Alice Oligario is helping others make their own regalia.
In March of this year, Alice Oligario, a Nanaimo & Squamish First Nations, Philippines elder, asked, “Who wants help with their regalia?” Powwow season was coming up, and there was a huge outpouring of requests.
Her first group made ribbon skirts. A few people brought their sewing machines, and she got extra machines donated so everyone would have one. Alice bought all the supplies.
“Usually, when I teach or help somebody make their skirt, I don’t charge. I believe we put all our prayers into whatever we make.”
She says she’s blessed to have a mother who taught her to sew. Yet she recognizes that others don’t know how to put together a wing dress or a shawl to wear when they go to ceremonies, including powwows.
“I want them to have something that makes them comfortable being there, with something that represents ceremony. My vision is to teach others the knowledge that I have.”
Next, Alice knew they needed belts, which can be expensive, and thought, “Yeah, so why not teach them how to make them?” She again bought all the supplies for her first regalia belt-making class. Yet she still had a long waitlist for more belt classes. That’s when Na’ah Illahee Fund stepped in and provided Alice with a grant to buy the supplies she needed to continue her work.
“Na’ah Illahee made my dream come true. My vision is to not only share my knowledge on how to make these things but also to bring the supplies, so people don’t need to worry about affording it.
We are so honored to help Alice do this work.
But we couldn’t do it without supporters like you!
Na’ah Illahee Fund provides grants for individuals like Alice and support for growing Native-led nonprofits.
“For me, Na’ah Illahee Fund’s help has allowed me to do even more to give back to my community, doing what I love, without having to run a business or a nonprofit.” says Alice, who works for United Indians of All Tribes Foundation in their Ina Maka Home Visiting Program.
Alice also works with The Yarrow Project, an organization that started as a Na’ah Illahee Fund program that branched off as its own nonprofit. “It’s a struggle for new organizations to get started,” she says, pointing out The Yarrow Project and Hummingbird Indigenous Doulas as examples of Na’ah Illahee success stories.”
“Native organizations need the support that Na’ah Illahee gives. I’m grateful they have the means to provide early support and fiscal sponsorships so our younger generation can get their Native nonprofits going,” states Alice. “They’re not a large organization – but they are powerful.”
Fiscally sponsored projects that Na’ah Illahee Fund has helped launch.
The mission of the The Yarrow Project is to encircle Indigenous survivors of violence by engaging in and with community, connecting to culture, and dismantling systems of harm.
Hummingbird Indigenous Doulas envisions Healthy Indigenous babies born into healthy Indigenous Families supported by healthy Indigenous communities.
Alice’s work is vital to the cultural revitalization we see happening all around us – in urban Native and Tribal communities. She’s helping our Relatives grow stronger in their Indigeneity and in their own journeys to give back to our communities.
For a nonprofit like us, your support is a big deal! Join us.