Eagle’s Nest Foundation Transcultural Commitment
Cognizant of societal inequalities, ENF is committed to attracting, welcoming, and serving people of diverse cultures, ethnicities, faiths, identities, and socioeconomic backgrounds. Our community ethos fosters belonging, self-awareness, respect, honesty, empathy, inclusion, and equity. We strive to honor the perspectives and traditions of all members of our community.
LAND ACKNOWLEDGMENT
Eagle’s Nest Foundation acknowledges, with respect, that the land on which we provide programming is the traditional, ancestral land of the Cherokee people past and present. We recognize that our organization and its participants are guests on this land. We are committed to learning more about the land’s history and creating programs and opportunities that are respectful and inclusive of the Cherokee people.
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CULTURAL APPROPRIATION
September 29, 2020
Addressing Cultural Appropriation at Eagle’s Nest Foundation
Dear Friends,
As promised, over the last several months we have been listening and learning about how we can provide a more equitable, just, and inclusive experience for all of our participants, faculty, staff, alumni, and trustees. In this effort, we are combing through our institutional culture for those practices derived from Native American traditions and exploring the nature of the education involved. We intend to remove any disrespectful, harmful, and simplistic uses of Indigenous cultures. Though our practices arose in admiration, our use amounts to appropriation and oppression. We previously made some changes (for example, revising how we describe advancements and recognition) and will continue this effort in summer 2021.
Our current priority is to remove names, symbols, and activities irreverent of Native American peoples and culture. Recognizing that this work is ongoing, we request your assistance in identifying other areas needing change as well as ideas for new or revised practices that honor our core values, support our mission, and nurture a community of belonging,respect, and fun. We invite and encourage you to share your input: survey may be found by clicking here. Survey responses are anonymous unless you prefer to provide your contact information; the program automatically aggregates the data to protect respondent anonymity. Individual survey responses will not be quoted or shared publicly. The totality of responses will be viewed and analyzed only by an ENF committee dedicated to listening and learning. A synopsis of responses will be shared with the organization and may be included in a general article for our annual newsletters. We also invite you to contact us directly to ask questions and share your thoughts. We welcome and appreciate meaningful conversations with our community.
Thank you for your commitment to Eagle’s Nest. Our conversations and changes are ongoing as we grow both as an organization and as individuals.
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GENDER INCLUSION
Eagle’s Nest Foundation is committed to creating a positive and inclusive learning environment that is sensitive and supportive of the gender identities of children, teens, and adults. We teach and foster empathy and respect throughout our community. The ways in which we are able to programmatically address gender differences on our residential campus are constantly evolving, and our goal is to ensure all people feel safe and supported regardless of their gender identity or expression. While we do not yet have the capacity to provide gender neutral housing for our campers or students, we will work individually with each person and family, as best as we can, to continue safe, respectful, and meaningful participation in, or employment with, our programs.
Gender and Housing at Eagle’s Nest Camp
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ANTI-RACISM RESOURCES
To our white community members, here are some ways to take action to support the Black community: Join us in listening, reading, watching, and learning; call your communities to this work; listen to Black voices; donate to Black-led organizations and movements; and stay updated and engaged.
How White Parents Can Can Talk to Their Kids About Race
Raising Race Conscious Children
Black-Led Organizations to Support:
LDF (NAACP Legal & Education Defense Fund)
Books:
How to Be an Anti-Racist by Ibram X. Kendi
So You Want to Talk About Race by Ijeoma Oluo
White Fragility by Robin DiAngelo
Me and White Supremacy by Layla F Saad
Between the World and Me by Ta-Nehisi Coates
Raising White Kids: Bringing Up Children in a Racially Unjust America by Jennifer Harvey
Films and Shows:
13th
When They See Us
Dear White People
American Son
The Hate U Give
Children’s Books:
The Snowy Day Ezra Jack Keats
Sulwe by Lupita Nyong
All Because You Matter by Tami Charles
I, Too, Am American by Langston Hughes
Malcolm Little: The Boy Who Grew Up to Become Malcolm X by Ilyasah Shabazz
A few of many Black Leaders to Follow:
A few of Many Organizations to Follow:
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