There are so many challenges facing everyone in the world today, but especially those impacting our Indigenous brothers and sisters. Many who live on the frontlines of our global environmental crisis, have severely limited financial resources, are disenfranchised, displaced from their ancestral lands, and have had no medical support during this pandemic. Yet, they are still here and remain resilient. The Tribal Trust Foundation helps amplify the voices of Native people across the world and respond to their urgent requests for cultural preservation and protection. As the famous naturalist, Jane Goodall, advocates in The Book of HOPE; a Survival Guide in Trying Times, we must actively participate in creating the kind of world we need where our hopes can be realized.
The Tribal Trust Board has hope for this year. We have added three new Directors in the hope that their expertise and commitment will increase our impact and outreach. Board members are critical to TTF’s mission; they commit their time, effort, advocacy–as well as the important financial gift they provide. In this spirit, we are excited to introduce you to our new Board. We are very grateful to water ceremonialist and healer Maya Gale Shaw, who has worked tirelessly on our TTF Board over the past three terms. As she rotates off the Board, Maya will continue to champion TTF as an Advisor.
“It has been pure joy and inspiration to serve on TTF’s Board for the past 5 years and to be working closely with kindred spirits who understand that Indigenous cultures and their wisdom traditions are precious treasures that need to be protected and sustained. And who understand that our world may actually depend upon their wisdom to bring us back into harmonious relationship with the Earth’s eco-systems, and all our relations. As I transition to Advisory Board, I hope to continue my support and heart connection to this terrific team and to our TTF mission.”– Maya Gale Shaw
TTF Board Members at a gratitude lunch for Maya!
OUR TRIBE
We are the women and men who feel that the loss of ancient cultures would be a loss for our whole world. There is wisdom in the languages, art, stories, and songs of the tribal people who weave the fabric of our being-ness, those who once lived freely in nature and who need our help to preserve the precious pieces of their cultures. We may live more fully by listening, feeling, and belonging to the stories of the Indigenous people of the world. Learn more. about our tribe by clicking here.
Janis Salin, President
After a lucrative career serving as Senior Vice President of Tetra Tech, Inc., Janis now devotes her time to philanthropic endeavors. She serves on multiple board in addition to TTF, where she researches non-profits and evaluates grant proposals.
Téana David, Vice President
Téana is a writer, producer, and life-long environmental activist working at the intersection of ecology, spirituality, and social justice. Having served as the Director of Deepak Chopra’s NYC center, Deepak Homebase, she is now the co-director of Circle of Wisdom an online library of wisdom from around the world.
Amber Bassett, Secretary
Amber is an Indigenous Tšumaš woman from Ojai California whose work is centered on the intersections between holistic economy, decolonization, and stewardship. Having evolved as an artist-turned-researcher, the best description for her work is Co-Creativity–which releases the participatory and generative energies of people.
Barbara Savage, Treasurer
Over the past twenty-five years, Barbara has dedicated her time, energy, expertise, and resources to further the mission of the Tribal Trust Foundation to share Indigenous wisdom. An activist, educator, and thought leader, Barbara produced two award winning documentary films that required her to risk her life in politically hostile environments to support the threatened Indigenous people requesting her help.
Art Cisneros, Director & Firekeeper
As a Chumash leader, Art’s spiritual name means “Earth Man with a Good Heart” and he truly embodies these virtues. Offering fire ceremonies at his home for the Santa Barbara community, Art also gives sacred healing and cleansing rituals which he believes that the time is now for all of us to begin the process of restoring the balance of energy. “We can heal each and the world through our willingness to share what we hold as material wealth and what we hold in our heart as love, kindness, compassion, and generosity”.
Marilyn O’Malley, Director
As a successful certified personal and professional development coach, Marilyn works with leaders, entrepreneurs, innovators, pioneers, healers and highly sensitives, that are positively transforming the way we perceive ourselves, others and the world around us. She taps in, tunes in and shares the wisdom of the past and future that empowers others to stand up, stand out, speak up and make a difference in the World and in the Universe.
Jill Elisofon, Director
Jill has over 30 years of fundraising experience working with international nonprofits including the Smithsonian Institution and Conservation International, both in Washington, DC. Since moving to Florida in 1996, Jill has consulted with varied nonprofits to advise on fundraising and strategic planning. Her secondary career as a jewelry designer was inspired by her experiences with Indigenous people around the world. Jill’s one-of-a-kind necklaces featuring ethnic/tribal beads and rare pendants are sold predominantly in museum shops.
Holly Sherwin, Director
Holly Sherwin has spent her career working in the environmental field as an educator, advocate, author, and artist. She began as a naturalist and boat guide in southwest Florida, then travelled to Nashville where she worked in film for the PBS show “Tennessee’s Wildside”. In her work she has always encouraged others to strengthen their relationship with the earth, its’ creatures and sacred plants. Sherwin believes that “We as humans have the least experience with how to live on this earth, and thus the most to learn, and so must look to our teachers among the plants and creatures with which we share this planet.”
Hilda Porro, Director
Hilda has practiced law in Wellington, Florida, for the past thirty years. She practices holistically, mindful of the humanity of all parties involved. To expand her tools for being of service, she was trained as a life coach and shaman, and shares what she’s learned in her writing. She believes that each person’s personal responsibility and connection with what is fundamentally sacred is most important and that reconnecting with indigenous wisdom and practices is urgent and vital.
Dawn A. Murray, Director of International Education & Research
Dawn created the environmental studies program at Antioch University Santa Barbara and is passionate about conservation and environmental justice. She has led many ecocultural trips, including to Bhutan and the Galapagos Islands, focusing on preserving indigenous cultures and habitats. Dawn works to promote conservation initiatives advocating for a sustainable future. She was past President of the Board and has been a proud TTF Board Member for over 8 years.
Bob Hitchcock, AdvisorBob (PhD, University of New Mexico, 1982) is currently a professor of Anthropology in the Department of Anthropology at the University of New Mexico in Albuquerque as well as an Adjunct Professor of Geography and Geospatial Sciences at Michigan State University. Bob has worked on Indigenous peoples’ rights issues in Africa, the Middle East, and the Americas since the 1970s. His work focuses on genocide and human rights among indigenous peoples world-wide.
Lorraine Monick, Advisor
Expert wealth advisor and investment strategist with significant leadership experience managing UHNW family and individual client relationships and investment programs. Currently MD, Multi-Family Office & Platinum Group at Silicon Valley Bank.
Maya Gale Shaw, Advisor
As a Certified Life Coach, Hakomi practitioner and international trainer. Maya is the founder of Write from the Heart and Inner Nature/Outer Nature Retreats and Power with Heart, a feminine-principled leadership training. She is also a published poet and playwright. (The Last Wild Place).
Please join us in embracing HOPE this year by thinking with your heart and actively support the Tribal Trust Foundation by making a donation today.
Love,
Barbara
Barbara Savage
Founder & Executive Director
Tribal Trust Foundation
The Tribal Trust Foundation is located in the unceded homelands of the Chumash People and the Seminole Tribe of Florida. By recognizing these communities, we attempt to honor their legacies, their lives, and descendants. To learn more about the Indigenous People’s land on which your home or work sits, visit: native-land.ca
