Our Mission

1st Sovereign Foundation exists to advance pathways to economic self-determination for Native American communities. Through culturally grounded education, relationship-based support, and strategic partnerships, we foster Indigenous entrepreneurship, capital access, and long-term prosperity rooted in sovereignty, kinship, and community values.

Our Focus

  • We offer programs and support services that prepare Native entrepreneurs for capital readiness and long-term sustainability, including:

    • Business fundamentals workshops

    • Capital strategy planning

    • Investment readiness bootcamps, pitches, and founder showcases

    Goal: Strengthen the pipeline of investable Indigenous businesses and equip founders with the tools to navigate capital ecosystems on their terms.

  • We promote and build Indigenous-led solutions to access to capital through:

    • Education and activation of what Angel investing is, investment/equity education for founders

    • Research on Indigenous financial innovation

    Goal: Normalize Native leadership in philanthropy and finance, and grow the visibility of community-aligned investment frameworks

  • We elevate Indigenous metrics of success through:

    • Research on Native wealth creation, community reinvestment, and sovereign economic indicators (lofty goal, maybe we grow into this)

    • Public storytelling that challenges the current narratives

    • Launch a podcast for the storytelling of Indigenous Innovation Success!

    • Development of tools like the “Sovereign Value Index” or community accountability dashboards(lofty goal, maybe we grow into this)

    Goal: Shift how impact is measured to reflect Indigenous worldviews and self-determined priorities.

  • We collaborate with Tribes, nonprofits, academic institutions, foundations, and Native-led businesses to:

    • Co-create ecosystem maps/resource tools

    Goal: Build regenerative economic ecosystems and build infrastructure for Indigenous wealth transfer across generations.

Values That Guide Our Work

  • Indigenous-Led: Centering Native voices in every aspect of decision-making.

  • Relationship-Driven: Built on trust, kinship, and long-term commitment.

  • Culturally Aligned: Grounded in traditional knowledge, community values, and Indigenous governance.

  • Systems-Oriented: Focused not just on individual businesses, but on changing the structures that shape Native access to opportunity.

Executive Team & Board

Nicole Johnny

Edith Baker

Tony Skrelunas

Darlene Gomez

Contact Us.

Be Part of a Future Led by Native Values.

1st Sovereign Foundation.