Blue Ridge Collaborative (BRC) is proud to announce Indigenous Memories (IM) as our official fiscal sponsor. Indigenous Memories is a North Carolina–based 501(c)(3) nonprofit committed to safeguarding sacred land, preserving buried histories, and elevating narratives that have long been marginalized or excluded. This new chapter represents a meaningful step forward for Blue Ridge Collaborative and formalizes a partnership grounded in shared purpose and mutual respect.
At the heart of this relationship is a collective belief that storytelling is not only creative work—it is an act of truth-telling, education, and justice. By operating under the fiscal sponsorship of Indigenous Memories, Blue Ridge Collaborative strengthens its ability to produce thoughtful, responsible projects that honor history while serving present and future communities.
Indigenous Memories is a federally recognized tax-exempt nonprofit whose mission centers on illuminating the lives of Indigenous people, enslaved individuals, and Free People of Color who lived and worked along the Historic Indian Trading Path in Orange County, North Carolina. Through the care and protection of Indigenous burial mounds, Black cemeteries, and the Hardscrabble Slave Cemetery, Indigenous Memories works to preserve places of deep historical and cultural significance.
In addition to land stewardship, Indigenous Memories offers immersive historical hikes and storytelling experiences that connect people directly to the landscape and its layered past. Their work documents overlooked histories while creating space for learning, reflection, and community engagement.
Blue Ridge Collaborative has worked closely with Indigenous Memories for years to help bring this vital history to broader audiences through creative and digital platforms. Our partnership has included:
One of the most significant outcomes of this collaboration is the Common Ground in Orange County digital exhibit, supported by America 250. This project brings together academic research, archival documents, video storytelling, and community voices to examine the interconnected histories of Indigenous and enslaved peoples in the Carolina Piedmont.
Together, we captured much of the history of Black and Indigenous peoples of the Carolinas from the pre-contact era up to the Civil War. The success of this initiative played a pivotal role in shaping the vision for Blue Ridge Collaborative and continues to serve as a blueprint for ethical, inclusive public history.
Blue Ridge Collaborative also partnered with Indigenous Memories to help launch Sacred Land Press, a publishing imprint devoted to documenting and celebrating the histories of Indigenous communities and People of Color in North Carolina. Through strategic planning, creative direction, and platform development, BRC helped support Sacred Land Press as it began publishing books and other works centered on truth, resilience, and cultural pride.
As a fiscally sponsored program of Indigenous Memories, Blue Ridge Collaborative operates within the structure of a registered North Carolina 501(c)(3). This relationship allows BRC to raise funds, manage projects, and expand its storytelling work while remaining aligned with Indigenous Memories’ deep commitment to preservation, education, and ethical storytelling practices.
With this fiscal sponsorship in place, Blue Ridge Collaborative is poised to grow its impact—and community support is essential. Donations made through Indigenous Memories in support of Blue Ridge Collaborative directly sustain creative projects that protect sacred spaces, elevate untold stories, and ensure these histories are not forgotten. Your contribution helps carry this work forward and supports a more honest, inclusive understanding of our shared past.
.png)
