So'oh-Shinálí Sister Project (/sacredlittleones)

About

We’re honored to partner with First 5 LA on the Sacred Little Ones Narrative Campaign. The campaign includes a video series that features parents/caregivers, cultural knowledge keepers, tribal organizations, and Indigenous birth-to-five educators who share their reflections on the importance of having culturally-relevant programming and resources for Native and Indigenous children. Additionally, the campaign features a ‘Birth to Five’ resource guide to uplift accessible resources for Native and Indigenous caretakers and support them in building strong family foundations, in L.A. County and beyond. We acknowledge that the first five years of life are foundational—access to housing, food security, early learning, and culturally-affirming care helps our little ones grow in safety, connection, and possibility. Together, we’re working alongside communities to grow a social movement that elevates the needs of Native and Indigenous children prenatal to age 5 and their families.

Resources

Birth to Five Resource Guide

Our Birth to Five resource guide features over 25 pages highlighting resources for: childcare, parenting support, early education, special education, financial support, food security and healing.

Sacred Little Ones | Birth to Five Resource Guide

simplebooklet.com/sacredlittleonesbirthtofiveresourceguide

Sacred Little Ones: Narrative Video Campaign

Our video series highlights the strengths, connections, and traditional knowledge that demonstrate how community-based approaches are making a difference and advancing the systemic changes our families need.

Fun with the Drum: Benefits of Creative Expression

Fun with the Drum features elders, knowledge keepers, and caregivers who participated in our Sacred Little Ones program dedicated to teaching youth about their cultural ties with music. Youth ages 0-5 explored their connection through a drum circle led by Sewa Valencia (she/her), founder and director of Sisters of the One Drum. This video highlights the importance of musical cultural expression needed for Indigenous youth development.

Memory and Nourishment: Exploring Indigenous Foods

Memory and Nourishment features interviews from parents, caregivers, and knowledge keepers who participated in our Sacred Littles Ones Indigenous foodways program. Youth ages 0-5 learned about Indigenous foodways through a tactile learning experience led by Mariah-Rose Marie (she/her), an Afro-Indigenous author and animator. This video highlights how Indigenous youth can be positively impacted by connecting food to their personal identities.

Nurturing Creative Expression: Benefits of Art

Sacred Art features interviews from parents and artists who participated in our Sacred Little Ones creative expression program. Youth ages 0-5 created their own projects from terracotta clay led by Tekenya Sanchez (she/her), a Diné and Nahuatl ceramicist. This video demonstrated the impact of reconnecting to traditional art ways in community settings, both parents and youth exploring the ties between their artistic and cultural identities.