N A T I V E S

N.A.T.I.V.E.S. is a tribal non-profit organization founded by George Stillday, a member of the Red Lake Nation. Our name--Native American Traditional Indians Very Evolved Spiritually--reflects our long-time commitment to protecting Native peoples’ rights to self-determination and freedom to practice our own spiritual traditions. We have been working for spiritual wellness since 1995.
N.A.T.I.V.E.S. mission is to support the wellness and security of Native men and women who are living addicted, homeless or in spiritual need.
N.A.T.I.V.E.S. vision is to create transitional centers throughout the Twin City Metro area to integrate these men and women back into society in a meaningful and sober manner in order that they may provide for themselves and their families effectively.
Business concept:
Our focus is to create transitional housing center to shelter and support men and women and their children who find themselves living without shelter, hope, or spiritual well-being. Our goal is to ensure the safety and security of men and women who are reentering society after having been incarcerated. Our goal is to reduce recidivism, drug and alcohol abuse, homelessness and joblessness of men and women and upon our success, to expand our mission to include the families of those we serve.
Our past work gives us the experience and knowledge we need to serve Native people leaving prison.
• As World Peace and Prayer Day sponsors for three years (1996-1998) in Colorado Springs, Colorado, we brought together Ute and Lakota Spiritual leaders to serve people of all nationalities in a day of peace and prayer for World unity and to protect Mother Earth.
• For nearly ten years we gave spiritual support to Native people in Colorado and Oklahoma prisons, providing herbs, lava rocks, traditional foods and other necessities for the Inipi ceremonies as well as locating and transporting Native Medicine Men to lead ceremonies.
• Our organization also worked alongside the American Civil Liberties Union (ACLU) to protect the spiritual rights of Native inmates in Colorado.
• We supported and provided information to inmates in their successful lawsuit against the Colorado Department of Corrections.
• We provided paralegal support to the families of Native inmates.
• 2006 Sponsored the Emergency Summit of Scholars Defending Critical Thinking and Indigenous Studies.
Through the programming in our transitional centers will:
• Create long-term employment and housing opportunities;
• Extend the Length of Reentry Interventions;
• Expand Social Support Involvement;
• Implement Clear Communication Expectations;
• Provide Leadership;
• and Develop Clear Expectations for Roles and Responsibilities