Return to the Earth & Molding It Project
The Return to the Earth & Molding It Project is an educational and cultural initiative that teaches families the profound importance of using natural, earth-based materials in everyday life. By centering on the ancestral practice of working with clay, the project helps participants reconnect with traditions that honor the land, strengthen community, and promote healthier homes and environments.
Through hands-on workshops and storytelling, families learn how natural materials can replace harmful plastics and disposables, reducing waste while fostering creativity, resilience, and cultural pride. The project not only preserves traditional knowledge but also introduces practical, sustainable alternatives that inspire participants to live in balance with the earth.
As part of our Reuse, Sustainability, and Break Free From Plastic campaign, this program empowers families to take collective action against plastic pollution, protect community health, and reclaim practices that sustain both people and the planet. By molding clay, we mold stronger connections to the land, to each other, and to future generations.
Ultimately, this project is more than an art form — it is a movement of reclamation and resistance. It challenges the throwaway culture of plastics by uplifting Indigenous knowledge and practices that are inherently zero-waste. It teaches that caring for the environment is inseparable from caring for ourselves and our communities. By returning to the earth, we not only reduce waste, but also nurture belonging, healing, and responsibility across generations.
Short term Goals:
- Host hands-on workshops where families learn traditional clay practices as sustainable alternatives to plastics.
- Provide educational materials that connect zero-waste living with Indigenous knowledge and community health.
- Foster intergenerational learning by involving elders, parents, and youth together in workshops.
- Encourage families to adopt natural, reusable materials in daily life, starting with clay-based practices.
- Build local awareness around the impacts of plastic pollution and the benefits of earth-based solutions.
Long term Goals:
- Establish a sustainable, ongoing program that regularly trains new families and youth leaders in zero-waste practices.
- Develop community hubs where natural materials like clay are taught, shared, and integrated into daily living.
- Expand the program to include other traditional earth-based materials (e.g., fibers, wood, stone) alongside clay.
- Reduce plastic dependency across participating communities, contributing to local zero-waste goals.
- Create a cultural archive of stories, teachings, and claywork that connects environmental stewardship to Indigenous traditions for future generations.
We seek support from private donors, grants, and fundraising events to sustain and expand programs like this for youth in our communities. Every contribution is deeply appreciated and helps us continue offering culturally grounded, community-driven opportunities for the next generation.
If you have any questions about the program, please call us or send an email to our Programs Department at programs@societyofnativenations.org
DONATE TO our programs
Your Gift Helps Sustain Our Work
Please donate secure via PayPal by credit card, check, or with your own PayPal account, you do not need a PayPal account to donate. All donations are very appreciated and all donations are used to help us facilitate our actions and programs.
You can also send a check made out to:
Society of Native Nations
10730 Potranco Road Suite 122-282
San Antonio, TX 78251
Phone: 210-468-8201
"Society of Native Nations" (SNN) is approved by the Internal Revenue Service as a 501 (C) (3) tax-exempt organization, and all donations are tax deductible to the extent provided by law.
Society of Native Nations - Federal IRS Tax Exemptions Identification Number # 81-0984252
