Awarded Grants

This project will focus on building a relationship with the USFS and developing agreements to co-steward and collaborate on Buffalo Gap Grasslands in order to benefit Tribal wildlife, resources, and our community.

To provide collaborative, educational, and professional development for tribal members with a focus on grass ecology, restoration principals and practices with how they relate to traditional conservation and species recognition for their cultural significance.

The CRST, Land Office will use this project to build knowledge and resources to assist with management of tribal grasslands, looking to restore a healthy ecosystem. This will be done through the development of management plan that will include leveraging relationships with tribal, federal and industry entities.

Lower Brule intends to regain land lost before 1906, now in Ft. Pierre National Grasslands. It has begun with co-management but needs background to be an equal partner. Information gained about the land history/ecology from archival research will increase tribal knowledge and capacity and provide significant leverage in future negotiations.

This project will increase tribal capacity to restore grassland ecosystem health by supporting the planning and development of a co-stewardship plan for the Little Missouri National Grasslands that upholds tribal culture/language, honors Tribal sovereignty, and encompasses the restoration of cultural landscapes of the Mandan, Hidatsa, and Arikara Nation.

This grant will be used to 1) Build community capacity through website development by strengthening technical skills of two community members and 2) Complete and launch the updated NDNTA website.

Program Opportunity Statement (Recommended 300 words or less) Role models are intended to guide and mentor those who seek opportunities or wish to learn. Those kinds of individuals have and continue to exist and thrive in the Zuni Youth Enrichment Project. The team in 2009 were operating out of Tom Faber’s trunk, providing activities for camp not knowing what would become of their efforts. With hard work and many testimonials later, the program would grow to provide many initiatives and several dedicated to building the future leaders of our community. In order to pursue the mission of ZYEP by providing the youth with positive mentors, it is vital to provide training opportunities for the young leaders (16-24 year old camp counselors, after school mentors, coaches, etc.) to one, build on their skill set and two, practice their teachings through ZYEP programming. Within summer camp, camp counselors go through an extensive two week training filled with presentations necessary to prepare them for youth engagement. Trainings include: CPR/First Aid provided by Zuni Fire and EMS, suicide prevention training provided by on-site certified trainers, cultural responsiveness, risk management, reporting procedures, an overview of ZYEP policies, team building activities, an overnight camping retreat, and so much more. According to post evaluation surveys from the 2024 camp counselors, 80% felt the training prepared them for summer camp. Over 60% of counselors highlighted three training sessions they enjoyed the most. They included a review of reporting and emergency situations (scenario practice), group games and icebreakers, and the overnight camping retreat. Funding from this grant would allow ZYEP to supply camp counselor training materials, fund an overnight camping retreat for the counselors to practice group management skills and participate in team building activities, and fund counselor background checks in order to foster an important ongoing partnership with the Zuni Public School District.

This grant will support Hurricane Helene relief efforts.

Program Opportunity Statement (Recommended 300 words or less) H3M began with the knowledge that a nonprofit can assist with addressing the needs of the Hopi people by doing projects/programs outside of the normal box. Our cultural ways and our language is the foundation of everything we do with our people especially the youth. Our speaking Hopi population was important to get their input into our programs and projects. Their way may be the best way to teach those who cannot speak to speak. This provides an opportunity for the Hopi speaker, for example, that is usually not called upon to provide their input, and we found they have just as much to offer and share. The creativity and knowledge of our keepers in this area such as the language was important to keep open to make an impact on what it is we believed was important for the youth and everyone to learn and live. Our unique identity is through our cultural life ways and our language. H3M hosting a planning session is another way to get stakeholders to participate in the future of their own lives as well as their extended family members. This will help with building support for the organization in all the work that is being done. We may also find future Board Members and donors to help with sustaining H3M in governance and funding. The circles of wisdom, thoughts, feelings and forward thinking is increased and not just by a handful and/or those who are always at the table. These sessions grows the amount of thinkers and supporters a lot which is an awesome opportunity for one to feel a part of something and something that is huge and very important. At the same time, H3M will have a plan to with a roadmap to follow. This plan will help with the future planning, programming, fundraising, resources, and all that is needed to keep H3M alive, vibrant and making a difference our future for all, wherever they reside.

Program Opportunity Statement (Recommended 300 words or less) Securing funding for materials, supplies, and equipment is far easier than securing funding for overhead expenses. Worrying about how we can keep our doors open and lights on is always at the back of our minds. Funding that assists in alleviating operating expenses will free up more time and resources to help us achieve objectives, complete projects, and better serve our community.