Innovators Peak
Month
In honor of Native American Heritage Month, we recognize the diverse nations of peoples, whose spirit is as strong as it is entrepreneurial. These articles highlight the innovations of the American Indians who work to reclaim their destinies.
Everyone’s story is unique. But not all have a platform from which to share the important stories that impact them—especially in underserved Native American communities. For Native American Heritage Month, we discovered an important tool that the University of Colorado Denver currently uses to help give a voice to these communities: digital storytelling.
In honor of Native American Heritage Month, we recognize the diverse nations of peoples, whose spirit is as strong as it is entrepreneurial. These articles highlight the innovations of the American Indians who work to reclaim their destinies.
There is one Iroquois legend that remains more important than all others: it is the story of the three sisters. As a member of the Iroquois confederacy, the Oneida culture relies on these sisters—the corn, bean, and squash—to provide their people a balanced, nutrient-rich diet. The corn provides a stable stalk upon which beans can climb, and the wide leaves of the squash help keep moisture in the soil and kill off invasive weeds.
Although the Sovereign Oneida Tribe of Wisconsin sits just adjacent to the bustling city of Green Bay, they have preserved a large, undeveloped plot of land to keep their cultural farming practices intact. The 83-acre organic farm is called Tsyunhehkw, meaning “life sustenance.” The word itself speaks to the importance of agriculture in Native American heritage.
Photos Via thegrowhaus.com
From the coffee shop where I’m writing this article, which is eight blocks from my house, I am within one mile from seven major grocery stores. Some more specialty than others, but I could dream up just about any combination of items, obscure enough to find in a Chopped basket, and I could acquire them without too much effort.
There is a war currently happening in the northwest region of the U.S., and it just might benefit you. It’s understandable that that may sound a little odd, confusing, and even ridiculous- but it’s true.
Yes—it is a war, but don’t expect to see lots of explosions, smoke grenades, or heavy artillery. I’m not talking about that kind of war… I’m talking about a fiber war among the big internet providers around Portland.
Long before Hawaii’s vibrant island of Molokai became a hotspot for tourists and corporate agriculture, native residents knew the island as ‘aina momona, or abundant land.
Molokai stretches only 38 miles long, but ancient Hawaiians engineered a highly advanced system of terracing which worked in harmony with the topography and climate of the local landscape. Now, 73% of the island’s residents can claim some heritage to these brilliant ancestors. And while much of the outside world is unaware of this tiny paradise, it is steeped in a complex history of environmental exploitation.
Once colonists discovered the wealth they could reap from the abundance of sugar cane growing in Molokai’s soil, the island underwent a legion of changes. The slice of paradise became known for its fertile landscape, a reputation that drew in agricultural giants from around the world. And while the subsequent presence of industrial fruit corporations Dole and Libby helped the little land become one of the biggest pineapple producers in the world, such industrialization inevitably bore dire environmental consequences.
Luckily, a local grassroots organization called Sustainable Molokai has been working hard to restore and protect the island’s precious resources. Such initiatives include implementing a farm-to-school program and building a distribution center for fresh produce. Such projects are made possible by The First Nations Development Institute, or FNDI, a Denver-based organization that empowers Native Americans with the funds and resources they need to take execute critical projects in their communities.
Well, the future is here. In another attempt to keep people from speaking to one another, Lowe’s plans to upgrade their customer service to the next level. What kind of next level? The future kind of next level. Introducing, OSHbots, Lowe’s new customer service robot that will zip around the store helping customers find hammers, answering questions about deck installation, whatever the hell a Philips head is, and how to unclog that, um, thing.
Source: Flickr
How do you find out about what’s going on in your neighborhood every day?
Don’t think about Denver news, the citywide stories that are speaking to all residents. Think smaller but bigger at the same time. Think hyper-local. Think neighborhood chatter. The good stuff that affects you every day. The construction equipment rolling in at 17th & Lawrence that likely means a soon-to-be detour on your way to work. That area around 18th & Blake by Coors Field that seems best to avoid lately when you find yourself walking home alone late at night.
The event going down at the park up the street—where your buddy can hook you up with some free food. The great barber on E13th Ave who’s going to keep you looking your best.
The newly featured artist at aBuzz Gallery in RiNo (3340 Walnut Street). Yeah, think like that.
Personally, some days I like to wake up, hop in the shower, brew myself a fresh cup of coffee and head outside to relax and enjoy it on my front porch where I catch up with my next-door neighbor Alan. Alan’s a pretty knowledgeable and sociable guy, so often times he’ll fill me in about that new barber or construction up the street. Other times, however, Alan only wants to talk about how Kelly’s dog the next house down won’t stop defecating on his lawn. Alan doesn’t know everything.
(Source: Flickr)
The coffee shop scene, the kind portrayed in the indie film Coffee and Cigarettes where acquaintances lounge and banter, spew intellect, exchange gossip all over a cup of coffee (whether black or tainted with a number of different adjectives) is classic. Nearly every Denver neighborhood has its own local coffee shop that hopes to convert Starbucks followers and create craft coffee connoisseurs.
As if it even needs to be restated, Denver Startup Week 2014 was a huge success. The fantastic event showed us, along with 7,800 other startup community members, just how important entrepreneurship and innovation is for a community. The same can also be said vice versa, and DSupWeek is all about creating a community for like-minded small-business enthusiasts.
“Denver continues to be a prime destination for attracting young, talented entrepreneurs, and Comcast is proud to support this growing community by providing advanced communications services that help power the startup community,” said Vice President of Public Relations for Comcast Colorado, Cindy Parsons. “Technology and innovation are at the core of everything we do – engaging with Denver Startup Week creates a unique opportunity to establish meaningful relationships that lead all of us to future success.”
Obsessed with cats? Can’t stop watching cat video after cat video on YouTube? Do you love any excuse to surround yourself with our furry feline friends? If you answered yes to any or all of these questions, then I’ve got some pretty awesome news for you. Brace yourself: introducing the cuddly concept of a cat café. They’re cafes that usually offer coffee, tea and snacks, but with the opportunity to pet and play with a shop’s worth of cats. I know, so cute right? They’re super popular in Japan (go figure), Taiwan and Europe, and like most other trends in Europe and Asia, it’s now coming to America. I spoke with Sana Q Hamelin about bringing this worldwide phenomenon to America with her café, Denver Cat Company.
The tech and startup scene in Denver and throughout Colorado may be flourishing, but it can be excruciatingly competitive. Unfortunately, this bustling industry has been traditionally dominated by men. That is about to change in a big way. The group Women Who Startup is working to change the face of entrepreneurship by building a platform for women who code, women in technology, companies founded by women, and women who are active and thriving in the tech industry.
Since 2001, the Colorado Technology Association has recognized the leaders, innovators, and disruptors who define our industry. This year’s competition was intense, but on November 5, the best prevailed. Here’s a quick run-down of the winners.
Denver has a love of cinema. Not only is it home to several film festivals throughout the year, but this arts-supportive and appreciative community has become a nesting ground for up-and-coming filmmakers with 48 Hour Film Project. For this swift and often chaotic competition, teams of filmmakers draw a genre and write, shoot, edit, and deliver a completed short film to the competition judges—in a scant two days time. One such team comprised of long-time friends Adam Smith and Bradley Haag made a splash with their entry “The Diary of Anya Frank.”