NOOWUH KNOWLEDGE CENTER
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Mission Statement
The Noowuh Knowledge Center (NKC) is an Indigenous-led educational and cultural heritage nonprofit located in Elko, NV. The Noowuh Knowledge Center organized in October 2019, a result of fulfilling a community need for cultural preservation and education directed toward Western Shoshone youth, adults, elders and the general public about the culture and history of the Western Shoshone of the Great Basin of Nevada. Our mission is to "educate, preserve, and protect Western Shoshone cultural history, past, present and future." Additionally, the Noowuh Knowledge Center provides culturally relevant library and information services, community archives, and various educational and research opportunities.
About This Cause
Mary Gibson, the Noowuh Knowledge Center (NKC) volunteer director and archivist, works to protect and preserve the Noowuh (Western Shoshone) language, culture and history actualized by the founding of NKC. The organization contains collections relevant to the Western Shoshone Nation’s people. The organization was established as of January of 2020, became a non-profit organization through the state of Nevada. • Education One of the focuses of the organization is on education. The Noowuh Knowledge center organizes cultural related classes and demonstrations to educate other tribal community members about traditional songs, dances, basket weaving, cradle board construction, food and medicinal plant identification and harvesting, beading, tanning animal hides, trapping and hunting, organizing cultural learning camps, such as pine nut camps. • Research The Noowuh Knowledge Center also supports and conduct research opportunities to address issues within the Native community, from Shoshone history and culture to the social, political, environmental and economic injustices that affect the day-to-day lives and health of people in the Native American community to creating and publishing Newe language and historical materials. Research projects will be the foundation for building and developing educational materials, publications and literary collections. • Outreach Noowuh Knowledge Center sponsors Native author readings and book events in addition to educational and public forums on various historical and contemporary issues to increase understanding and knowledge affecting Shoshone and Native America. The goal is to bring awareness, find solutions and implement changes aimed toward appreciating, acknowledging, and recognizing the unique and beautiful cultures of the Indigenous. • Our Way of Knowing Is Our Past Present and Future In addition to education and research, the Noowuh Knowledge Center's plan is to serve as the nucleus for developing and providing the Native American community and the public with culturally relevant library services, collections and programs accessible in print, electronic and digital mediums optimal to preserving the knowledge, language, memory and cultural life-ways. Essentially, the Noowuh Knowledge Center will be a gathering place to teach, learn, share, transfer and continue the ancient and Indigenous knowledge of the Shoshone and other Native American tribes * Ruby Valley Treaty Conference Since 2021, the Noowuh Knowledge Center has proudly hosted the annual 1863 Ruby Valley Treaty of Peace and Friendship Conference and Gathering. This event centers primarily on land issues and cultural revitalization. The preceding conferences provide space to re-initiate a cultural and spiritual empowerment that is taking place within Western Shoshone communities to protect land, water and treaty rights. As a result, we have seen a revitalization of Shoshone history, the sharing of traditional knowledge and life-ways. This renewed interest in culture promotes discussion to develop strategies to increase Western Shoshones’ relationships with Treaty territory issues and decision making with regard to Western Shoshone Treaty lands and resources. * Conclusion Though we are a small organization we are a mighty group of a seven-member team that embodies the minds, hearts and spirits of elders, spiritual practitioners, cultural holders, and educators. It is through culture that Western Shoshone people continue to be lifted by the spirit of our Ancestors, which inherently motivates our preparedness through education and outreach, to defend our rights and protect the land we love, which is inextricably linked to our identities, cultures, livelihoods, as well as our physical and spiritual well-being. Financial aid in the amount of $50,000.00 will support general operating expenses and culturally relevant programming and outreach.