TCWF honors Yurok tribal member

Christopher H. Peters, left, and TCWF president and CEO Gary L. Yates. Submitted

Seventh Generation Fund for Indian Development (SGF), a Native American identity-based non-profit organization, was founded in 1977 as the first Indigenous Peoples’ initiated and led intermediary public foundation. Working regionally, nationally and internationally, Seventh Generation Fund mobilizes critical financial, technical and informational resources to frontline, community designed, place-based initiatives striving to recover and retain traditional relationships to land, community, and collective spirit. Chris joined SGF in 1989 and has been in a leadership position since that time.

 As the president of the Seventh Generation Fund, Chris has dedicated himself to the holistic renewal of native peoples and nations. He is a renowned and well-respected expert in the field of community development, religious freedom and traditional health and healing strategies. During his 23 years of leadership of the organization, he has worked with native communities and tribal nations throughout California, the United States and internationally to advance human rights, cultural justice and protect sacred places and spirituality.

Providing inspiration and guidance for the organization, Chris has also been instrumental in raising many millions of dollars of grant support for such issues as social justice organizing, protecting sacred places, building holistic community renewal and supporting cultural revitalization efforts that have helped revitalize and strengthen traditional native communities.

“This sabbatical will provide an opportunity for some rest and personal re-discovery, a chance to further engage in Yurok tribal cultural and ceremonial activities and complete some much needed research on traditional healing,” said Chris. “Perhaps more importantly, the sabbatical gives me a chance to find my fishing pole, take my backpack and begin to explore the many trails in the mountains that have been calling out to me for years.”

The TCWF’s Sabbatical Program Award, now in its ninth year, is a component of its Leadership Support Program. This year, Chris is one of eight honored recipients throughout the state of California, of this prestigious award. To learn more about Chris and his accomplishments or to review a complete list of this year’s honorees and their profiles, access www.CalWellness.org in the Leadership Recognition Program portal.