Partnerships was developed with the long-term goal of eliminating systemic barriers and creating conditions that protect and expand Indigenous sovereignty and self-governance while creating racial equity for all. We focus on creating durable relational ties between Indigenous and non-Indigenous organizations, developed at the speed of trust to form long term commitments that lead to an equitable future. 

Foundational to the Partnerships process is our ten-hour "Wrestling With the Truth of Colonization" (Wrestling) training which educates our non-Indigenous leaders on the history, legacy and impacts of colonization and prepares them to come into respectful relationships with Indigenous peoples.

Wrestling Training Update for 2022-2023: 

2022-2023 has been a growing period for involving community in the process of Wrestling with the Truth of Colonization. 

In fall of 2022 there were three different Wrestling with the Truth of Colonization series across IAF Northwest. Two were held in Western Washington, one hosted by our local affiliate Sound Alliance and another by HealthierHere, the Medicaid transformation organization for the region. The third series was hosted by our affiliated organization Common Good Missoula based in Western Montana. These three series included over 120 participants completing the five core sessions of the curriculum. 

At the start of this year another series was hosted by MACG based in Portland Oregon followed by a second series hosted by Sound Alliance in March. These two series combined had another combined 110 participants completing the full five sessions. MACG's session has led to ongoing relationship building with two organizations in the greater Portland area, NAYA and Eloheh. Both Sound Alliance's sessions in fall of 2022 as well as spring of 2023 have been a part of an ongoing partnership with United Indians of All Tribes Foundation.