GEDAKINA (pronounced /g' dah keen nah/ and meaning, "Our world, a way of life" in the Wabanaki language) was formally organized and incorporated in 2002. Gedakina is a Native American led organization that provides life enhancing opportunities for youth, women and their families from New England’s rural, urban and reservation communities.
Our vision is to develop new ways of reaching our constituency, rooted in traditional cultural teachings and values, which will provide them with skills and resources to better navigate the challenges they face in a changing landscape. Our initiatives focus on leadership development, community health & wellness, sustainable food systems, indigenous traditional ecological knowledge (ITEK), healthy relationships, education & literacy, and cultural artistic survival.
Our approach emphasizes interconnected activities to reach Native American youth, women and families, with clear recognition that the challenges that they face on a daily basis are also interconnected. We incorporate an intergenerational approach, involving Elders, youth and community members with a wide range of experience and knowledge; we believe that everyone has wisdom to share and that we can always learn from each other.
