ITHACA, NY – OJI:SDA’, a nonprofit organization focused on promoting traditional Indigenous teachings, has installed its 2025 board members and officers.
Founded in 2020, OJI:SDA’ offers educational experiences and programming to promote tools for self-healing and community support, and school curricula rooted in Indigenous perspectives. Indigenous women founded and lead the organization.
Board members are Barbara Abrams (Tonawanda Seneca), president; Kayla Matos, ttreasurer; Leisha Conners Bauer (St. Regis Mohawk), secretary; Mindy Magyar (Mi’kmaq, Sipekne’ First Nation); and Linda Grace-Kobas. Tahila Moss (Yoeme), OJI:SDA’ founder, is executive director.
OJI:SDA’ has reached thousands of participants through initiatives such as its Center for Intergenerational Learning. It has partnered with the Ithaca City School District and TST BOCES to offer teacher training in Indigenous land-based wisdom, offering community outreach with Elders and Knowledge Carriers. Its Plant Care program is available online and offers opportunities for participants to cultivate and harvest healing teas and learn about plant medicine. The summer Camp Turtle (Mochik Ania) offers Indigenous families a focus on arts, physical education and sustainability.
OJI:SDA’’s Disaster Relief Program is an available resource for individuals and communities seeking important information about physical and mental health and how to build relationships with the land and Indigenous wisdom.
Support for OJI:SDA’ has come from the Park Foundation, the New Schools Venture Fund, Ithaca City School District, Tompkins County Public Library and Chёpika Wines of Dundee NY.
The OJI:SDA’ website can be found at https://www.ojisda.org/ . For more information contact connect@ojisda.org.
A world where Indigenous people are seen, heard, healthy and thriving; and the earth is respected and cared for ojisda.org
