People of NIF: Bridget Ray
Na’ah Illahee Fund is an Indigenous women-led organization, with a mission to support and promote the leadership of Indigenous women in the ongoing regeneration of Indigenous communities in the Pacific Northwest region of the United States. Our staff is full of Indigenous leaders and changemakers like Bridget Ray (she/they), whose passions are rooted in mobilizing Indigenous visionaries and community-led solutions. Bridget has worked at Na’ah Illahee Fund for several years and is now transitioning to a partnership role as she focuses on other projects and passions. Throughout her time with NIF, Bridget went from Board Member to Director of Strategic Partnerships, where she grew the Wise Action Program — and always brought a song and smile to staff meetings.
In this reflective interview, Bridget shares about her time with NIF, her next steps and really, what it means to be a Wise Action Shero.
As NIF’s Director of Strategic Partnerships for 2.5 years, what are two aspects of your job that you will miss?
I’m going to miss the people I work with. I’m going to miss having that peer to peer, Native to Native interaction in my day to day work and working closely and collaboratively with these brilliant Native women.
Another thing I’m going to miss about working at Na’ah Illahee is serving on the grantmaking committee. It’s great to be able to provide support to the amazing projects in our community — They just blow my mind! They give me hope and the grants fulfill such a significant need. Not just with money, but resources that help people grow their projects and develop their programs through the grant process or by participating in one of our cohorts.
And there is actually a third thing I’ll miss — getting to talk to the Sovereign Futures cohort members and watching their projects come to life. Through this job I’ve seen our work have a direct impact on people’s dreams, and witnessing people’s dreams come alive is incredible, a blessing.
Yet, as a partner, I get to go out there and do more of the same as far as collaborations, team building, NDN brain trusts — all of it with humor, joy and love.
Na’ah Illahee Fund launched five grants and two cohorts in 2021, reaching Native communities in the Pacific Northwest and beyond. Bridget worked closely with the Sovereign Futures Cohorts which focuses on green infrastructure and supported members in creating a project to implement in their communities.
During your time at NIF you led many projects; what is one you are most proud of?
Well, there’s a lot to be proud of working for NIF in general, I’m proud of the staff, the team that we’ve created. I’m proud of how much the Na’ah Illahee Fund has grown, and matured as a non-profit.
But I think I’m most proud of the Wise Action initiative becoming a more solid department and program. We took these concepts/elements of Wise Action — environmental justice, climate justice, water justice, just transitions, gender and social justice — are interwoven in one basket. The steps we take forward in NIF’s programs are carefully thought out and come from a community voice, a collaborative process. We aim for (related policy) decisions based on community engagement and involvement.
I’m really looking forward to the further growth of Na’ah Illahee Fund in that aspect now that we have Johnny Buck coming in to take the Wise Action Program that we’ve created to the next level. I’m so excited for what’s to come, and I’m still dedicated to that. I won’t be leaving NIF, I’ll just be shifting lanes to a partnership, and focusing on Salish Sea Collective and integrated green infrastructure projects, like the Native Green Summit next year.
Johnny Buck (he/him) is Wanapum and Yakama and was recently hired as the Wise Action Program Director. Learn more about Johnny here.
You came to this job as a development professional with over 25 years experience, and as an accomplished Tribal Planner and Facilitator with expertise in integrated environmental projects, sustainable infrastructure, and public engagement. What skills aided you most in this position?
Yeah, none of that (laughs). Actually, I relied on all my cumulative experience to remain agile in the changing needs demanded by this position. I also have to say say humor, patience, kindness, people being patient with me, other people’s kindness, the willingness to work through the tough spots, and the joy of the work that we’re doing. And of course the love and care for Na’ah Illahee Fund, the work we do and the people who carry it forward.
Are you leaving this position more passionate and confident in how you want to spend the rest of your career?
Heck yeah! Working at Na’ah Illahee has been an important part of my professional growth. I had the freedom to explore and develop the philosophy and practice of Wise Action. Also, Susan’s mentorship and friendship, alongside deep conversations with my colleagues helped shape this next evolution of my life’s work.
So, what’s next for you? Where can people find you?
Well in my carefully designed “Regreen the Planet Plan” I’ve got several projects lined out. My true passion lies in integrated green infrastructure, i.e. storm water solutions, solid waste management, energy sovereignty, environmental design, living buildings, smart grids, etc. I am looking to conspire with other like-minded folks and develop long-range plans for green villages. The importance being on how we exist in relationship with the places we live.
I’m working in partnership with Na’ah Illahee Fund as well as other Native groups on an Indigenous Green Summit next year. An event to gather people together where we can share our awesome projects, share knowledge and network! It will also serve as a platform to showcase our (NIF’s) Green Infrastructure Grantees and Sovereign Futures Cohort members that are developing their green infrastructure plans. I feel like if we can get together in this way and see what each of us are doing, including PNW Tribes, Native non-profit groups and Community Based Orgs (CBOs), then we can have inclusive discussions to perpetuate/percolate ideas and inspire solutions.
Also, I’m working on the Salish Sea Collective which works with CBOs in respective waterways/watersheds to talk about water justice. We want to power up the youth to have and facilitate these conversations in community about relationship to water and how to have healthy, clean water. Water not just for human folks but for the people who live in the water — salmon, orca, jellyfish. The flow of work there is that we’re looking both at the Rights of Water and Nature, and at human nature as Placekeepers. Water has rights, nature has rights, right?
I also have some other smaller side projects, small contracts, speaking engagements and have joined two non-profit boards. Once I settle into a good pace with the new work plan, I plan to travel more — I want to connect with canoe cultures around the Pacific Rim.
If this was your senior year and we needed a quote to put in the 2021 NIF yearbook under your picture, what would it be?
Wise Action Shero.
We are so thankful for Bridget’s time at Na’ah Illahee Fund and are excited for her future endeavors and partnership with us. We also look forward to the further growth of Wise Action as Johnny Buck heads the program. In all our work, we aim to amplify community leadership through grantmaking, cohorts, and collaboration as we work towards our long-term vision of a regenerative and equitable world.
To keep up to date with Na’ah Illahee Fund, please check out our website and social media platforms.
— Chloe Schierbeck, Communications Coordinator
