This project emerged organically from the Indigenous Peoples' Day 2022 weekend. Wanonah Kosbab, a community member from the Stockbridge-Munsee Community Band of the Mohican Indians, was invited to attend the IPD weekend by her brother, Shawn Stevens (AVF’s Co-Director), and was deeply inspired by the experience of returning to her ancestral homelands.
In response to her proactive inspiration, AVF piloted a Mohican Ancestral Healing Fellowship for Wanonah, from April to October 2023, to support her in her personal healing journey related to ancestral trauama associated with her people's displacement from the Berkshires two-hundred years ago.
AVF is working to create opportunities for her to build her leadership skills to bring back to her community to build a sister organization for cultural revitalization.
Moving forward, the Indigenous Healing Project intends to strengthen relationships between Mohican community members in Wisconsin, Berkshires community members, and neighboring tribal community members.
Projects which we are celebrating!
Summer Youth Camp funded and facilitated by Flying Deer Nature Center, with Shawn Stevens, our Co-Director, and Wanonah Spencer, Shawn’s sister, who is also now a Board member at Flying Deer. Thank you to Flyer Deer for creating this amazing program!
Mohican Youth Intercultural Exchange in partnership with The Center at Mariandale and the Dominican Sisters of Hope.
Cultivating Wellbreity Peacemaking Summit (September 2024) on the Mohican Reservation in Wisconsin, in partnership with the Life Comes From It Foundation
If you would like to get involved in supporting these programs,
please email lev@allianceforaviablefuture.org.