The Community

Who We Serve With

The path to sustainability requires us to look at First Nations tribes and the foundations of their communities. This is also known as Decolonization. The 7 teachings or pillars have been ingrained in every aspect of life by First Nations tribes for millennia. These  teachings are the foundation for decolonization and the basis for all of our organizing, programs, and community partnerships.

The 7 Pillars Collaborative is an indigenous-based organization whose mission is to decolonize, unite, educate and collaborate with other grassroots organizations to better serve disenfranchised communities through partnership programming. Most organizations can only focus on one area of need, rather than addressing the multiple issues that impact marginalized communities. With an underlying domino effect of insecurities that face people who are marginalized, organizations who are limited to one service area can only help with temporary solutions. Community organizing needs to shift ideas toward intersectional communal-based work for a greater impact.

What is decolonization?

Decolonization is recognizing challenges and ultimately dismantling power structures that oppress the colonized. It's about recognizing those tools of oppression and exploitation that continue to harm people. Decolonization is giving up social and economic power and privilege that directly disempowers appropriates and erases others.

Decolonization in action is committing to build communities that work together to collectively create a more sustainable and equitable future. Decolonization is celebrating who we are, connecting with the unique knowledge that we each bring to the table, and making space at the table for everyone.

7 Principles of Decolonization

Each pillar is represented by an animal that embodies a living principle. We have connected these principles to the 7 aspects of livelihood that are held under systematic oppression. 7 Pillars partners develop joint programs aimed at dismantling these systems.

The Turtle:  Truth              

The Mantra: I Understand

The Programs:  Justice Support 

The  Application:  Truth is assigned to Justice work because the Prison Industrial Complex is our largest oppressive system. “Law & Order” is the false platform that political leaders espouse to incite fear and gain support for unjust laws. In truth, Indigenous communities lived peacefully without the need for police, jails, lawyers, or any elements of the criminal justice system. Decolonization, personal & community accountability are required for successful abolition.

The remaining Pillars Include:

Humility - Community Building Partnership Programs

  • Post Incarceration retreats

  • Trans Incarceration Stories

  • Individual Freedom Campaign Support

Honesty - Medical & Mental Health Partnership Programs

  • Peer Support for Post-Incarceration Syndrome and prison-related PTSD

  • HRT and prison medical support

  • Reentry peer support groups

Love - Disability Partnership Programs

  • Disability support  during incarceration

  •  Services upon reentry

  • Smoke Signals Pen Pal Program

Wisdom - Sustainable Living  Partnership Program

  • High School Diploma / GED during & after Incarceration

  • Vocational / College  during & after incarceration

  • Financial Literacy

  • Post Incarceration Employment & Job Training

  • Housing Resources

Courage - Harm Reduction Partnership Programs

  • Addiction treatment

  •  Peer support groups

  •  HIV/AIDS resources

Respect - You Legacy Partnership Programs

  • Providing POLTS forms and Advanced Care Directives to prisoners

  • Palliative care services for prisoners

  • Palliative care training for prisoners.

  • Hospice support for lifetime TGNCI/LGBQA+ prisoners