Black Mesa Trust
Hopi and Navajo Reservations, Arizona
The Black Mesa Trust brings people together in an effort to oppose Peabody Coal, its Black Mesa Mine and the water intensive process of extracting coal. Located on the Hopi and Navajo reservations, Peabody Coal's Black Mesa Mine and adjacent Kayenta Mine is the largest complex of its type in the world. The mines use the slurry method, with 4500 gallons of water a minute to transport the coal 273 miles west to the Mohave Generating Station in Nevada. The combination of massive mining development and the use of water from the aquifer has been a huge blow to the ecology of the region, and threatens to permanently damage the fragile desert ecosystem that Hopi and Navajo spirituality and life are intrinsically dependent upon. The Black Mesa Trust continues to expand its coalition and its activist efforts to bring an end to the slurry use.

Brave Heart Society, "Cante Ohitika Okodakicitiye"
Yankton Sioux Reservation, South Dakota
Brave Heart Society works to utilize traditional lifeways and to strengthen currently broken circles. They will use funding to create a forum for Yankton youth and their families to relearn who they are in the circle of the Seven Council Fires and to learn it from an uncolonized viewpoint, which will assist them in becoming leaders in their own camp circles. They will to present four learning/camp circles to learn about Yankton history.

California Indian Basketweavers Association
Nevada City, California
In the late 20th century, the age-old art of basket weaving was in a precarious state within many of California's Indian tribes. The demands of family life and the struggle to make a living, together with the destruction of plant habitats, health hazards related to pesticide use, and the increased difficulty of obtaining access to gathering sites had seriously lowered the number of California Indian basket weavers. The Basket Weaver Support Program strives to provide the conditions necessary for the basket weaving traditions among California's diverse Native cultures to once again thrive.

The Corporation of Newe Segobia
Western Shoshone Territory, Nevada
The Corporation of Newe Segobia is planning education and outreach for Western Shoshone communities in collaboration with the Nuclear Risk Management for Native Communities in order to both oppose the Yucca Mountain Nuclear Waste dump and to seek more clean up of the other nuclear contamination in Nevada. The Western Shoshone National Council strives to raise the profile of their fight for tribal survival as a traditional people while uniting the community and broader public to protect these inherent rights. The nuclear industry proposes moving the lethal waste across the country by truck and train to Yucca Mountain, the heart of Newe Segobia/Western Shoshone Nation, and the traditional Council is actively resisting this plan.

Dine Bidziil Coalition
Navajo Reservation, Arizona
Dine Bidziil Coalition is an association of 23 Navajo grassroots organizations and 12 non-Navajo organizations committed to building permanent, cohesive grassroots advocacy for issues pertaining to environmental and social justice, education of traditional ecological knowledge, preservation of sacred cultural sites and preservation of water rights. The grant was used for the Dine Bidziil Coalition's Leesoii Dooda (No Uranium) campaign conference on July 19, 2003.

Eastern Navajo Uranium Workers
Navajo Reservation, New Mexico
Eastern Navajo Uranium Workers work with Navajo families contaminated by uranium. Eastern Navajo Uranium Workers work to help those affected by returning offerings back to Mother Earth in a Navajo traditional ceremony to help ease the discomforts they have been left to deal with on a daily basis. Traditional herbs and offerings will used during this course of at least a two day ceremony; it will be for all who have suffered and died from radiation related illnesses and have died in uranium mines, thus enabling harmony to return back to the surface of our Mother Earth.

Eastern Navajo Dine Against Uranium Mining—Concerned Citizens of T'iists'ooz Ndeeshgizh
Navajo Reservation, New Mexico
ENDAUM-CCT is a grassroots campaign representing our Dine people of the Eastern Navajo Agency from communities of Crownpoint and Churchrock, NM. The communities are fighting to stop HRI's in-situ uranium mine operation from destroying the groundwater in the region, and endangering health and safety in years to come. The mining company has significant connections with the Bush administration. ENDAUM-CCT continues to gain momentum in convincing their community and Navajo nation government that any short-term economic benefits from the mines would not our weigh long-term economic, environmental and cultural destruction.

Environmental Justice Foundation
Skull Valley Reservation, Utah
The Environmental Justice Foundation is opposing Private Fuel Storage's nuclear waste dump proposal for the Skull Valley Indian Reservation. Private Fuel Storage has been stalled until late 2004. Funding also supported regional work to clean up radioactive tailings piles and to protect sacred grounds.

Eyak Preservation Council
Native Community of Eyak, Alaska
Eyak Preservation Council (EPC) works to protect the inherent rights of culture, heritage, language and ancestral lands needed to preserve and restore the Eyak tribe's continued existence as an independently recognized Alaska tribe nation. The primary goal is to preserve all 17 million acres of the Copper River Delta watershed. EPC's methods for preserving Indigenous rights through ecological protection and sustainable economic development. This is a grassroots organization that leverages policy and other resources for larger environmental needs.

The Gitigaaning Project
Bad River Reservation, Wisconsin
The Gitigaaning Project (git-tee-GAH-ning) addresses outcomes relating to health, education, service, and economic opportunity, through the restoration and development of the Bad River Band's ancestral gardens and other activities. The project works to resore traditional agriculture and gardens to the community while strengthening traditional knowledge of nutrition and food.

The Gwich'in Steering Committee
Fairbanks, Alaska
The Gwich'in Steering Committee was formed in 1988 in response to an aggressive push for development in the heartland of Gwich'in culture, the Arctic National Wildlife Refuge. Gwich'in dependence on caribou today is comparable to the Plains Indians and the buffalo and, according to the International Covenant on Human Rights, they have the inherent right to live their subsistence way of life. They are working to remind its supporters that their subsistence way of life is a basic tribal and human rights issue.

Honor the Earth Buffalo Project
Minneapolis, Minnesota
For the past several years, Honor the Earth has worked tirelessly to oppose the destruction of the Yellowstone buffalo herd and to support grassroots buffalo restoration initiatives. We have organized and involved the community in forums and hearings, and written petitions, tribal resolutions and letters to the National Park Service to advocate an end to Yellowstone buffalo kill. We have also granted funds both to end the killing and to rebuild the pte oyate, or buffalo nation. Honor the Earth plans to complete a needs assessment of grassroots buffalo restoration projects and compile useful information, articles and publications throughout the evaluation to refine its strategy and spread awareness about buffalo restoration issues.

Indigenous Environmental Network (IEN)
Bemidji, Minnesota
IEN is an alliance of grassroots indigenous peoples whose mission is to protect the sacredness of Mother Earth from contamination and exploitation by strengthening maintaining and respecting the traditional teachings and the natural laws. IEN realizes there is a need for community leaders to be well trained in specialized areas, so they designed a project to train grassroots indigenous leaders and youth in the following: Community Organizing, Conflict Resolution, Youth Empowerment and Leadership.

Lakota Action Network
Pine Ridge Reservation, South Dakota
Lakota Action Network is an online resource empowering Lakota people and allies to take action on critical issues affecting land, treaty, environmental & human rights in Lakota and surrounding communities. LAN makes it easy for people to become online activists, speak out and mobilize on behalf of pertinent issues of the day. LAN works with youth on leadership development by connecting them to leaders, elders and organizations in the movement for social change. The grant was used for their 1st Annual Lakota Youth Gathering.

Little White Buffalo Project
Rapid City, South Dakota
This program offers two level-1 Lakota language classes, cultural arts and craft activities, and occasional cultural educational workshops to Rapid City youths and adults on a daily basis. Their current goals include working on enhancing the resource center and building the infrastructure, educating youth and adults with the Lakota culture and language, providing incentives to all that are involved with the project, initiating activities for youth to express themselves (verbally, artistically, etc.) and building relationships within the community.

Maine Indian Basketmakers Alliance
Penobscot Nation, Maine
The Maine Indian Basketmakers Alliance was formed in 1993 by Wabanaki basket makers to preserve the ancient traditions of ash and sweet grass basketry. At its formation, MIBA's members were extremely concerned that their ancient art form was in danger of being lost. Seventy five percent of the original membership was older than age 50. Since then, 17 of the original 55 founding members have passed on. Of the 38 founding members who survive, the average age is now 63. In its short existence, MIBA has more than doubled the number of Wabanaki basket makers to 115 with an average age of 43. Funds support Artist-in-Residence programs, community basketry workshops, as well as host demonstrations and exhibits at the new Wabanaki Arts Center.

Na Kupuna a me Na Kako'o O Halawa
Honolulu, Hawaii
Na Kupuna a me Na Kako'o O Halawa (The Elders & Helpers of Halawa) is a native Hawaiian grassroots initiative to care for and protect the land in Halawa Valley, O'ahu, considered to be the sacred site of Papahanamoku, Mother Earth, who gave birth to the Hawaiian Islands. The group is focusing their efforts on protecting two sacred sites in the Valley, native plants and other cultural resources.

The Native American Community Board (NACB)
Yankton Sioux Reservation, South Dakota
Over the next three years, NACB will address long-term hunger, traditional ways of life, and indigenous food source preservation. The organization will assist people on the Yankton Sioux Reservation to preserve indigenous food sources before they become extinct. By working with elders in the community, the program will help young people to acquire traditional knowledge and skills necessary for practicing and preserving customs.

Native Coalition for the Cultural Restoration of Mt. Shasta & Medicine Lake (NCCRMSML)
Mount Shasta, California
In August of 1999, a coalition of tribes petitioned the National Register of Historic Places to recognize the Medicine Lake Caldera (an oval crater within the highlands) as a Traditional Cultural District. The Medicine Lake Highlands, northeast of Mt. Shasta, are sacred to the Pit River, Modoc, Shasta, Karuk, and Wintu, and are threatened by geothermal energy development. The current energy crisis in California makes Medicine Lake an urgent site for protection. The tribes consider any drilling to be a desecration of the sacred ground, in addition to the fact that the nearly 100 foot tall plant would be a domineering visual presence and source of noise pollution. Ironically, the energy generated by this Calpine facility would come from California and would be subsidized by the California Energy Commission but most of the power will be sold out of state.

Picuris Mine Relief Project
Picuris Pueblo, New Mexico
The Picuris Mine Relief Project is fighting an industrial mica mine and mill that are negatively impacting the culture, environment, and well-being of the Picuris People of New Mexico. If the mine is allowed to continue with its planned expansion, further destruction of traditional clay pits will result. The Project is using legal and activist means to stop the mine.

Pimicikamak Cree Nation
Cross Lake, Manitoba
The Pimicikamak Cree Nation is conducting targeted education and outreach to Native communities and their allies to build opposition against the expansion of hydropower on Native lands. Manitoba Hydro sells about 60% of its power domestically, and about 40% to the US, most of that to Xcel Energy. It is generated from a hydroelectric mega-project built in the 1970s. The project harms the environment and the Cree people on whose land it was built. There is considerable pressure to expand this project now, without correcting existing harms. The Pimicikamak Cree Nation's present educational outreach initiatives are aimed at organizations that work on environmental, social justice and energy issues.

Pine Ridge Reservation Project
Pine Ridge Reservation, South Dakota
Honor the Earth is engaged in two wind energy projects on Pine Ridge reservation in South Dakota – one to power KILI Radio Station and one for the White Plume Tiospaye Community Center. This campaign forwards an alternative energy vision for the future. By supporting the construction of small-scale wind turbines in Indian Country, we are promoting tribal energy self-reliance that does not destroy Mother Earth but honors what she provides. For tribes who are currently connected to a large energy grid, or those who want to be connected, the development of local wind, solar, and other clean and safe alternative energy provide not only a mechanism for displacing dirty energy (nuclear, coal, mega-dams, oil and gas), but also respects the role of Indigenous Peoples as leaders in the movement for a safe and sustainable world.

SAGE Council
Albuquerque, New Mexico
The SAGE Council has been fighting to preserve the Petroglyphs since 1996. The Petroglyph National Monument holds over 25,000 ancient Native American rock etchings and is a sacred site to the local tribes who still conduct religious practices there. Land developer John Black and Mayor Martin Chavez are attempting to build a $70 million dollar freeway through the Monument in order to provide access to the Quail Ranch, a 6,700-acre housing development. Funds will be used to do outreach to the Pueblo elders in order to protect the Petroglyph National Monument from being desecrated by the Paseo Del Norte and Unser Blvd. road extensions, and to build a permanent people of color-led community organization.

Traditional Native American Farmers Association (TNAFA)
Santa Fe, New Mexico
TNAFA's work for the revitalization of traditional Native agriculture will contribute to stabilizing native communities in three ways: (1) offering economic opportunities for self sufficiency through sustainable natural and cultural resource development; (2) rebuilding a means for cultural transmission while reclaiming damaged Eco and social systems; (3) creating a healthy organic food supply while restoring plant and animal diversity to native lands.

Tsyunhehkwa Center
Oneida Reservation, Wisconsin
Tsyunhehkwa (joo-henk-qwa), is an innovative and inspirational Native agricultural project, which plays a pivotal role in the reintroduction of high quality, organically- grown foods that will ensure a healthier and more fulfilling life for the Onyoa^a k, or Oneida Nation. Their agricultural components cover most of their 83 acres. With 32 acres dedicated for pasture, they can maintain up to 45 grass-fed cattle. They plant over 28 acres of crops on a rotational basis, including clobber, grass, oats, and Heirloom White Corn.

Waadookodaading
Lac Courte O'rielles Reservation, Wisconsin
Waadookodaading, or The Place Where We Help Each Other, mission is to create fluent speakers of the Ojibwe language who are able to meet the challenges of our rapidly changing world, on the Lac Courte Orielles reservation. The fledgling school now has 23 students and is the premiere grassroots Ojibwe language immersion school in the region.

Western Shoshone Horse Defense
Western Shoshone Territory, Nevada
For the past three decades, Carrie and Mary Dann have been the backbone of Western Shoshone resistance in stopping the theft of their land and in opposing the Yucca Mountain Nuclear Waste Repository. In September 2002, over 200 head of cattle were taken and in February 2003, the Department of Interior, through its Bureau of Land Management (BLM), forcibly seized over 500 hundred horses. While the government has charged the Dann sisters with illegal overgrazing because they refuse to pay grazing fees for using "federal lands," the Danns argue that the land is theirs as it always has been and will remain. Carrie Dann states, "Our land is like our mother. My people have always lived here and we will die as a nation without our land."

Youth Emerging Leadership Project
Saskatoon, Saskatchewan, Canada
The Iskwewak Program is aimed specifically to meet the needs of urban, aboriginal females at risk between the sages of 16-30 in the city of Saskatoon. The program provides them with the labor market skills and career planning information needed to be a better prepared workforce in response to the changing demographics and have a more diverse view of the world of work and the different career paths there are. The Iskwewak Program's structure is based on the concept of the Medicine Wheel. All aspects of the whole person are holistically addressed - physical, emotional, mental and spiritual. Initially the program will operate one evening and during the weekends. This program will teach the girls skills of personal and community responsibility and leadership development. The young women will spend time developing new skills in exciting work places such as the Indigenous Peoples Program at the University of Saskatchewan.