Awarded Grants

General Operating Support

This project will create multiple opportunities for tribal members to learn how to garden, engage in traditional food harvesting, and how to preserve foods. We will utilize traditional knowledge keepers and master gardeners to share information about food systems, restoring our relationships with foods, and increasing tribal members' food sovereignty.

This Project will create economic connections between Tribal food producers (fishermen, farmers, ranchers) and Tribal institutions by generating information on product needs and Tribal production capacity. It will also leverage existing storage and transportation capacity of Ziibimijwang Inc to link producers to Tribal institutional consumers.

Program Opportunity Statement (Recommended 300 words or less) In January 2023, Saad K'idilyé hosted a multi-day strategic planning session to create a comprehensive plan for the organization. Completion of this plan was integral not only for clarity on how to expand programming but also provide clear direction of future funding needs. A major concern for the organization is sustainability. In addressing our funding approach, the attending group identified online giving as a great feasible revenue stream. Saad K'idilyé has laid the ground work to create an online presence through their website and multiple social media accounts but have been unable to remain consistent with online engagement. All staff time is dedicated to maintaining programming. The planning group recognized there is a missed opportunity to engage online giving through their website and social media and proposed that the organization hire a website/social media coordinator. This position would work with Saad K'idilyé to produce consistent content and inspire followers to support the organization. Funding from First Nation Development Institute would allow Saad K'idilyé to work towards sustainability and follow through on suggestions made in our strategic plan.

This project will enable Tuolumne Band of Me-Wuk Indians to create 10 raised garden beds, setup their greenhouse, create an intergenerational Elder and youth Indigenous food sovereignty program and increase their capacity to share the produce grown by their Elders and youth with their community weekly at "Lunch with Elders".

Building off of previous First Nations awards, we plan to increase value of tribal caught salmon by utilizing technical, economic, and relevant social media leverage for tribal product branding to control shifting post-covid, retail-direct to-the-consumer markets.

Program Opportunity Statement (Recommended 300 words or less) Kahua Imua translates into two equally important meanings - fortifying a strong foundation and embracing the potential of future generations. We believe a strong foundation begins with family lifestyles, a commitment from parents and grandparents to prioritize Hawaiian culture and language in the home, and a confidence in cultural identity that extends beyond the conventions of our modern, urban lives. After generations of oppression, there needs to be a conscious and powerful shift in the way we raise and educate our children, the true wealth of all cultures. As children grow their resource base and skill, they become the powerful foundation which we need to progress our nation. Kahua Imua equips families with the knowledge, resources, and tools to re-prioritize Hawaiian culture and language in the home.

This project creates opportunities for urban Native groups and communities in Portland to take part in growing and preserving first foods and plants. Wisdom of the Elders programs utilize Traditional Ecological Knowledge, donated lands and partnerships to train our interns in environmental and agricultural skills that work toward food sovereignty.

This project is leveraging BFFSG's momentum and success with its community research analysis and pilot projects indicating the desire and need for BFFSG to become its own independent nonprofit. Funds will build capacity by contracting with founding board members to complete mission related development work.

This project will enable Waimea Hawaiian Homesteaders' Association Inc. to increase their capacity to address and repair the weather damage to their greenhouse.