RFP

2023-2024 Native Agriculture & Food Systems Scholarship

Application Deadline:

August 24, 2023

General Information

At First Nations Development Institute, we believe that reclaiming control over local food systems is an important step toward ensuring the long-lasting health and economic well-being of Native people and communities. Native food system control has the potential to increase food production, improve health and nutrition, and eliminate food insecurity in rural and reservation-based communities, while also promoting entrepreneurship and economic development.

The Native Agriculture and Food Systems Scholarships encourage more Native American, Alaska Native, and Native Hawaiian college students to enter agriculture and food systems fields so that they can better assist their communities with their food systems efforts.

First Nations will award 20 to 25 $1,000 to $1,500 scholarships for the 2023-2024 academic school year to Native college students majoring in agriculture and agriculture-related fields, including but not limited to, agribusiness management, agri-science technologies, agronomy, animal husbandry, aquaponics, environmental studies, fisheries and wildlife, food production and safety, food-related policy and legislation, food science and technology, horticulture, irrigation science, and sustainable agriculture or food systems.

Scholarship Award Timeline 

  • Application Open: Monday, July 10, 2023
  • Application Close: Thursday, August 10, 2023, 5 PM MT DEADLINE EXTENDED TO AUGUST 24!
  • Applicant Notifications: September 25-29, 2023
  • Scholars Awarded: November 2023
Download a PDF of this RFP here
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Eligibility

Scholarship Eligibility

  • Applicants must be full-time undergraduate or graduate students majoring in an agricultural-related field, or be able to demonstrate how their degree program relates to Native food systems.
  • Applicants must be tribally-affiliated and able to provide documentation.
  • Applicants must have at least a 2.50 GPA.
  • Applicants must demonstrate a commitment to helping their community reclaim local food-system control.
Application

Applications must be submitted via the online application system, which can be accessed at this link by 5 pm Mountain Time on Thursday, August 24, 2023. Please allow enough time to complete the online form, including uploading the recommendation letter.

Incomplete applications and applications received after the deadline will not be considered. Additional documentation may be required upon award. Please contact us in advance of the deadline if you need assistance submitting in the online system.

Selection Criteria

Scholarships are determined based on each applicant’s eligibility and their commitment to helping reclaim local food system control in their communities.

Grant Requirements

Scholarship Application Checklist

  • Online application:
    • A personal statement
    • A description of how you plan to help your community reclaim control of local and/or traditional food systems
    • A summary of how you plan to use the award funds
  • Attachments
    • Proof of tribal affiliation (e.g., enrollment card, CIB, letter from tribe, OHA registry)
    • College enrollment verification form
    • Unofficial transcript
    • Resume (optional)
    • Letter of recommendation from tribal or academic mentor (this will be uploaded by the recommender via the online portal)
Help

Request for Accommodations 

If additional accommodations for disabilities are provided to you through the university, community college, or tribal college to assist in the completion of the scholarship application, please notify us in advance. The Native Agriculture & Food Systems Scholarship Team will work with you to reduce any barriers that may prevent you from submitting your application in a timely manner.

First Nations Development Institute does not require documentation from you or the university, community college, or tribal college to allow for accommodations. We do recommend that you contact the Native Agriculture & Food Systems Scholarship Team prior to starting your application so that we are prepared to provide further assistance throughout the open application timeline.

Questions? Please contact A.J. Garcia (agarcia@firstnations.org) via email or phone at 720-883-3450.