New Report on Coalition Building in Indian Country
 
First Nations Development Institute (First Nations) announced today the release of the report "Native Asset-Building Coalitions: Promising Practices and Sustainability." This report provides recommendations and best-practices for asset coalition building in Indian Country. The report profiles three Native asset-building coalitions as they seek to organize coordinated efforts to strengthen asset-building activities in their respective states.
 
In 2006, with a generous $150,000 grant from the Ford Foundation, First Nations launched the "Building Integrated Asset Strategies" project. This three-year project was designed to organize and support regional and state Native asset-building coalitions in developing initiatives designed to benefit Native communities, families and individuals. More broadly, this project was created to help Native asset-building organizations coalesce around those asset-building strategies that allow Native peoples to direct their economic futures in ways that fit within their cultural values.
 
As part of this project, two existing coalitions, the Oklahoma Native Asset Coalition and the Arizona Native Asset Coalition, and one new coalition, the Northwest Native Asset-Building Coalition, received funding and technical support assistance from First Nations. During the three-year project, all three of the coalitions worked to overcome significant barriers while meeting several key objectives. Drawing upon the experiences of these coalitions, this report offers practical advice for others considering coalition formation in Indian Country.
 
According to Michael E. Roberts, President of First Nations, "Coalitions have the opportunity to make significant, sustainable and culturally appropriate inroads toward meeting asset-building needs in Indian Country. We are honored to be working and supporting each of these organizations as they continue to grow and galvanize more resources, both capital and educational, for the well-being of Native nations and peoples."

You can download the full report by visiting our online publications store.

For more information about Native Asset Coalitions, please contact Sarah Dewees, Director of Policy & Research at sdewees@firstnations.org.