wayfinders circle governance report english - Flipbook - Page 4
Wayfinders Circle
Manifesto
Wayfinding is a way of life shared by many Indigenous peoples
throughout the world. It refers to traditional navigation methods used
by Indigenous peoples, in which the relationships of people to the stars,
weather, winds, and known navigational routes are shared through oral
histories from one generation to the next.
Today, in a time of unprecedented global change, these wayfinding
skills and practices are more important than ever. Reciprocal relations
with community, a deep connection with Mother Earth, and Indigenous
guardianship of traditional lands and waters are all forms of
intergenerational knowledge systems that are shared across time, from
ancestors to descendants. This wayfinding wisdom is a key to survival
and resilience as we strive to support the maintenance and nurture of
identity and self-determination of Indigenous peoples.
The Wayfinders Circle is a new collaborative initiative and platform
created by the Pawanka Fund and Nia Tero, under the guidance of the
Council of Elders of the World Union of Indigenous Spiritual
Practitioners (WUISP).¹ The Wayfinders Circle will support and gather
together Indigenous guardians from around the world who are working
to protect their lands, waters and territories. The Wayfinders Circle is a
learning network dedicated to investing in Indigenous Wayfinders and
sharing possible pathways for human societies to achieve ecological,
social, cultural, and spiritual harmony.
¹ The Pawanka Fund is an Indigenous-led grantmaking effort dedicated to supporting Indigenous peoples
traditional knowledge, well-being, and rights for self-determination. Nia Tero is a not-for-profit organization
established with the mission of working alongside Indigenous peoples to secure Indigenous guardianship of
vital ecosystems. Nia Tero believes that if Indigenous peoples are thriving, the places they manage will also
thrive. WUISP is an open voluntary association of Indigenous spiritual practitioners committed to ensuring
cultural and spiritual continuity of Indigenous ways.
GOVERNANCE REPORT
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APRIL 2022
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