With Support from PHI’s Together Toward Health Program, First Nations Awards $550,000 in Grants to 30 Native Organizations in California
LONGMONT, Colorado (June 11, 2021) – First Nations Development Institute (First Nations) today announced the awarding of $550,000 in grants to 30 Native-led California organizations to help them continue vital programs and services that have been compromised due to the COVID-19 pandemic. The awards were made through First Nations’ California Tribal Fund, which is specifically designed to strengthen Native communities in California, according to First Nations’ Program Officer Rebecca Tortes.
Tortes said Native Americans overall are 3.5 times more likely to contract COVID-19 than their white counterparts, and this issue is further compounded in California, where federal programs for health services and outreach are chronically underfunded and under-resourced, and where there are an estimated 75 non-federally recognized Tribes that are often denied federal funding opportunities.
Through this funding, the 30 selected organizations will be able to continue work to reduce the disproportionate burden of COVID-19 among California Native populations and create and disseminate more “place-based” pandemic outreach and education resources that are grounded in California tribal culture. “Tribally created and controlled programs and initiatives like those developed by these grantees are able to address the complex relationship between person, environment, community, and biology,” Tortes said. “Further, these types of culturally based, health and wellness programs can positively affect the overall health and wellness of a tribal community.”
This round of awards is provided by Together Toward Health, a program of the Public Health Institute, through funding from a group of philanthropic organizations. Susan Watson, Director of Together Toward Health & CA4Health, said, “Support for these Native-led organizations will enhance communication, public awareness, and health education that will reduce the spread of COVID-19 in California overall by making sure that the Native communities are included and reached in culturally appropriate ways.”
The following Native-led California organizations will each receive $18,500:
- American Indian Council of Mariposa County, Mariposa
- Big Valley Band of Pomo Indians, Lakeport
- Bishop Paiute Tribe, Bishop
- Blue Lake Rancheria, Blue Lake
- California Indian Cultural Museum, Santa Rosa
- Sogorea Te’ Land Trust, Oakland
- Fort Independence Paiute Tribe, Independence
- Hoopa, Hoopa
- Indian Cultural Organization, Redding
- Ione Band of Miwok Indians, Plymouth
- Intertribal Friendship House, Oakland
- Karuk, Happy Camp
- La Jolla Band of Luiseno Indians, Pauma Valley
- Maidu Consortium, Chester
- Malki Museum, Banning
- Native American Pathways, Hoopa
- Northern California Tribal Court Coalition, Eureka
- Owens Valley Career Development Center, Bishop
- Pechanga Band of Luiseno Indians – Chamakilawish School, Temecula
- Rincon Indian Education Center, Valley Center
- Round Valley Indian Health, Covelo
- San Pasqual Band of Mission Indians, Valley Center
- Santa Ynez Band of Chumash Indians, Santa Ynez
- Save California Salmon, Orleans
- Sherwood Valley Rancheria of Pomo Indians, Willits
- Sierra Mono Museum, North Fork
- Soboba Band of Luiseno Indians, San Jacinto
- Southern California Tribal Chairman’s Association, Valley Center
- Tübatulabal Tribe, Lake Isabella
- Wukchumni Tribal Council, Visalia
More information on First Nations’ California Tribal Fund can be found at https://www.firstnations.org/california-tribal-fund/.
About First Nations Development Institute
For 40 years, using a three-pronged strategy of educating grassroots practitioners, advocating for systemic change, and capitalizing Indian communities, First Nations has been working to restore Native American control and culturally-compatible stewardship of the assets they own – be they land, human potential, cultural heritage or natural resources – and to establish new assets for ensuring the long-term vitality of Native American communities. First Nations serves Native American communities throughout the United States. For more information, visit www.firstnations.org.
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PROGRAM CONTACT:
Rebecca Tortes, First Nations Lead Program Officer – California Tribal Fund
rtortes@firstnations.org or (303) 774-7836
COMMUNICATIONS CONTACT:
Amy Jakober, First Nations Senior Communications Officer
ajakober@firstnations.org or (303) 774-7836
