NJILA
The Ancestral Pathway
Your ancestors survived so you could know their names.
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Three Sacred Pillars
01
Remember
Recovering names, dates, photographs, and oral histories from the silence that was forced upon us.
Remember
Recovering names, dates, photographs, and oral histories from the silence that was forced upon us.
02
Reclaim
Navigating archives, courthouse records, Freedmen’s Bureau files, and DNA databases to reconstruct what was taken.
Reclaim
Navigating archives, courthouse records, Freedmen’s Bureau files, and DNA databases to reconstruct what was taken.
03
Rebuild
Creating family legacy documents, heirloom archives, and living records so no name is ever lost again.
Rebuild
Creating family legacy documents, heirloom archives, and living records so no name is ever lost again.
Memory is not nostalgia. It is survival strategy.
— Njila: The Ancestral Pathway
Explore Njila
A standing collection, and what is on view.
Collections
Standing Collections
Permanent works, always on view: the Black Heritage Map, the Louisiana corridor, and the Listening Room. The records we keep, and add to.
On View
Installations
Rotating installations that arrive in response to a moment and close when their work is done. Now on view: the Silence Project.
The Ancestral Healing Starter Guide
Everything you need to begin your ancestral healing journey.
- 7 foundational practices for connecting with your ancestors
- Journaling prompts to unlock family stories and memories
- A step-by-step ritual guide for honoring your lineage
- A curated reading list to support your journey
Join the Ancestral Circle
Seeker
The Rememberer
$11/mo
7 days free
The Rememberer
$11/mo
7 days free
- Free access to every monthly New Moon Workshop. Live training plus a 7-day replay. Each session is $27 to the public; your membership pays for itself the first month.
- Member updates, behind-the-scenes posts, and reflections from B. Kelly
- Early access to new Black Heritage Map sites and public content releases
Archivist
The Archivist
$22/mo
The Archivist
$22/mo
- Everything in The Rememberer
- VIP access to the New Moon Workshops: priority Q&A, the downloadable session worksheet, and 30-day recording access (the $47 experience, included)
- Downloadable Heritage Journals and ancestral reflection prompts
- Your name listed in Njila’s digital archive as a memory preservationist
- Access to the Living Archive as material is published
Storyteller
The Storykeeper
$33/mo
The Storykeeper
$33/mo
- Everything in The Archivist
- Enrollment in Njila’s self-paced course library, starting with “Know Your Roots, Know Your Rights,” and any course released during your membership
- Downloadable Storykeeper prompts: creative rituals for self and ancestry
- Early access to Njila visual collections and exhibitions as they are released
Inner Circle
The Waymaker
$77/mo
The Waymaker
$77/mo
- Everything in The Storykeeper
- Priority and member pricing on live events and retreats, including the Louisiana Gatherings and the Coming Home research weekend
- Recognition on the Njila website and inside digital projects
- An annual signed or digital Njila art print
- A standing invitation to the annual Waymaker gathering on archival ethics and preservation
Founding Patron
The Legacy Builder
$144/mo
The Legacy Builder
$144/mo
- Everything in The Waymaker
- Lifetime acknowledgment as a Founding Patron of Njila
- Invitation to contribute personal or family stories to the Living Archive
- Behind-the-scenes access to the development of Njila’s archives, exhibitions, and design lines
- Annual acknowledgment in a published Njila work