Blog

Centering Indigenous Perspectives: How Headwaters reminded me that solidarity benefits everyone 

By Alfred Walking Bull | they/he | Sicangu Lakota | 2023 Wellspring Fund Grantmaker 


Growing up in the Rosebud Sioux Tribe in South Dakota, I learned that generosity must be the first of our core values. Both at home and in school, I was reminded that of the other three values of bravery, fortitude, and wisdom, none are possible without a generous spirit. In order to be brave, we must be generous with ourselves and others; in order to be fortitudinous, we must be generous with our love and patience; in order to be wise, we must understand what it is to have nothing, to be willing to ask and receive, and to build ourselves up enough to give. Philanthropy is Indigenous. 

Headwaters Foundation for Justice has an extensive history of centering Indigenous people in its giving and philanthropy practice. My responsibility as a community grantmaker was to carry on that history. What I was honored to be able to do was to hold courageous conversation with the other community grantmakers about how our people find ways to be resilient within the structures that currently exist while simultaneously using those structures to decolonize.  


What was encouraging about the Headwaters approach was the intentional Indigenous inclusion I saw in my grantmaking committee. As one of three Indigenous voices on the seven-person committee, it was a rare moment to build relationships with other Indigenous community members while being an advocate and resource. 

When we can support Indigenous people to deconstruct the systems of oppression at every opportunity, no matter how grassroots or grand the scale, we benefit from that act of solidarity.  

We cannot abide injustice against other BIPOC folks on occupied and stolen Dakota and Anishinaabe land. 

I had previously worked in philanthropy at a 2SLGBTQ+ community foundation in communications, so I was familiar with the ecosystems within philanthropy. Being able to fully participate in this lifecycle of grantmaking at Headwaters was a transformational experience that helped me to fully appreciate the role of community in philanthropy.  


Funding opportunities for Indigenous peoples in the U.S. represent so much more than just one aspect of life for us on a daily basis. We are the nation’s ignored crisis because the weight of the injustice is put on us to bear, when in reality, it is the responsibility of non-Indigenous people to meet on both legal and moral bases.  

Tribal nations are considered political and legal entities and not just a factor of race in the U.S. Our sovereign governments are recognized in the founding documents of this country as distinct political groups that must be negotiated with to secure the peace and prosperity of the U.S. In Article I, Section 8, Clause 3 of the U.S. Constitution, Congress has the authority to regulate commerce with tribal nations. This is why we have a Bureau of Indian Affairs, the Indian Health Service, and an Office of Indian Education.  

However, the reality for tribal communities in the United States continues to be bleak. The Indian Health Service is just one aspect of how Indigenous communities in the United States and its colonies continue to fight for the bare necessities. While health care is a treaty obligation for most tribal nations, it continues to be one of the most underfunded departments within the federal government. That is to say nothing of education, land and resource management, hunting and fishing, environmental protections, or any one of the myriad concerns that impact Indigenous communities.  

Whenever I think about generosity, I’m reminded of my parents, Ralph Walking Bull and Lorraine Iron Shell-Walking Bull. They’ve been in the spirit world for over a decade now, but their experience and wisdom guide me in how we show up for others. We are not a transactional people, we are a people who lead with our values of generosity, bravery, fortitude, and wisdom. I’m grateful to Headwaters Foundation for Justice for continuing to invest in our communities and make space for Indigenous perspectives in authentic ways. 

Wopila tanka eciciyapelo 

Great thanks 



In Alfred’s words, learn about the 4 organizations that the Wellspring Fund grantmaking committee selected: 

Learn more about the Tending the Soil (TTS) coalition that Alfred is a part of! 

Native voices and intersectionality 

Excited about community grantmaking? 

  • If you are interested in becoming a community grantmaker for the next Wellspring Fund, we’d love to connect! Please reach out to Kate Vickery at kate@headwatersfoundation.org to learn more.