The Restoration of Balance Project is dedicated to advancing social justice by revitalizing and preserving Traditional Alaska Native Spiritual Arts. Our approach recognizes the deep-rooted impacts of colonization on Alaska Native communities, particularly the suppression and loss of our spiritual practices and traditions. We aim to restore the balance vital for our community’s well-being and autonomy by addressing these historical and ongoing injustices.

Colonization imposed significant disruptions on Alaska Native cultures, including the forced annihilation and assimilation of our spiritual practices. These actions not only caused significant spiritual abuse but also led to a broader societal imbalance that continues to affect our communities today. By focusing on restoring our Traditional Spiritual Arts, we are actively working to heal these wounds and counteract the negative impacts of colonization through Indigenization. 

The project’s core mission is to create safe, sacred spaces where Alaska Natives can reconnect with and reinvigorate our spiritual practices. These spaces will serve as hubs for collective learning, collaboration, and empowerment by fostering a supportive network for Alaska Native Medicine Persons and Traditional Healers. We aim to ensure that our vital knowledge and practices are preserved, represented, respected, and revitalized. It will help address and rectify the social imbalances created by historical injustices.

Education and empowerment are central to our approach. Through ceremonies, gatherings, and interaction with the people, plants, animals, and beings, we will provide opportunities for Alaska Natives to engage deeply with our spiritual heritage. This educational component is crucial for enabling individuals to remember, reclaim, and practice their resting traditions, reinforcing cultural identity and community resilience.

Our project also emphasizes the importance of collective leadership and community-driven solutions. We build a robust and cohesive network that supports and amplifies our efforts by uniting elders, youth, spiritual leaders, community members, and allies. This collective approach ensures that our work is grounded in the values and needs of the community, promoting a more equitable and inclusive process.

In exercising our sovereign rights as Indigenous Peoples, we assert our right to religious freedom and cultural expression. This assertion is about reclaiming our practices and challenging the systemic inequities that have long marginalized our spiritually artistic expressions. This project aims to inspire broader social change, moving towards a more just and balanced society.

In summary, the Restoration of Balance Project is a grassroots initiative that seeks to address the devastation of colonization by reviving and preserving Traditional Alaska Native Spiritual Arts. By creating supportive spaces for the cultural art of spiritual practice, fostering education and empowerment, and asserting our sovereignty, we are working towards a more equitable and just society for Alaska Natives and our Future Ancestors.