indigenous Peoples' Day. In 2019, when I was at First Nations Development Institute, we launched our first article series highlighting the voices of Native community leaders with Steve Dubb and the team at Nonprofit Quarterly. 

In the kickoff article, I noted then, for those who don’t know, Indigenous Peoples’ Day, formerly called Columbus Day, is the celebration of Indigenous survival in the face of a genocidal invasion that began in 1492 when an Italian sailor, Christopher Columbus, stumbled upon the Caribbean islands. His arrival set in motion the extermination of Indigenous peoples across the Americas, including the Taíno Indians he originally contacted in the Caribbean, and a history of slavery, sexual violence, and more. Although Columbus never stepped foot in North America, his presence in history has created a national narrative that has glorified him and a brutal process of American development that at the same time worked to exterminate and diminish Native people, their sovereignty, land and culture. 

In 2021, the federal government officially proclaimed the second Monday of October to be Indigenous Peoples’ Day. Beyond calls to rename the day, there has been a call to learn about and acknowledge the horrific atrocities committed against Native Americans by settler Americans and their governments, and more importantly, take reparative action that advances Native sovereignty, linguistic, cultural and land rights.

With this context in mind, Invisible No More: Voices from Native America articulates Native action, visions, and aspirations that are taking place in Native communities all aimed at challenging the romanticized and false views of Columbus and his colonial legacy. This book highlights the voices of Native people who are doing the hard work necessary to advance Native sovereignty, linguistic, cultural and land rights. Invisible No More highlights the resilience of Native people and their fight to maintain their distinct identities, protect land and the environment and advance their sovereign rights. 

We invite you to learn more from Native people, their important work and vision. 

Download the Forword and Introduction of Invisible No More here or read it below. Now through Friday, October 13 you can use preorder code VISIBLE for 25% off the cover price on islandpress.org