Awarded Grants

Ogallala Commons (www.ogallalacommons.org), a nonprofit organization is partnering with First Nations Development Institute to create 4 community internships in 2014. Through this program, motivated youth, college students, and adults can work in summer or semester internships to carry out projects that add value to local communities and institutions--while interns gain skill development, a stipend for work experience, and hometown career exploration opportunities. These internships build a diverse range of skills for interns in community development projects, leadership, entrepreneurship, nonprofit outreach, agricultural careers, health care, renewable energy, social networking, and rebuilding local food systems.

The Oneida Young Entrepreneurs in Agriculture Program is geared toward High School age students to 1) increase knowledge on the Farm to Plate concepts with the development and marketing of a food product; 2) develop entrepreneurial skills in business through cost analysis, marketing, presentations, and sales of the product to the local school and marketplace as a fundraising program; 3) promote healthy foods and nutrition to other youth through this program.

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 of the Sunka Wakan Otakuye is 1) develop our Lakota youth and increase their cultural understanding of the horse nation, cultivating their Lakota identity, and 2) create a safe, welcoming environment where they can be supported as they engage with Tribal elders and learn of Lakota language, culture and values of the horse nation, and retain this knowledge for use in their everyday lives. Each year the Sunka Wakan Otakuye increases in its capacity and expands its reach, leveraging donated goods and services, volunteer hours and curriculum development to secure itself as a top NAAP program.

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.

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 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.

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.