A message from the director
Dear Family, Friends, and Supporters of We Are the Seeds,
I hope this new year brings you joy, grounding, and many reasons for celebration. As we gear up for a busy 2022, I’d like to take a moment to share what we’re working on and our vision for the future.
We Are the Seeds has been flourishing in our commitment to amplify Indigenous voices since 2016. It was then that we developed the vibrant and meaningful Seeds Santa Fe. The acknowledgement of a much needed shift in approach to Indigenous arts, and taking on that pivotal work has led us to produce over 143 additional programs (including our upcoming podcast From Here, With a View), increasing agency and direct engagement between Indigenous artists and audiences. Seeds has created, and continues to implement a more expansive view on how to support and lift Indigenous artists and communities through action.
In the past two years, we’ve learned many lessons about the importance of remaining flexible and responsive. We've also gained a greater understanding that our organization’s mission extends well beyond public in-person programs— that connection and positive change can be expressed in many forms, and work that is managed privately without fanfare can often be the most powerful and productive.
Our utmost priority is to serve the Indigenous community of Philadelphia and surrounding areas, as well as to design engagements that would reconcile the major gaps in representation of Northeast Indigenous artists and makers. We have developed exciting partnerships and collaborations that will nourish and expand this important work that we care so deeply about. We are challenging Indigenous erasure and invisibility in Philadelphia (and beyond) and creating safe spaces to exist as we are— beautiful, thriving peoples with important histories and even stronger futures.
We will not be producing Seeds Santa Fe at the Railyard Park this August. After weighing all the potential challenges the pandemic may carry, we have decided it would be irresponsible for us to commit to such a large production in this uncertain time. Thank you to the SO MANY folks who have been advocates and supporters of our work over the years. We see you, we are grateful for all that you’ve done to lift Native art and artists, and we look forward to working together again very soon. Thank you to all of our incredible artist friends who continue to inspire us daily. This is a phenomenal journey— our work together has had profound impact, and it will ripple well into the future. We miss you!
Santa Fe is always in our hearts and we will make our way back (re-envisioned!), but until then, we are home on the East Coast, and we’re right where we need to be.
Sending love to you and yours,
Tailinh
I hope this new year brings you joy, grounding, and many reasons for celebration. As we gear up for a busy 2022, I’d like to take a moment to share what we’re working on and our vision for the future.
We Are the Seeds has been flourishing in our commitment to amplify Indigenous voices since 2016. It was then that we developed the vibrant and meaningful Seeds Santa Fe. The acknowledgement of a much needed shift in approach to Indigenous arts, and taking on that pivotal work has led us to produce over 143 additional programs (including our upcoming podcast From Here, With a View), increasing agency and direct engagement between Indigenous artists and audiences. Seeds has created, and continues to implement a more expansive view on how to support and lift Indigenous artists and communities through action.
In the past two years, we’ve learned many lessons about the importance of remaining flexible and responsive. We've also gained a greater understanding that our organization’s mission extends well beyond public in-person programs— that connection and positive change can be expressed in many forms, and work that is managed privately without fanfare can often be the most powerful and productive.
Our utmost priority is to serve the Indigenous community of Philadelphia and surrounding areas, as well as to design engagements that would reconcile the major gaps in representation of Northeast Indigenous artists and makers. We have developed exciting partnerships and collaborations that will nourish and expand this important work that we care so deeply about. We are challenging Indigenous erasure and invisibility in Philadelphia (and beyond) and creating safe spaces to exist as we are— beautiful, thriving peoples with important histories and even stronger futures.
We will not be producing Seeds Santa Fe at the Railyard Park this August. After weighing all the potential challenges the pandemic may carry, we have decided it would be irresponsible for us to commit to such a large production in this uncertain time. Thank you to the SO MANY folks who have been advocates and supporters of our work over the years. We see you, we are grateful for all that you’ve done to lift Native art and artists, and we look forward to working together again very soon. Thank you to all of our incredible artist friends who continue to inspire us daily. This is a phenomenal journey— our work together has had profound impact, and it will ripple well into the future. We miss you!
Santa Fe is always in our hearts and we will make our way back (re-envisioned!), but until then, we are home on the East Coast, and we’re right where we need to be.
Sending love to you and yours,
Tailinh
