Regenerated and Restyled Logo Embodies Na’ah Illahee Fund’s Unwavering Mission
Na’ah Illahee Fund is pleased to share our redesigned logo. The journey has been a labor of love and a time to reflect on our steadfast commitment towards the ongoing regeneration of Native communities.
The depiction of a Native person with arms raised in respectful relationship with Mother Earth represents what we’ve spent nearly two decades doing—strengthening her living systems through acts of support, reciprocity, and mutual respect. It’s no surprise that our name, Na’ah Illahee, translates to “Mother Earth” in Chinuk Wawa (1). We believe that when we care for all our Relations, we restore the health of our people and the earth.
Founded in 2005, Na’ah Illahee Fund is steeped in a legacy of Indigenous-led philanthropic leadership and serves as a facilitator and resource partner to elevate Native self-determination through community-based solutions.
Indigenous values and ways of knowing recognize the wisdom of those who came before. Similarly, the updated Na’ah Illahee Fund logo is not entirely new; rather, it is a strengthening of the previous one.
“For almost 20 years, we’ve been steadfast in our approach, and what we do and what we bring for our communities hasn’t changed much—because we listen to them. This approach to our work, based on Indigenous values and relationship-building, is what makes us successful at reaching deep into our communities.”
-Susan Balbas, Executive Director, Na’ah Illahee Fund
The visual continuity from the first logo to this one reaffirms the strengths of our organization and our vision and dreams for the future. Though the symbolism of the new logo is very similar to the prior one, there’s one key difference. The figure in the logo can now be seen as a Native person of any gender identity, instead of specifically female. This better represents the Indigenous communities and leaders we serve. The shift is subtle yet meaningful.
Na’ah Illahee engaged brand designer Jill Neumeister (Pawnee) of Orca Design Group to lead the collaborative brand and website design journey. The project began with an exploratory process that engaged the board, staff, and community members. After a collective and intentional process, the branded communication platform is now re-energized and will add clarity and impact to our organization’s future communications.
Masi! Niá:wen! Nunu-doi! Chioke! Pesha-yu! Siokwel! Tsatǫˀmes! ƛeeko! Qe’ci’yew’yew’! Aliilamoloo! Wado! Miigwetch! Philamayayapi! Thank you!
-Communication Staff
Contact Kate Riley for donations & partnership opportunities: kate@naahillahee.org
#NativeLed #NativeNonprofit #NativeAmerican #Indigenous #Native #WeAreIndigenous #IndigenousHeritage #NativeHeritage #NativeVoices