Andrew Gokee

How did you hear about Headwaters?

I was a board member for the Midwest Treaty Network and we were a grantee. The Fund of the Sacred Circle asked to do a site visit with us.

What social justice issues are most important to you?
I tend to focus my time on issues pertaining to the Native American community. I often feel that I can't get involved with saving the world because we have so many issues to worry about right here in our own community.

What inspired you to become a donor?
What attracted me about Sacred Circle was the fact that they had identified a couple of very high-priority areas, Native American language preservation and revitalization and Native American land reclamation. Those are areas that don't normally get enough attention. Whoever was involved with the Fund of the Sacred Circle was very in tune with the issues going on, so that made it worth my time to invest.

What is your idea of change?
That is a big question, but I think it all starts with ourselves. We have to gain our own awareness and once we have that we can convey it others. There's a powerful Margaret Mead quote that says, "Never doubt that a small group of thoughtful committed citizens can change the world; indeed, it's the only thing that ever does."