The Collaborative is currently working with five tribal communities in the Southwest through our SW Case Studies project, which is generously supported with a grant from the National Endowment for the Arts. Through the case studies process, we are working with tribal leaders to understand their priorities for sustainable development. We are helping to align their goals for green building and long-term cultural sustainability with current housing and planning projects that are on the boards.
The long-term goals of the case studies are to:
- Understand and disseminate best practices for sustainable development in Native communities;
- Develop methodologies for each community to create a road map specific to the needs and priorities of that community;
- Provide sustainable building and technical assistance to tribal leaders and housing developers; and
- Promote the link between green, affordable housing and the preservation of vital cultural traditions as a model of long-term sustainability.
Case Study Teams
The project teams we are currently working with are from Jicarilla Apache Nation, Navajo Nation, Ohkay Owingeh, Santo Domingo, and Northwestern Band of Shoshone Nation. See more on each of their projects here.
Process
We held a Visioning Workshop in Albuquerque in June 2011, which helped to identify goals, priorities and action plans for implementation. At the Visioning Workshop, each project team established sustainability goals and visions for their project. Members of the Collaborative worked with each project team to develop a six-month action plan, particular to each project and each team’s vision and goals. We are currently assisting in the implementation of the action plan – providing organizational support, navigating potential obstacles, or pointing the way to additional resources.
We will conduct another workshop in October to review the progress of the projects and check in with each other. The intent of this workshop is to come together to provide feedback and moral support, listen to difficulties, understand whether the work plans are effective, and to document the progress of each project. It is an opportunity to work with peers and to re-evaluate.
At the end of the work plan period, in late 2011, members of the Collaborative and project team members will all be asked to evaluate the projects, determine next steps for a successful project completion, and provide feedback on the SW Case Studies process. The Collaborative plans to conduct more regional workshops in other areas, using what we have learned here as a template.
