July 4, 2025
Thank You Valued Donors and Supporters!
We thank everyone who donated in support of First Nations’ Native Language Immersion Initiative. Our “Language is Life” campaign has come to end, and we are honored to have received such an amazing outpouring from donors and allies, joining us in keeping Native languages alive.
We look forward to sharing outcomes of the campaign in the coming weeks. And again, thank you all! If you missed any of the videos, webinars, and materials highlighting “Language is Life,” access a recap here.
Bringing Indigenous Food Systems to the Forefront
This summer, First Nations served on the host committee of the national Sustainable Agriculture and Food Systems Funders (SAFSF) Forum held at Santa Ana Pueblo. The forum convened a diverse network of funders — including philanthropic institutions, investors, community finance leaders, and intermediaries — for skill building, collaborating, and advancing leadership in food systems change.
During the “Protecting the Movement: Funder Response to the Federal Funding Landscape” panel, First Nations President and CEO Mike Roberts (Tlingit) addressed the historical and ongoing underinvestment in Indian Country. First Nations also facilitated two sessions that brought together the Indigenous Food Systems Community of Practice and the Native Fundraisers Community of Practice — spaces designed to deepen relationships to produce a more equitable funding environment that centers Indigenous foodways.
We hope funders and allies will continue to show up — and step up — with deeper investment in cultural food systems grounded in Indigenous knowledge and leadership.
Buffalo to School Training Builds Food Sovereignty for Our Youth
The first-ever Regional Buffalo to School Training was held in Rapid City, South Dakota, this June, bringing together food service staff, school administrators, and buffalo producers to begin — or continue — the important work of incorporating buffalo into local school meal programs.
At the community buffalo butchering led by Lisa and Arlo Iron Cloud, participants engaged in hands-on learning that replaced shame with connection, cultural knowledge, and shared experience. This immersive approach created new memories and strengthened Indigenous knowledge systems.
First Nations’ Native Agriculture and Food Systems Investments team facilitated a session that encouraged schools to develop Native Farm to School programs and sparked collaboration among attendees, strengthening their network to create community- and school-led food system models based on Indigenous values.
Participants gained clear pathways and encouragement to keep building futures where youth stay connected to buffalo. Taking back control of our food and education systems is a necessary step toward Tribal and food sovereignty.
First Nations Selects 6th Cohort of Luce Indigenous Knowledge Fellowship
This week, First Nations announced the 10 Native American leaders selected for the 2025 cohort of the Luce Indigenous Knowledge Fellowship. The cohort marks the sixth year of the fellowship, which launched in 2020. The 10 fellows were selected through a competitive, two-phase application, peer-reviewed process.
First Nations President and CEO Michael Roberts said the fellowship acknowledges, celebrates, and amplifies Native knowledge – for the good of not only Native communities but all of society. “This year’s cohort brings expertise across Native language, art, and craftsmanship to benefit birth work, environmentalism, food security, and more. The growing network of Luce Indigenous Knowledge Fellows overall underscores the importance and effectiveness of upholding and investing in traditional knowledge.”
Read the press release on the 2025 fellows here, and look for updates on the 2026 fellows selection process in the coming months.
New Mexico Friends: Join Us for ‘Native Now: Coffee Talk’ August 6
First Nations is so very grateful for your support, and we would love to meet you. Please join us for a morning of coffee and conversation next month at the Resilience Hub by New Mexico Community Capital. First Nations leadership staff will lead a dialogue about the work of First Nations, the current political climate, and ways donors and supporters can further engage with First Nations in serving Native communities. Join us on Wednesday, August 6, 2025, at 10 am Mountain Time in Albuquerque. The event is free and all are welcome – Registration is required. Learn more.
REMINDER: Join Us July 15 for New Webinar Series: Our Language, Our Legacy
First Nations’ 2025 summer webinar series elevates the work Native communities are doing to revitalize and sustain their languages.
The series is centered on a three-part theme of “Truth, Solutions, and Action Across Indian Country.” It explores the historical and systemic forces that have led to language loss and why it matters. It then highlights community-driven solutions and invites viewers to take action as informed advocates and storytellers.
In the first webinar, “Reclaiming What Was Taken: History, Trauma, and the Power of Language,” Deidre Whiteman (Spirit Lake Dakota/Hidatsa) of the National Native American Boarding School Healing Coalition, will discuss the history and lasting impact of Indian Boarding Schools, and how these institutions contributed to the suppression of Native languages and shaped contemporary Native life.
The webinar will be held on Tuesday, July 15, 2025, at 10 am Mountain Time. Learn more about the series and register here.
In Case You Missed It: First Nations’ June ‘Indian Giver’ Is Out
In the summer issue of our quarterly newsletter, we share news of First Nations’ community partner, the American Indian Business Leaders chapter at Sitting Bull College and its work to nurture the next generation of Native entrepreneurs. We also check in with a few of our Native Youth and Culture Fund community partners who are helping young Native campers build confidence and lifelong friendships while accessing traditional knowledge. Read these stories and more – access the full issue here.
Restoring our Relatives Grant Opportunity Reminder
First Nations Stewarding Native Lands program is now accepting applications for projects that grow capacity and programming to restore eco-cultural species, species important to the cultures, diets, and spirituality of Native peoples.
First Nations expects to award up to 15 grants between $25,000 to $50,000 to eligible Tribes and Native-led organizations through our Restoring our Relatives project, made possible with support from First Nations’ Tribal Lands Conservation Fund.
Learn more and apply here by Wednesday, July 16, 2025. If you missed it, view the Q&A application webinar recording here.
One-Year Native Farmer Professional Cohort
First Nations’ new Native Farmer Professional Cohort aims to strengthen the farming and land stewardship skills of 12 beginning Native farmers and support them in accessing resources from the U.S. Department of Agriculture, Natural Resources Conservation Service (USDA NRCS). Through the year-long enrichment program, participants will receive training and networking opportunities, with a focus on improving soil health, water quality, local food systems, and land stewardship in alignment with Native values.
The cohort launches August 4, 2025. Beginning Native farmers with less than 10 years of experience: Learn more and apply here by Friday, July 18, 2025. Note: This application is housed on First Nations’ project management system and not on Fluxx.
Native Agriculture and Food Systems Scholarships
First Nations’ Native Agriculture and Food Systems Investments (NAFSI) Scholarship program supports Native American, Alaska Native, and Native Hawaiian college students to ultimately better assist their communities with their food systems efforts. Again this year, First Nations will award 20 to 25 scholarships in the amount of $1,000 to $1,500 for the 2025-2026 academic school year to Native college or university students majoring in agriculture and agriculture-related fields. Apply here by July 11, 2025.