Incorporated in 2016, the Soul of Nations Foundation (SONF) is a for-purpose organization that aims to uplift Indigenous peoples through various forms of media, innovative strategy, and youth-led initiatives. The Soul of Nations Foundation is headquartered in Washington, D.C; has a seasonal field office in Tucson, Arizona; and international branches in Genova, Italy, and Kigali, Rwanda.

Our mission is to progress Indigenous youth and communities through the arts, research, and scholarship. We are continuing to meet this goal by providing domestic and international programming for young Indigenous leaders in the fields of visual art, policy research, and academic scholarship; remaining a safe space for creative thought through boundary-pushing youth-led strategies; expanding our platform for free expression by pioneering futuristic and experimental initiatives; and galvanizing a powerful network of talented and multifaceted leaders to create a longstanding impact in our world. 

When the Soul of Nations Foundation first entered into the world of philanthropy, the majority of our programmatic work was place-based in a small town called Gallup, New Mexico, which is positioned just outside of the Navajo Nation. Through the launch of the Indigenous Art Expansion Initiative and the International Policy Network Initiative, the Soul of Nations Foundation was able to fulfill its mission far beyond the reservation lands of the American Southwest. Now, Soul of Nations is able to expand it’s level of programmatic outreach both domestically and abroad.

As a result of the Indigenous Art Expansion Initiative, Soul of Nations was able to open two new field offices, open an international base in Europe, and increase unconventional domestic and international art programming by attendance by 70 percent by introducing Soul Center for the Art, Indigenous International, the Native Collegiate Artist Residency, the Congressional Exhibition Project, and the Indigenous Dream Scholarship.

The goal of the Indigenous Art Expansion initiative is to provide Native American youth and disadvantaged communities with greater access to contemporary art and arts education. Through implementing systemic and organizational change, the Indigenous Art Expansion initiative will increase the Soul of Nations Foundation’s level of impact, both regionally and internationally. This work will help Soul of Nations to continue achieving its mission and build longterm organizational sustainability. Having the proper resources through this transformative walk is vital for the Soul of Nations Foundation’s health and growth. Through this transformation, the Soul of Nations Foundation has been more equipped to become a key influencer in the field of Indigenous Contemporary Art and has provided better access to arts education. 

The International Policy Network Initiative was introduced in 2020 and aims to lead the development of public policy and guided strategic implementation to benefit Indigenous nations within the Americas and around the world. The initiative will be implemented through the Institute for Indigenous Progressive Policy, which is a think tank operated through the Soul of Nations Foundation. The Institute for Indigenous Progressive Policy will provide a platform for young Indigenous voices to lead as a catalyst for conscious thought, inclusive discourse, and policy reform to impact Indigenous nations and communities through youth-led research initiatives throughout the Americas and Africa, while also focusing on similar issues that Indigenous communities face in parts of Australia and Northern Europe to promote cross-cultural organizing.

The Soul of Nations Foundation team is highly qualified and eager to continue helping Indigenous communities reclaim agency through arts, research, and scholarship. Together we can be the voice!

News

Soul of Nations is stoked to be partnering with Apply Stickers and Jeffrey Gibson through an amazing new sticker release. Each of three available sticker sheets has an edition of 400 love-centered designs that emulate themes held at the core of Jeffrey Gibson’s work, and proceeds will be donated to Soul of Nations!

The United Nations Development Program (UNDP) will be serving as a programmatic partner for the Green Architecture Project in Bolivia by helping to bolster programmatic outreach, helping SONF to form new local community and institutional partnerships, helping to provide internal mentorship for the cohort of Artist Fellows, and also by leading workshops throughout the virtual exchange period.

MASS Design Group is serving as a project partner for the Soul of Nations Foundation’s Indigenous International: Green Architecture Project in Rwanda. Through this partnership, MASS will lead workshops, provide design and materials support, and lead site visits for our project participants in Rwanda.

Words from our Executive Director, Ernest Christoph Hill: “Your silence is your complicity. Across the globe, people of color who now live in western or colonial society fear for their lives daily. In America, the issues of racial murder, violence, and tension have taken center stage — yet again.”

“This piece is not for you. This is an unapologetic grasp for identity.” So begins a new multimedia artistic work born out of an international exchange program called Digital Natives, which brought together a group of young Indigenous artists from the Americas and Africa (by way of  Belgium).

The Soul of Nations Foundation officially turned five years old! We would be nothing without the support of our amazing partners, organizers, change advocates, volunteers, and visionaries who have continuously believed in our mission and have helped us to reach unimaginable new heights. 

In partnership with U.S. Embassy Nairobi, the Soul of Nations Foundation is excited to further expand the art engagement facet of our mission through the Indigenous International: Green Architecture Project (GAP). The Indigenous International: Green Architecture Project coincides with the U.S. Embassy Nairobi Public Diplomacy Section’s  goal to strengthen cultural and educational ties between the U.S. and Kenya through programming that highlights shared values and promotes bilateral cooperation.

Indigenous Peoples Days presents an annual opportunity for global reflection, reclamation, and reparation. Together we can be the voice of our ancestors and create the future that will progress the generations to come. Happy Indigenous People’s Day!

The Soul of Nations Foundation (SONF) finally opened an office location in New York City!  Stop by and say hello at 80 Broad Street, New York, NY 10004. We are taking limited visitors by appointment.

Landscapes From Within is the representation of how the territory and traditions suffocate the identity of the populations that are part of it when viewed through the lens of being indigenous, the right to sovereignty, and the current living conditions in Turtle Island. Turtle Island is the territory better known today as North America, which as known was “frequented” by Christopher Columbus.

Landscapes From Within is the representation of how the territory and traditions suffocate the identity of the populations that are part of it when viewed through the lens of being indigenous, the right to sovereignty, and the current living conditions in Turtle Island. Turtle Island is the territory better known today as North America, which as known was “frequented” by Christopher Columbus.

Every quarter we like to shine a spotlight on some of the exciting work and grassroots efforts of our past youth program attendees. See what our Indigenous Youth Network is up to! 

Projects

The Indigenous International: Green Architecture Project presents the opportunity for Indigenous youth from around the world to connect through cultural exchanges that are rooted in architectural prisms. 

The Congressional Exhibition Project is an initiative created to display young and emerging Native American contemporary artists in honor of November’s Native American Heritage Month. 

In partnership with New York University Tisch School of the Arts, the Native Collegiate Artist Residency is a seven-day project held exclusively for Indigenous high school students ages 15-18 who are interested in furthering their education and careers in fields related to: photography and imaging, film and television, creative writing, or interactive media arts.

Students attending accredited undergraduate and graduate university programs are encouraged to apply for the Indigenous Dream Scholarship. Sub-awards are given students, ages of 15-35, majoring in fields related to business, visual art, health services, and law.

The Indigenous International: Digital Natives Project in Belgium is built around an artistic reflection on the accessibility to technology and the representation of minorities historically — and today — online, explored through the prism of multiculturalism and cultural heritage. Ten Native American students and ten afro-Belgian students from underrepresented communities participate in a seven-month exchange in the United States and in Brussels, Belgium. 

Soul Center for the Arts is an art gallery dedicated to exhibiting Indigenous contemporary works and life. This center also facilitates workshops to encourage international art programming for emerging Indigenous artists native to the Western hemisphere.

The Soul of Nations Magazine Creative Writing Program is a pilot initiative, launching in Winter 2020, which is designed to keep young creatives inspired during uncertain times. Creative writers will be invited to submitted articles to the Soul of Nations Magazine’s online and print publication.