Our Commitments for 2025: Embracing Growth, Inclusion, and Wellness in Native Communities

"Banner graphic for the National Indigenous Women’s Resource Center. The background features a blurred close-up of a person wearing traditional beadwork. Text reads: 'NEW YEAR, SAME MOVEMENT.' Below it, a smaller caption states: 'Our Commitments for 2025.' The NIWRC logo is in the upper-left corner."

Our Commitments for 2025

As we reflect on another year of serving Native communities and look toward 2025, the National Indigenous Women's Resource Center reaffirms our dedication to growth while remaining firmly rooted in our foundational values. Like the generations before us who adapted and persevered through times of change, we embrace transformation as a natural part of our journey toward collective liberation.

 

Our ancestors have always taught us that strength lies in our ability to grow while holding fast to our core teachings. As the world around us evolves, we, too, must evolve—not by departing from our values but by deepening our understanding of how to express them in ways that serve all our relatives. Each and every day, we remain steadfast in our commitment to survivors, advocates, and Tribal Nations. Learn more about our commitments for the year ahead.

Our mission to restore safety for Native women and Tribal communities requires an expansive and culturally grounded understanding of gender and identity. When we speak of women, we honor a concept that transcends the limitations of the English language. Our understanding embraces our Two-spirit relatives, those who are non-binary, our LGBTQ+ and trans relatives, and all those who carry feminine spirits and energies. This vision reflects the diverse ways Tribal Nations have consistently recognized and celebrated the spectrum of human identity.

In 2025, we deepen our commitment to wellness—not just as an organizational value but as a practical necessity for sustainable advocacy. We acknowledge that the work of ending violence against Native women and Tribal communities demands much from our hearts, minds, and spirits. Just as our traditional teachings emphasize balance, we recognize that caring for our staff's physical, mental, emotional, and spiritual well-being is essential to our mission.

 

Even as we grow and adapt, certain principles remain unchangeable:

  • We will always center survivors and uplift their voices, ensuring their experiences guide our work.
  • We will continue to draw strength from our cultures and traditional teachings.
  • We remain committed to movement-building and uplifting grassroots advocacy.
  • We will uphold Tribal sovereignty and resist colonial systems of oppression.

As we enter 2025, we invite all our relatives—including survivors, advocates, partners, and allies across Indian Country—to join us in this journey of growth and a deeper expression of our traditional values of adaptation and resilience. Like the strong hearts and seasoned minds of generations before us, we face the future with courage, wisdom, and an unwavering dedication to our mission. Together, we will continue building a future where all our relatives can live in safety and dignity.