Our Story

WHEN? Born in 2017, this initiative started among grassroots indigenous leaders who met in Montreal, Canada at the Pan-American Health Organization/World Health Organization Indigenous Wellness Meeting to present about the local solutions for the prevention of suicide. With participation from leaders of 22 Indigenous nations across the Americas, the meeting conclusion was that the only way to improve human physical and mental health was through an approach that took the environment (Mother Earth) as one element of our own health and vice-versa.

WHY? The environmental crises we all face are very serious and to overcome these crises we must create Unity across indigenous communities. For that to happen the people must heal from the trauma, grief and loss that is preventing us from creating unified action and return to the prophecy of uniting the Eagle, Condor and Quetzal across Pan America indigenous communities. It is the Indigenous peoples, who hold the knowledge to maintain the connection of all elements of life and health. The TIME Collaborative supports networks and resources for healing mother earth, which also includes healing us.

WHO? This grassroots initiative is led by a work group of Indigenous Leaders from North, Central, and South America who work with and provide guidance to a network of collaborative organizations and tribal nations across the hemisphere. The TIME Collaborative has supported a number of projects and cultural/professional exchanges through various organizations that include the Mayan Research and Documentation Center, International Indian Treaty Council, the Rosebud Sioux Tribe, the University of Antioquia in Colombia, the Indian Country Child Trauma Center at the University of Oklahoma Health Sciences Center, the National Council of Urban Indian Health, One Fire Associates, InnerCHANGE WORKS, Immediate Medium, and individual Indigenous leaders in diverse nations of the Americas.

HOW? Through evidence-based and culture-informed practical initiatives and advocacy that allow for the Indigenous leaders, researchers, health practitioners, artists, and educators of the Americas to both advance on the equity and rights of their peoples to live and flourish in a healthy environment, where their rights, health, practices and development are respected and fostered.

Support

TIME supports interdisciplinary projects focused on exchanges in inter-related programmatic areas of Spirituality, Art, Community, and Environment (SPACE).

● ● ● ● ●

Spirituality: enable exchanges for Indigenous spiritual leaders from across borders to share knowledge and support one another in their community healing practices

Policy: Advocate for national and international policies that heal Mother Earth and all of her people

Art: Create artistic interventions that share Indigenous knowledge with the broader culture to affect global healing, understanding, and change

Community: Build community capacity for and replication of effective interventions for personal, family, community, and environmental healing

Environment: Support cross-cultural collaborations to heal Mother Earth, upon which the health of all humanity depends