Melissa Maney (Eastern Band of Cherokee) gives a lesson in making a traditional clay pot at Nancy Ward Cherokee Heritage Days Wisdom Keepers, Inc. (WKI), was founded as a grass-roots organization in 1997, filed for its non-profit state charter in approximately 2000, and received its 501-c-3 determination of status in 2003. Since its creation, it has worked to provide cross-cultural, intercultural and intra-cultural educational opportunities in Tennessee, provide support for other organizations in and out of Tennessee, and to provide broader delivery of its educational resources to a global audience via the Internet.

1997-2008

The primary mission of Wisdom Keepers, Inc. has been the creation of educational opportunities that preserve cultural traditions and the creation of opportunities for indigenous people and cultures to improve their current conditions and increase skills that will ensure they enjoy a stronger “tomorrow."

Following a two-year formative period that began in 1997, WKI focused its efforts on cross-cultural educational projects that alleviated myths and stereotypes and increased cultural awareness including (visit our Wall of Thanks to meet some of our past presenters and project volunteers):

• Nancy Ward Cherokee Heritage Days (1998-2004; Beneficiary: Sequoyah Birthplace Museum, Vonore TN; Number Served: >2,000) cross-cultural interactive educational event for K-12 youth
• Native Way Cookbook: The Cookbook of the Grandmothers (1999-present; Beneficiary: General public, K-12 educators and students; Number Served: >202,000) Encyclopedia-like online resource on preparation, preservation, and acquisition of foods and botanicals
• Native-Cooking-L (1999-present; Beneficiary: all project participants; Number Served: ±1,200) Internet-based cross-cultural discussion/learning group with focus on indigenous food preservation, preparation, history, etc.
• Native-Lifeways (2000-present; Beneficiary: all project participants; Number Served: ±600) Internet-based cross-cultural discussion/learning group with focus on non-food production cultural traditions
• Community Education Referrals (1999-present; Beneficiary: Schools, civic organizations, government entities, corporate entities; Number Served: ±1,000 event attendees, ±20 event-sponsoring organizations)
• Tanasi Journal (2005, 2007-present; Beneficiary: Public; Number Served: ~5,000)

Our first requests for assistance in this new area of our mission came from:

• Web of Life Enterprise, Inc. (Type: Relief Services; Founder: Nimchira Cox; Service provided: Technical Assistance; Location: Sterling KS)
• Native Indian Heritage Organization (Type: Relief Services; Founder: Sharyl Stover; Service provided: Technical Assistance, Fiscal Agent, Grant Writing; Location: Rosebud SD)
• Native American Culinary Association (Type: Professional Association; Founder: Nephi Craig; Service provided:  Fiscal Agent; Location: Window Rock AZ)
• Elders to Youth Cultural Immersion Activity (Type: Annual Event; Contact: Brian Keith; Service provided: Fiscal Agent, Grant Writing; Location: Central Oklahoma)
• Two Rivers Mounds Coalition (Type:  Grassroots Advocacy and Historic Preservation; Founders: local residents and citizens, members of AI/AN community; Service provided: Technical Assistance, Fiscal Agent; Location: Sevierville, TN)

Current Initiatives (2009) 

WKI continues to maintain four of its existing projects (Native Way Cookbook, Native-Cooking-L, Native-Lifeways, and Tanasi Journal), and to respond to community education referrals as we begin to work toward a new focus on initiatives and projects that will identify and address social, political and economic disparities suffered by indigenous peoples, especially AI/AN residents of Tennessee.  

Our newest undertakings include:

• Tennessee American Indian Research Initiative
  • Grassroots Initiative
  • Purpose: to conduct quantitative and qualitative studies of community demographics
  • Principal Investigator: Marion E. “Letha” Orrick
  • Service provided by WKI: fiscal sponsorship, equipment, administrative support
  • Base Location: Knoxville TN
  • Status: Active
• First Peoples’ Community Development Corporation of TN
  • WKI Initiative
  • Purpose: to implement a Native Community Development Financial Institute aka NCDFI
  • Chair: Wally J. Leary
  • Service provided by WKI: fiscal sponsorship, organizing, administrative support, technical assistance
  • Base Location: Knox Metro area with service to Appalachian TN, and to AI/AN community throughout TN
  • Status: Formative (mid-stage)
• Native American Funding Exchange
  • Grassroots Initiative
  • Purpose: to create a funding pool for worthy American Indian organizations and initiatives
  • Chair: Watagui Russ
  • Service provided by WKI: Fiscal sponsorship, technical assistance, strategic planning
  • Status: Formative
• American Indian Emergency Assistance Program
  • Grassroots Initiative
  • Purpose: to provide emergency financial assistance to American Indian families and individuals in crisis
  • Chair/Founder: Marion E. “Letha” Orrick
  • Service provided by WKI: Fiscal sponsorship, technical assistance, administrative support
  • Status: Formative

The Future

We look forward to continuing our work with our existing initiatives and partners, identifying new partners, and collaborating to create yet more opportunities!  Do you have a need, idea or initiative you need help to develop? For information on partnering with WKI or would like to get involved in current initiatves, please  This e-mail address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it !