Awarded Grants

The ultimate purpose for Chahta Native Youth Stickball is to create a culturally-rich, youth mentoring program with roots in the traditional tribal game of stickball, which also integrates native language, history of stickball and its origins prior to the Trail of Tears, and native ceremonies (including preparation for and blessing of the game). This project will generate excitement for Native culture and identity and increase the number of Native youth who are knowledgeable about tribal history and active in keeping stickball/culture alive for future generations. The project naturally fosters youth positive development through ongoing mentoring, education, and support.

The ultimate purpose is to 1) create a language learning environment nurtured by families, which is not available to students anywhere in the community that will promote the cultural value of generosity and 2) to build a foundation of language speakers and material that will assist in the retention of the tribal language by targeting youth and indigenous first language speakers. Motivated by the Piegan Institue co-founder Darrell Kipp, the S.L.P. is driven by action rather than apprehension.

The ultimate purpose of this project is to: 1)stimulate and nourish the dormant traditional bond between Indian Elders and youth, 2) retain the wisdom of the Indian Elders and protect the cultural values, heritage, and traditions, 3) utilize natural resources to increase knowledge of traditional customs and living environments 4) increase the health and physical wellbeing of Indian Elders and Youth, 5) provide a healthier alternative way of life in order to maintain a thriving sustainable lifestyle through organic farming, nutritional food values, and physical fitness.

Sons and Daughters of Tradition at Enemy Swim Day School will ultimately 1) reinforce and/or introduce Tribal cultural knowledge of daily and ceremonial practices governing Dakota life and, 2) increase student self image, personal awareness and Tribal identity. Increasingly critical, the Sons and Daughters project will assist students in building cultural resiliency enabling them to resist negative influences and build on their own strengths as a life-long learning tool.

The ultimate purpose of the E Kalai i ka Papa Hee Nalu project is to 1) create an opportunity for the youth of Waimanalo to perpetuate the Hawaiian practice of traditional surfboard carving while 2) increasing their knowledge of traditional practices utilizing the natural resources readily available to them. Students will experience positive, affirming, culturally-grounded activities during out-of-school time and explore avenues of education/learning that support their strengths in a culture-based educational setting. In carving their own surfboards, the students will ultimately create a tangible vessel for personal growth while maintaining a strong connection to their kupuna (ancestors/past) and community.

The ultimate purpose is to increase the number of tribal youth that demonstrate positive identity development and the number of tribal children that demonstrate an increase of cultural knowledge. This program expands and integrates a newly developed land-based curriculum with our out-of-school time programs.

The ultimate purpose is to 1) increase the capacity of the tribes to manage their cultural and natural resources, and 2) significantly increase the number of tribal youth who are interested in careers that protect these resources while providing them with cultural and academic connections in a culturally relevant setting.

The ultimate purpose of the project is to 1.) introduce NHBP youth to traditional customs once widely practiced by woodland Tribes, but have been lost or nearly lost to the NHBP Tribal community, in order to restore and retain knowledge and skills of seven specific life ways. Additionally 2.) knowing that "culture is prevention," a second goal is to develop "protective factors" of youth in order to increase the likely hood that youth will not engage in destructive behaviors. 3.) A third goal is to leverage $18,000 in grant funds to create a documentary video of the identified activities.

The ultimate purpose of DY MESA's Zuni Past, Zuni Future is to (1) create the opportunity for Zuni youth to learn first-hand about the Zuni migration story, one of the most critical components of Zuni traditions and culture and (2) increase cultural knowledge and language skills among participants. Additionally, Zuni Past, Zuni Future will aims to increase participants' sense of identity as Zunis, their connection to their language and culture, their pride in the history of the Zuni people and their aspirations for their lives as future Zuni leaders.

The ultimate purpose of the Intergenerational Project is to 1) create a stronger bond between San Felipe youth and elders, 2) significantly increasing our youth's knowledge of our language and traditional ways of life, 3) utilizing the life experiences of our elders to help our youth understand the importance of our native culture, and 4) benefiting our elders by giving them a sense of responsibility and contribution, increasing their quality of life.