Patricia A. Locke Tȟawáčhiŋ Wašté Wiŋ, Compassionate Woman, January 21, 1928-October 20, 2001 was a member of the Lakota (Hunkpapa band), and White Earth Chippewa (Mississippi band). A devout educator and tribal rights leader, her work on the promotion and preservation of Indigenous traditional knowledge and wisdom, particularly concerning establishment of tribal colleges and development of tribal education policies and codes won her the esteemed Mac Arthur Foundation Fellowship in 1991.

Locke advanced educational opportunities for the Indigenous Nations and under-served populations in the United States, both through tireless advocacy at the level of the US Legislation and through development of innovative educational policies in grassroots Indigenous communities. She worked directly with seventeen tribes, supporting their efforts to establish tribal colleges with critical advancements towards creating tribal educational standards for Indigenous languages.

In her writings, Locke elucidates Indigenous values and belief systems, importance of education, native languages, and culture. A defender of the basic human rights, she was one of the principal authors of the American Indian Freedom of Religion Act (1978) which afforded basic religious freedom for Indigenous people in the US. This was a monumental shift from prior policies that outlawed all Indigenous devotional expression. She championed the cause of freedom of religion in the Western Hemisphere in her countless international engagements.

Vision

To promote a just, regenerative and unified world, centered on Indigenous wisdom, which nurtures the full potential, dignity and esteem of all people; and inspires a life-long dedication to actively respect, protect and defend the rights of people and the planet.

Mission

To empower people to realize their nobility, to defend and take active steps to protect grandmother earth, and to treat each other as good relatives through the promotion and celebration of Indigenous culture and wisdom.

Purpose

• We EMPOWER children, youth and young adults to take charge of their spiritual and material destiny through funding and providing traditional Indigenous Cultural Arts programming, educational enhancements and experiences that foster well-being and unleash potential.

• We ENGAGE in preserving vital elements of Indigenous culture that are on the brink of extinction, such as languages and Indigenous North American flute, through networking, collaborating and working with dedicated organizations, educators and scholars at college and university centers.

• We ENABLE communities to create systemic change; reclaim, regenerate and reinforce cultural identity to curate their collective future through in-depth outreach and collaboration towards common goals.

Guiding Values and Principles

• Children, youth and young adults have the power to contribute significantly to shaping the societies of the world.

• Education is an investment in our collective future. It is the essential means by which children, youth and young adults acquire knowledge, develop competencies and forge change.

• Preservation of Indigenous history and celebration of Indigenous cultures are necessary to establishing the truth that all peoples are members of one human family and operate as an interconnected and inseparable whole.

• Traditional Indigenous cultures and folk arts portray universal human values that foster the development of virtues and provide a vision of transformation in communities throughout the world.

• Artistic expression is necessary for the enrichment of human culture by unleashing the creative power of the mind and spirit.

• Inseparable from the preservation of Indigenous culture is the maintenance of well-being, security of, and justice for Indigenous people.

• A humble posture of learning fosters strategic collaborations, partnerships, and alliances and prioritizes a pattern of growth that allows for ongoing progress, reflection and action.

• In our collaborations and practices, we relentlessly advocate for recognition, commendation and compensation of Indigenous artists and culture bearers.