The Indigenous Narratives Project

The Sponsor's Circle Proposal

From the fields of Africa to the Pacific Islands, I am in search of peoples from a by-gone era who still possess an ancient knowledge of the natural world. The world of animated and often mischievous nature spirits. My work brings me to these far-flung regions to explore the link between the natural world and the human being: a link that is beautifully drawn by the worlds' disappearing indigenous animists. Indeed, one could argue that it i5 a bond, a direct understanding of the personification of Nature by the people who live with the rhythms and cycles of the natural world.

The Sol Project, a 501 (c) 3, is in the process of creating an archive to preserve the personal stories of the last remaining animists; their myths and legends, as well as personal experiences that dramatize their fantastic understanding of nature. The project, which is called, The Indigenous Narratives, archives personal stories that emphasis this link or knowledge of nature well beyond anything the west would easily understand. These stories will be preserved on CD and DVD for the cultural preservation offices and education departments in Micronesia.

The Sol Project is also interested in organizing youth to go out and collect stories from the disappearing elders. In this way: we also involve indigenous youth a means to connect with their culture and relearn their own history through contact with the last elders from another time. We have already identified four Pacific Islanders waiting to be armed with video camera and tapes who are ready, willing and able to begin collecting stories.

Additionally, the Sol Project continues to support the education of the "Kah-Monno Group," thirty-five Dogon girls from a remote Dogon village in Mali, West Africa. For more information on the Kah-Monno Group, please go to the Web site at www.kah-monno.org.

Through the generous support a few, the Sol Project received contributions of $50,000 for the last two years which funded both a field trip to West Africa and the recent trip to Micronesia where we will continue to work over the next few years.
The Sol Project invites you to join this years Circle of four at $25,000 to create an annual budget of $100,000. This will guarantee this next, highly creative period for the work in the Pacific region. If you would like to learn more about what we are doing, please get in touch with me directly. Thank you in advance for your consideration.

With Warm Regards,

Elisabeth Sunday
Executive Director, The Sol Project