Joy Harjo giving her acceptance speech at the Induction Ceremony at the Smith Opera House in Geneva, NY on Saturday Sept. 24 2022. Photo credit Lauren Petracca.

The Rematriation team with Joy Harjo, Dolores Huerta and her daughters.

Joy Harjo received her induction medallion from Hillary Clinton, which ended with a standing ovation from the crowd at the Smith Opera House in Geneva. Joy’s induction speech painted a picture of Indigenous women’s strength, while highlighting the Haudenosaunee roots of modern democracy. During her speech, she asked all Haudenosaunee women in attendance to stand in recognition as New York’s first stewards of the land.

Congratulations Joy! Our Rematriation team was honored to greet you into Haudenosaunee territories alongside our Haudenosaunee and Indigenous sisters who came to represent for your induction. 

Haudenosaunee & Indigenous women and girls with Joy Harjo

This three-day event highlighted the meaning of Rematriation in action and present a Haudenosaunee worldview for the public to learn directly from our people. 

Each year, one woman is selected to receive the WILL Award, recognizing her achievements in the advancement of women in governance, social role modeling and leadership. This year’s recipient is Mohawk Wolf Clan Sister, Jonel Beauvais. Jonel received this award during this years Seneca Falls Dialogues event dedicated to Rematriation!

Jonel Beauvais

Our team had a wonderful opportunity to travel to Osage Nation in Oklahoma during March of 2023 to attend the U.S. Equity Summit. The Summit was held by MIT Solve, whose mission is to solve world challenges by finding promising community-based solutions to complex problems through open innovation and supporting the change-makers who know their communities best. Throughout the event, MIT Solve cultivated a brave space for thoughtful deliberation and earnest learning to guide meaningful action and impactful partnerships after the event. As attendees, the Rematriation team participated in engaging break-out room discussions and lots of networking with leaders such as our fellow 2022 Indigenous Communities Fellows and the Inaugural Cohort of Black and Brown Innovators who are tapping into technology and lived-experiences to support under-resourced and under-estimated communities.

Rematriation Team and MIT Solvers in Tulsa, OK.

During our travels in Oklahoma, our team had the opportunity to sit down and meet with a few fellow Indigenous sisters. Our first day of activities consisted of a Bead & Tea hosted by the lovely, Sarah Adams-Cornell. During our conversation, we shared stories, traditions and many laughs. Sarah is an inspiration as she is a founding member of the non-profit Matriarch. Matriarch is a platform that promotes the social welfare of Native women through education, community building, and direct services to create within Indigenous communities. We got to learn more about each other as Indigenous Women-owned organizations.

Rematriation’ s week-long Oklahoma trip created this healing through connection within each of us. Every day was a full day of adventures and events!

From left to right: Caryn, Michelle, Chrischelle, Krista, Afton, Jade, Bella, & Sarah.