Build economic capacity through traditional fat knowledge

4.5 days hands-on:

• Render animal fat (bison, elk) into clean tallow using traditional low-heat method

• Make cold process soap using rendered tallow

• Plant medicine integration (harvest, infuse oils, understand what works in soap)

• Safety protocols and best practices

• Recipe development and customization

• Business basics (if desired)

Equipment (stays with you permanently):

• Everything needed to keep producing: stockpots, blenders, scales, molds, thermometers, safety gear

• Value: ~$2,000

Outcomes:

• Make soap for families (stop buying it)

• Generate income through sales

• Employ youth part-time or full-time

• Stock Nation businesses (gas stations, gift shops, health centers)

• Teach the next person

Investment: $18,000-20,000 USD

Who this serves: Communities wanting economic development, youth employment, traditional skills transmission

Build health sovereignty through plant knowledge

Adapts to season - same 4.5-day structure:

Spring (March-May): Tonics, teas, early plant medicines, cleansing
Summer (June-August): Preservation, berry syrups, oil infusion, seasonal medicine
Fall (September-October): Salves, root medicine, immune support, winter preparation

What you learn:

• Plant identification and ethical harvesting

• Infused oils (solar method, heat method)

• Salves, balms, and body care

• Seasonal teas, tonics, and elixirs

• Herbal syrups and preservation

• Safety protocols and dosage basics

• Recipe formulation

Equipment (stays with you):

• Processing tools, jars, molds, strainers, scales, labels, double boilers

• Value: ~$1,500-2,000

Outcomes:

• Make medicines for health centers and community members

• Reduce dependency on external healthcare for basic wellness

• Cultural reconnection through traditional plant knowledge

• Intergenerational knowledge transmission (Elders + youth)

• Generate income if selling products

Investment: $16,000-18,000 USD

Who this serves: Communities wanting health sovereignty, cultural programming, land-based education

Redesign service delivery using Indigenous frameworks

3-5 day intensive for tribal departments and service providers

The Problem: Current service systems separate Indigenous people from the things that build resilience: land, cultural practices, family structures, traditional knowledge, and community. This fragmentation creates dependency instead of capacity.

The Solution: Indigenous frameworks build capacity. Current service models manage symptoms. The Five Sovereignties (Food, Health, Mental, Emotional, Spiritual) offer a model that addresses root causes by integrating physical, mental, emotional, and spiritual health.

What You Learn:

Day 1-2: Understanding System Gaps

• How current service models create fragmentation

• Why policies that look good on paper fail on the ground

• The difference between cultural awareness and cultural integration

• The Five Sovereignties framework as alternative service model

Day 3: Indigenous Knowledge Integration

• Working effectively with Elders and traditional knowledge holders

• Plant medicine and land-based programming as health interventions

• Food sovereignty as foundation for other sovereignties

• Traditional skills as youth development (not recreation)

Day 4-5: Practical Implementation

• Building programs that keep families connected to land and culture

• Service models designed by communities, not imposed on them

• Measuring outcomes that matter to communities (not just compliance)

• Creating systems that build independence, not dependency

Who Should Attend:

• Tribal social services staff

• Child welfare workers

• Health department personnel

• Community wellness coordinators

• Youth services providers

• Anyone designing or delivering services in Indigenous communities

Outcomes:

• Service providers understand what makes Indigenous frameworks different

• Practical tools for integrating Indigenous knowledge into programming

• Models for community-led services that build capacity

• Shift from managing symptoms to building sovereignty

• Better outcomes because services align with how communities actually function

Investment: $20,000-25,000 USD

Why This Matters: Indigenous communities don't need better Western services. They need services built on Indigenous frameworks. This workshop teaches service providers how to work alongside Indigenous knowledge systems instead of replacing them. Communities that control their own services see better outcomes. We teach you how to support that.