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First Light Institute
"The future of humanity — and its present — depends on listening to Indigenous peoples: to what they know of the world, to what they have to teach us; and how they can help our species both survive and thrive."
- Wade Davis, Ph.D., Canadian anthropologist & author, 1953 - present
The First Light Institute is the headquarters for the First Light Group. Based in Santa Fe, New Mexico, "F.L.I." is being designed to serve the diverse needs and interests of an equally diverse community.
Santa Fe - The City Different
Founded in 1610 as the capital of Nuevo México (a province of New Spain), Santa Fe is the oldest state capital in the United States and the earliest European settlement west of the Mississippi River. "Santa Fe" is Spanish for "Holy Faith," and an abbreviation of the city's formal name, La Villa Real de la Santa Fe de San Francisco de Asís—"the Royal Town of the Holy Faith of Saint Francis of Assisi."
Placing the headquarters of First Light here was 100% intentional, as Santa Fe's unique blend of indigenous, Spanish, and American influences combine to create the perfect backdrop for us to explore indigenous wisdom, consciousness, and the environment.
New Mexico's Rich Cultural Heritage
Native American culture has been present in what is now called New Mexico for over 2,500 years. It is the ancestral home of the Pueblo, Navajo, and Apache people and is home today to 23 sovereign nations (19 Pueblos, 3 Apache tribes, and the Navajo Nation), each with its own unique heritage and way of life.
This rich cultural heritage provides First Light Institute with limitless opportunities for deeper study, learning, and engagement.
Programming as Diverse as its People
While First Light Studios films and creates content all over the world, the First Light Institute is intentionally focused on what it can offer people who live in (or visit) New Mexico.
Our plans at F.L.I. include the creation of a wide and diverse slate of programming, including workshops, courses, and lectures that align with First Light's mission to engage, inspire, and elevate humanity. Through F.L.I., we can apply this more specifically to those living in Santa Fe and the surrounding area, including (and especially) those from indigenous communities in New Mexico.
More details of this plan will be revealed in the coming months. If you share this passion and want to hear more, please contact us so we can explore partnership opportunities.
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