Contact:

Donna Bouchard, President

P.O. Box 2126

Vineyard Haven, MA 02568

T: 508.693.5865

E: onheartpath@aol.com

Founded: February 7, 2001

Mission:

Heartpath, Inc. is dedicated to supporting charitable and educational projects and services which sustain communities and preserve traditional culture by developing and implementing programs which alleviate the effects of poverty in
designated communities; assisting individuals and communities who are
striving for the preservation of their traditional culture and increasing public awareness about specific needs of designated communities.

Major Programs:

Heartpath, Inc. was founded by a small group of Islanders who witnessed the overwhelming needs of the poorest, most neglected community in the United States - the Lakota Tribe of the Pine Ridge Indian Reservation in South Dakota.  We found that the people's basic survival needs were not being met (food, shelter, heat) and immediately worked on fundraising to buy food, propane and wood for the elders and families in extreme need the reservation.  Due to the lack of information and understanding of the plight of the people living under these oppressed conditions, we found that educating and raising public awareness was necessary, especially when the needs were so far away from projects supported in our immediate community.  So our first project was a video filmed by two of our Board Members using their company, Videosphere, documenting the historical and current events which have led to the poverty-stricken living situation on the reservation today as well as interviews with many Lakota individuals giving an in-depth picture of their life-styles of today vs. their traditional culture.  Excerpts have been aired on MVTV and presented to the 8th graders at the Oak Bluffs School during their American History curriculum.  Heartpath has also sponsored presentations from traditional Lakota elders to teach some of the old ways carried down only by oral traditions.  Rather than try to reinvent the wheel, we are now working with a much older and seasoned sister organization, Pathways to Spirit (www.pathwaystospirit.org) where support and donations for various projects on the reservation include moving donated mobile homes for the homeless, an emergency youth shelter, sewing projects, and provisions for heating fuel and
electricity.  Heartpath's current project is to educate our own youth and community of the extreme poverty, oppression and human rights struggles going on in our own country at Pine Ridge, a little known fact out of sight and out of mind in our community.  What the Lakota have to offer is invaluable:  community building in the face of adversity, ancient methods of healing mind and body, unique art, music & dance, and strong family values.  We believe indigenous cultures have much to offer - ways that have been nearly lost and forgotten. Presently, we are organizing a tour to Pine Ridge for adults and high school students to attend some traditional ceremonies, meet with elders, attend Lakota traditional dances and observe life in a world that closely resembles a
third world country but is right here within the United States. 

501(c)(3)? Yes

Form 990 Filed? Yes

Board Members:

Donna Bouchard, President
Julie O'Neil, Clerk, Treasurer
Suzanne Fennessy
Werner Grundl
Sarah Nevin
Bruce Nevin