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WHAT I DO

WHAT I DO

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BRIDGING NATIVE STORIES AND STRATEGY

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BRIDGING

NATIVE STORIES

AND STRATEGY

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My work is guided by a simple belief: when we tell our stories — truthfully, beautifully, and with respect — we shape the future. I help organizations and communities do just that.

I approach every project with the same core values: clarity, care, and cultural grounding. I believe that the best work happens when people feel seen, when strategy is rooted in purpose, and when Native voices are not just included — but centered.

CLIENT SUCCESS STORIES
LET'S CONNECT
Maria Givens, Native-led communications and storytelling consultant working with mission-driven organizations.
Maria Givens, Native communications strategist and facilitator based in the Pacific Northwest.

  • For tribal organizations, nonprofits, and DEI teams seeking alignment and clarity.

    Whether it’s a full-day retreat, a strategy session, or a facilitated gathering, I help groups connect, focus, and move forward together.

    My facilitation style is calm, culturally grounded, and designed to make space for real conversations — especially in rooms where Native voices are central.

    Offerings include:

    • Team retreats and strategic planning

    • Visioning sessions for Native-led organizations

    • Facilitation for Native-specific summits, coalitions, and networks

  • For foundations and nonprofits that want to uplift the voices of grantees and communities.

    You’re doing meaningful work — but are people hearing about it in the right way? I help turn complex impact into clear, compelling stories using photography, video, and writing.

    With deep experience in Native communities and philanthropy, I understand how to shape stories that resonate with funders, partners, and the communities you serve.

    Offerings include:

    • Grantee story collection (video, photo, written profiles)

    • Stock photo libraries for Native-focused work

    • Short-form video storytelling for digital campaigns

  • For Native youth programs and tribal departments seeking creative engagement.

    I offer hands-on storytelling training that gives Native youth the skills and confidence to tell their own stories. Together, we explore visual storytelling, interviewing, editing, and cultural voice.

    Offerings include:

    • Storytelling workshops and retreats

    • Youth-led video or photography projects

    • Cultural storytelling through a modern lens

  • For Tribes, Native organizations, nonprofits, and mission-driven teams ready to sharpen their message.

    You have a vision — but does your communications reflect it clearly? I help leaders and teams cut through noise with strategies that align values, goals, and audiences. My approach blends big-picture strategy with practical tools so you walk away not just with a plan, but with the confidence to use it.

    Offerings include:

    • Communications audits and messaging frameworks

    • Strategic communications plans for campaigns and initiatives

    • Coaching for executives, boards, and communications staff

    • Stakeholder mapping and audience alignment

  • For organizations seeking a cohesive look, feel, and story across media.

    Strong storytelling is more than words — it’s also the images, design, and atmosphere that carry your message. I provide creative and visual direction that ensures your brand, campaigns, and content not only look good, but feel true to your community and purpose. With a background in photography, film, and Native cultural storytelling, I bring both artistry and strategy.

    Offerings include:

    • Brand identity guidance (tone, look, feel, voice)

    • Creative direction for campaigns, photo/video shoots, and digital storytelling

    • Visual asset planning and style guides for Native-focused projects

    • Ongoing art direction to keep your content consistent and compelling

I offer a focused set of services that help organizations share their story, align their team, and engage Native communities with care and clarity.

All of my work is designed with cultural respect, collaboration, and real-world strategy at its core. Every engagement is tailored, intentional, and designed to move people forward with integrity.

MY SPECIALITIES:

 SPOTLIGHT ON 

 FACILITATION 

SPOTLIGHT ON FACILITATION

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To me, facilitation is more than just guiding a room — it's holding space for transformation. With my background in communications, policy, and cultural revitalization, I bring a grounded approach that moves people from burnouts to bold visions.

Whether I’m guiding a retreat, designing a summit, or leading a strategic workshop, my facilitation services have a reputation for one thing: people leave more whole than they arrived.

Let’s get in touch if you or your network needs:

  • A reset that blends cultural grounding with strategic clarity

  • A gathering where Native professionals feel truly seen

  • A facilitator who can move between heart and action seamlessly

Maria Givens Consulting, Native communications strategist and facilitator based in the Pacific Northwest.

  • “Maria created the kind of space I didn’t know I needed — safe, powerful, and deeply energizing.”

  • "I REMEMBERED WHO I WAS BEFORE THE BURNOUT."

  • “This healed something I didn’t know I needed.”

— Participants at the Alliance for Indigenous Environmental Stewardship Summit

— The Alliance for Indigenous
Environmental Stewardship Summit

MY SIGNATURE APPROACH

MY SIGNATURE APPROACH

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Relational Spacebuilding

I lead with trust, humor, and clarity — meeting people where they are, and building connections through shared experience and story.

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Strategic Action

My sessions are not only reflective. Participants leave with next steps, shared vision, and momentum to take action.

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Cultural Grounding

From opening protocols to story mapping, my facilitation weaves in Indigenous knowledge humbly and without performance.

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HEALING-CENTERED DESIGN

Each gathering is shaped with care, allowing room for rest, grief, joy, and collective restoration — especially for those carrying invisible burdens.

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LET’S WORK TOGETHER

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