InnoNative:
Creating Inclusive Economies through Inclusive Communities
with Chad Poitra
(Em)powering Native Communities
Part I
Monday, June 6th
Part II
Monday, June 13th
Hearth: June 13th
Reflecting on Chad Poitra’s EC and question: Do we want to turn this moment that we are in, into an era? and the CPL Vision: A just, inclusive, and interconnected world - a world that works for all.
What is the dominant narrative or story you are living in and is it big enough?
A narrative or discourse becomes dominant when it is the primary framing through which expectations and explanations about behavior, emotions, and thoughts are determined.
Dominant Narratives: People organize and make sense of their lives inside of narrative frames. Few of those narratives are original constructions. Most of the frames are unconsciously inherited and reinforced by pre-established systems, structures, and relational patterns. An interconnected weaving of multiple narratives is also described as a discourse. Narrative theorists identify a discourse as “… a system of words, actions, rules, beliefs, and institutions that share common values. Particular discourses sustain particular worldviews. We might even think of a discourse as a worldview in action.”4
A narrative or discourse becomes dominant when it is the primary framing through which expectations and explanations about behavior, emotions, and thoughts are determined. Dominant societal narratives and discourses powerfully influence what gets storied and how it gets storied. Discourses tend to be invisible—taken for granted as part of the fabric of reality.
Hooker, David Anderson. The Little Book of Transformative Community Conferencing: A Hopeful, Practical Approach to Dialogue (Justice and Peacebuilding) (p. 16). Good Books. Kindle Edition.
“Do we want to turn this moment that we are in, into an era? I think we are ready for it. Our communities have been ready for it. We’re resilient, we’ve been here for a long time. We are ready for this moment of equality, to take our rightful spot amongst our peers, to turn this into an era. So the next generation can look at innovation, can look at creativity, can be their best selves, without worrying about their identity, and any judgment that comes with their identity. That they are free to be able to be the strong, productive, knowledgeable, culturally-grounded folks. To inherit what they find, and make it better, too.”
About InnoNative
Our communities are resilient. Between the continuation of colonized economies and persistent social, mental, and economic disparities, indigenous communities are facing significant barriers. We Are Still Here.
Our communities are powerful. We have capable and inspiring people. We have talent. We have passion. We have drive. We have worth.
InnoNative aims to help our Native-led and Native-serving organizations better leverage these strengths in order to address these enduring (and often systemic) challenges and barriers.
InnoNative Consulting is available to help deliver a solid ecosystem for native entrepreneurs. Business incubator is just one piece of our Project Cultivate. We also can assist in building accelerators, co-working, community kitchen, and several other wrap-around programs with technical assistance and capacity building for startups. We have technology that streamlines the TA and capacity building allowing a stronger focus on resource building and deployment. Microgrants, microinvesting, program-related investments, mission-related investments, participatory business grants, land trusts, co-ops, pitch competitions, youth programing (financial literacy).
About Chad Poitra
Chad Poitra most recently served as the executive director of the Tiwahe Foundation, an Indigenous led and focused community foundation in St. Paul. Prior to joining Tiwahe, Mr. Poitra facilitated the Charitable Giving Program for the Shakopee Mdewakanton Sioux Community (SMSC), a federally recognized, sovereign Native American tribe located southwest of Minneapolis/St. Paul. In this role, Mr. Poitra managed the tribe’s grant and donations programs, facilitating over $30 million in contributions since 2018. Prior to joining the SMSC in 2018, he served as the Community and Business Diversity Specialist for the Southern Minnesota Initiative Foundation. There he oversaw the development, implementation and evaluation of the Prosperity Initiative, a business development program serving diverse communities in 20 counties in southern Minnesota.
chad@innonative.net | 612.865.9085
An enrolled member of the Turtle Mountain Band of Chippewa Indians, Mr. Poitra currently serves on the Board Directors for Native Americans in Philanthropy, Greater Twin Cities United Way, Childrens Minnesota Foundation, Social Enterprise Program Related Investment Review Team for Venn Foundation and in an advisory role with the Emory University Minority Venture Fund.
Click to read “A conversation with Chad Poitra” with the Tiwahe Foundation!