First Nations Development Institute

THIS WEEK: Federally recognized Indian tribes, Alaska Native Corporations, and qualified nonprofits focused on conservation are invited to join First Nations and the U.S. Forest Service for online office hours on the Community Forest Program (CFP) on December 12, 2024, at 1 pm MT. An overview of the CFP will be provided, and participant questions will be addressed. Register: https://bit.ly/4inGt9j The CFP offers a competitive grant opportunity that provides matching funds to purchase forested lands for a community forest. Applications are due to state foresters or equivalent tribal government officials by January 13, 2025. Read more about the program: https://bit.ly/49yz1Ut First Nations has small capacity grants of up to $10,000 and technical assistance to support tribal applications to the CFP. Learn more: https://bit.ly/4coHbz1

National Native American Heritage Month has officially ended, but at First Nations, we acknowledge and honor Native cultures and vibrancy year-round. Join us for two more events to keep the celebration and learning going. 🟠 Tuesday, December 10: In Webinar 3, Director at The Pueblo of Jemez Department of Education Kevin Shendo (Pueblo of Jemez) will share share the story and work of the Jemez school system. Register: https://bit.ly/4ilPrnr 🟠 Monday, December 16: In Webinar 4, First Nations’ JoAnn Melchor (Santo Domingo Pueblo) and First Nations’ President and CEO Michael Roberts (Tlingit) will discuss our language and cultural projects occurring nationally and within New Mexico’s Pueblo communities. Register: https://bit.ly/4grVXqN

We're so excited about the momentum of our #BringBackTheNative campaign and what it will mean for the health and future of our forests, grasslands, deserts, and tundra! From reintroducing cultural fire to protect biodiversity, to improving water quality through blue mussel restoration, to advancing climate adaptation through ancestral practices, your support matters to Native communities. Make your end-of-year gift by December 31, 2024, and it will be matched dollar-for-dollar up to $200,000! Every gift goes TWICE AS FAR to help Native communities advance traditional stewardship practices, and ensure our Mother Earth thrives for generations and generations to come. ➡️ Together, we can create a future where Native-led stewardship brings health, resilience, and sustainability to our lands and people. Donate today: https://lnkd.in/gbqNe6N5

Meet 2024 Luce Indigenous Knowledge Fellow Matthew Vestuto, tribal chairman of the 150-member Barbareño/Ventureño Band of Mission Indians (Chumash). 🟠 Vestuto is on a mission to save the tribal language, mitsqanaqan, also called “Ventureño Chumash,” which has been teetering on endangerment since the last first-language speaker passed away in the 1960s. 🟠 As a First Nations’ Luce Indigenous Knowledge Fellow, he will finish transcribing more than 100,000 digitized pages from the research of ethnologist John Peabody Harrington pertaining to mitsqanaqan language and culture, repatriated to him by the Smithsonian Institution. ➡️ Read more about Vestuto’s decades-long dedication to his endangered Chumash language: https://bit.ly/3ZDlhok

According to new data we released last week, nearly 8 in 10 (78%) Native American respondents said that they considered tribal issues when they voted in the 2024 national election. Join us for a webinar tomorrow, December 3, to hear more about the findings, including the tribal issues Native American voters said were most important to them as they voted in this election and how inflation, jobs, housing, and climate change influenced their votes. Register: https://bit.ly/4eLI8lL

Today marks the final day of Native American Heritage Month—a time to reflect on and celebrate the rich history, culture, and contributions of Native peoples. But our recognition doesn’t stop here; we honor these legacies every day of the year. To close out the month, we’re excited to highlight Woodland Indian Art, Inc., a nonprofit organization in Oneida, Wisconsin, dedicated to preserving the distinct artistic styles of Woodland Indian tribes from the Eastern U.S. and southern Canada while expanding awareness and appreciation for these art forms. Hear from Woodland Indian Art, Inc. President John Breuninger (Oneida Nation of Wisconsin) as he shares how the annual Woodland Indian Art Show and Market fosters economic growth for Native artists through networking and showcasing their work to buyers and collectors. Learn more about Woodland Indian Art, Inc. on our website: https://bit.ly/4iaV2ga

Holiday shopping today? We encourage you to #ShopNative this Black Friday! As part of First Nations’ commitment to supporting Native-owned businesses and artists, we are honored to share some of our favorite online stores. Find unique gifts by artists from around the country inspired by tradition. From jewelry and notecards to coffee mugs and Native foods, there is something for everyone on your holiday list: https://lnkd.in/gDgRXg-N

Today, we invite you to pause with us to honor the origins of our country and the resilience and vibrance of Native communities, cultures, and languages. Our people and lifeways continue to flourish, during National Native American Heritage Month, throughout Thanksgiving gatherings, and always. If today's gatherings include young people in your life, we invite you to tune in with Chenoa and Keith Egawa (Lummi Nation and S’Klallam Nation) for a brief reading of their book, "@[The Whale Child](100520875165043)." The brother and sister authors hope that it will inspire children to learn, contribute, and become stewards of the planet and our future. Other ways to celebrate Native people today: ➡️ Check out and share our list of children's books, curated as part of our #BringBackTheNative campaign as part of our commitment to investing in programs that center Native Peoples in the stewardship of their lands for a generous future: https://lnkd.in/ddy7yep8 ➡️ Donate to double your impact for Native lands. Every dollar raised through December 31 will be matched to bolster the Tribal Lands Conservation Fund: https://lnkd.in/g-6T5_4V

📣 New Study Counters Misleading Data and Narrative about Native American Voting in Election 📣 First Nations has announced that data surrounding Native American impact on the 2024 presidential election is flawed, leading to dangerous conclusions about the Native American vote. Researchers of First Nations’ latest study contend that Native American voters remained largely absent in the pre-election discussions by election experts and pundits due to nearly no credible data available for the Native American electorate. ➡️ Read on in our press release: https://bit.ly/3B2job9 ➡️ Join us on Tuesday, December 3 for a webinar detailing the findings. Register now: https://bit.ly/4eLI8lL

This week, tribal and federal representatives from across the nation gathered in Chandler, Arizona, for First Nations’ Shared Horizons: Navigating Tribal Co-Stewardship and Co-Management Opportunities Conference, co-hosted with the Native American Rights Fund. Attendees shared experiences and innovations, participated in trainings, and networked about tribal co-stewardship and co-management. Together, we are creating a future where Tribal Sovereignty and stewardship are fully recognized and respected. Thank you to attendees, organizers, speakers, and supporters for your commitment to this important work! And a very special thanks to the Gila River Indian Community for hosting and welcoming us on their homelands, as together we continue to protect and steward the plants, animals, water, and land that are fundamental to our way of life, the health of our planet, and future generations.