Rapid City, South Dakota

Defenders of the Black Hills is a group of volunteers without racial or tribal boundaries working to ensure that the United States government upholds the Fort Laramie Treaties of 1851 and 1868. Recent successful campaigns included halting construction of a proposed shooting range, the noise from which would have intruded inappropriately upon and desecrated Bear Butte. Building on that success, Defenders has now begun to campaign for the designation of Bear Butte as a National Historic Site, thus protecting it further from such depredations. Defenders of the Black Hills will use funds for general support.

Eastern Navajo Dine Against Uranium Mining

Crownpoint, New Mexico

The Eastern Navajo Dine Against Uranium Mining has fought against the re-opening of uranium mines on the Navajo Nation for the past 10 years. While the technology to mine is different than that used 40 years ago, it still proposes a threat to the community water supplies, which 15,000 people have access to. ENDAUM will use funds for general support and also begin exploring the feasibility of renewable energy resources, primarily solar and wind energies.

Green Green Water Film

In the early 1970s, Manitoba Hydro put in a series of seven dams on the Nelson and Churchill River systems in Manitoba, Canada. Lauded as “clean energy” from the north, Manitoba Hydro joined with neighboring Ontario Hydro and Hydro Quebec in selling that power to the U.S. Five of the twelve dams are on the Nelson River, the river that runs through Cross Lake on its way to Hudson Bay. The first set of dams has already destroyed 3.3 million acres of land. Rivers have been turned to toxic reservoirs and are laced with methyl-mercury. Fish from the Nelson River, a staple of the Cree, have been contaminated and pregnant women, elders and children must severely limit their intake of fish or risk dire health consequences. Large tracts of boreal forest have been flooded displacing and destroying animal habitat. Green Green Water is a documentary film about hydroelectric power and its impact on Indigenous communities in northern Manitoba. Currently they have a 13 minute trailer that is being used to fundraise and as an educational piece. Aquaries Media will use funds to complete the actual film.

Gwich'in Steering Committee

Fairbanks, Alaska

The Gwich'in Steering Committee works to protect the calving and nursery grounds of the Sacred Place Where Life Begins (the Arctic National Wildlife Refuge). The Arctic National Wildlife Refuge has the last intact Arctic and Sub Arctic ecosystems in North America. Perfectly timed with the arrival of the Porcupine Caribou Herd calves are the highly nutritious sedge grasses that the caribou eat before their migration to the wintering grounds. The Gwich'in work together yet separately with the environmental groups who are very supportive of their human rights stand. They also work with tribes and the faith community in order to ensure their message is heard from all directions. They are currently seeking out a public relations firm to help them reach the media. The Gwich'in Steering Committee will use funds for their human rights education and awareness campaign.

Homeland: Four Portraits of Native Action Film

Homeland: Four Portraits of Native Action features the stories of the Gwich'in of Alaska, the Northern Cheyenne of Montana, the Eastern Navajo of New Mexico and the Penobscot of Maine and their passionate struggles to save their lands from environmental degradation, preserve sovereignty and ensure the cultural survival of their people. The national community engagement campaign for the film will include eight screenings/discussions on and near the reservations where the film was shot in four states; the distribution of film-based organizing tools to Indigenous and environmental groups; and training and technical assistance. The Katahdin Foundation will use funds for outreach and community engagement for the film Homeland.

Indigenous Environmental Network

Bemidji, Minnesota

The Indigenous Environmental Network (IEN) has an Indigenous Mining Campaign Project that is working on oil and gas issues within Indian country. This IMC Project is closely connected to IEN's Native Energy and Climate Justice work. As part of the energy program element of IEN's work, Clayton Thomas-Muller, IEN oil and gas organizer within the IMC Project has arranged to take a delegation of representatives of tribal community-based groups that are affected by the federal government's energy policy to Washington, DC. This is scheduled for April 2-6, 2005. IEN has a partnership with the Natural Resources Defense Council, NRDC, and the Nuclear Information and Resource Service, NIRS, in our work on energy policy. The funds will provide financial assistance to IEN to cover transportation and accommodation expenses for this delegation.

Indigenous People's Council on Biocolonialism

Nixon, Nevada

The Indigenous People's Council on Biocolonialism (IPCB) provides leadership and resources to Indigenous peoples concerned about the potential negative impact of genetic technologies in their lives. The IPCB monitors and evaluates the complex linkages between biotechnology, intellectual property rights, and the forces of globalization in relation to Indigenous peoples rights and concerns. IPCB's primary focus is to develop resources, information and tools to help Indigenous peoples address these issues from their own cultural perspectives and on their own terms. Their proposed project involves asserting Indigenous peoples voices into the international debates on: The proposed “International Regime on Access to Genetic Resources and Benefit Sharing” within the UN Convention and Biological Diversity (CBD); The protection of Indigenous knowledge and genetic resources currently taking place in the World Intellectual Property Organization; and the potential social, economic, and cultural impacts of Genetic Use Restriction Technologies (commonly known as Terminator Technologies) on Indigenous communities in the upcoming CBD Working Group on 8(j). They will do this through creation of educational materials for Indigenous peoples and participation at the United Nations. Indigenous People's Council on Biocolonialism will use funds for their “Asserting Rights- Local to Global: Strengthening Indigenous community voices in the international debates” project.

Midwest Treaty Network

Eau Claire, Wisconsin

The Nationhood Gathering will be held on June 10-12, 2005, at the Mole Lake Sokaogon Chippewa Community, near Crandon, Wisconsin. It will be a historic opportunity to celebrate the sovereignty of all First Nations in the western Great Lakes region, to educate and empower youth, and to build grassroots unity among Native peoples for cultural and environmental survival. The Gathering will focus on how tribal sovereignty and treaty rights can protect Native lands, cultures and communities in the 21st century. It will be centered on the rebuilding of Indigenous nationhood, rooted in a historic sovereignty that existed long before federal recognition, and the importance of youth learning the history and culture of their nation.

Mohave Cultural Preservation Program

Parker, Arizona

Mohave Cultural Preservation Program (MCCP) was formed by Elders of Mohave descent from the Colorado River Indian Tribes to protect their culture, health and environment that are threatened by many factors including pollution. MCCP members were key leaders of the successful fight to protect Ward Valley and the Colorado River from the proposed Ward Valley nuclear waste dump. The goal of the Defending the Sacred projects is to educate Indigenous communities and the general public about the issues and historic struggle and victory at Ward Valley, about the lessons learned from that struggle and victory and to inspire people from all walks of life so they too can be empowered to take action to defend their health, environment and culture. The Mohave Cultural Preservation Program will use funds for the Defending the Sacred Ward Valley Film Project.

Peñasco, New Mexico

For nearly forty years, the largest mica mine west of the Mississippi River has destroyed earth considered sacred to the Picuris People, and heavily impacted the tribe's pottery tradition, which depends upon the clay pits located at the site. For over eight years, the Pueblo has formally fought the mine using legal and public advocacy means. Members of the Picuris Pueblo have been supportive of efforts to stop the mining and return the lands to the tribe, including involvement in public protests. The Picuris Pueblo will use funds for general support for public meetings, communications costs and site visits.

SAGE Council

Albuquerque, New Mexico

SAGE Council is a people of color-led community organization building self-determination and relationships through organizing, education and leadership development. They are committed to impacting the social, economic and political decisions affecting our communities, and using the teachings of ancestors to prepare for the future generations.

SAGE Council has been on the forefront of the battle to protect our cultural resources while encouraging Albuquerque to utilize our tax dollars to enhance the overall quality of life for all citizens. SAGE Council will use project support funds to set up a tribal consultation team to complete a Tribal Consultation Process to protect the Petroglyph National Monument from being destroyed..

Western Shoshone Defense Project

Crescent Valley, Nevada

The Western Shoshone Defense Project is an Indigenous-led, nonprofit organization whose constituency is the Western Shoshone living within eleven federally recognized tribal communities and the Western Shoshone living outside those communities. The WSDP is guided by the traditional leadership of Carrie Dann, an advisory board of seven Western Shoshone from five of the Western Shoshone communities, and Western Shoshone tribal and traditional leaders.

West Plains, Missouri

A project of the Amonsoquath Tribe, Circle of Hope works to bring people together and preserve Native American Spirituality, Education, Culture, Traditional and Social Structure, provide advisory support for Native American issues, and provide for the collection, preservation, exhibition and interpretive of natural and cultural history of Native people. Additionally, they work to provide for the production of cultural, educational special events, including but not limited to festivals, musical presentations, films, art, educational programming, special celebrations and events. They also work to provide resources for Native Americans and the community and to provide a facility for the sale and distribution of Native arts and crafts.

The Amonsoquath Tribe felt there was a need to set up a center for Native Americans so that they could come together and share our knowledge and preserve our way of life. They want to be the focal point of tribes and individuals so we can share a common goal to teach our native ways, preserve our ways and share a togetherness in order to develop a unity for a common resolve.

Blackfeet Community College

Blackfeet Reservation, Montana

The Blackfeet Reservation has experienced a traumatic environmental impact on its pristine lands. The trauma has had a devastating impact on the native plants of the Blackfeet Reservation. A thousand different species of plants become extinct on a daily basis. Half of the Blackfeet people use native plants on a daily basis as medicine and they are harvested from contaminated lands. Contaminants, education and a short growing season (12 weeks during the summer) are the main reasons the college needs a working greenhouse. The green house project built the Quonset green house last year, but ran out of funds to complete the interior of the green house. The small grant they are asking for will help develop part of the project in order to start plants in the green house as soon as possible. The Blackfeet Community College will use the funds for their greenhouse project to develop the cooling system and insert a sprinkler system.

Brave Heart Society

Yankton Sioux Reservation, South Dakota

The Traditional Women's Society's mission is to rebuild a strong camp circle for their people, strong with their beliefs to help the children and families move away from the violence and oppression that has taken over their people. For centuries, the Ihanktonwan (Yankton) have been known for raising Ree corn (called Padani). This corn was dried and became a main nutrient to put in soups. In late years, the seed has almost died out completely, and they have become dependent on a lone tribal member who lives in Kansas who raises a small garden and brings his corn to sell. The amount is not enough to serve the community, which is a concern to Brave Heart Society. They propose to bring the raising of native corn home to their people, among other medicine plants that accompany the growing of corn. Currently, they also buy dried corn from a neighboring relative tribe the Winnebagos. Brave Heart Society will use the funds to develop a garden that will be used to grow traditional Ree corn.

Eyak Preservation Council

Cordova, Alaska

The Eyak Preservation Council (EPC) believes that it is vitally important to document these traditional source and uses to preserve Eyak culture. As a resource intended for young people, students, community members, advocates, and even adversaries, EPC's wild plants archive seeks to document the living and intimate
connection between both the Eyak people and the Copper River Delta to ensure that the stories and uses of traditional plants are passed along to future
generations. EPC will use project funds to hire a part-time Native Outreach Coordinator. This person will conduct outreach, personal interviews and research in order to collect and compile an archive (both written and visual) of uses of culturally significant plants specific to the Indigenous people of the Copper River Delta.

Gitiganing Restoration Project

Bad River Reservation, Wisconsin

The Gitiganing Project in the Bad River community enables tribal members to actualize a healthy and sustainable lifestyle through hands-on traditional gardening and by creating personal relationships with the plants that nourish them. They propose a Medicinal Plant and Meditation Path that would highlight plants that are of traditional importance to the Ojibwe of their region. Through this path, they will secure their goals of protecting the native plants along the Bad River, help prevent diabetes, and provide exercise opportunities to community members. The Gitiganing Project will use funds to build a Medicinal Plant and Meditation Path.

Gwich'in Steering Committee

Fairbanks, Alaska

The Gwich'in Steering Committee was formed in 1988 in response to increasing threats to open the coastal plain of the Arctic National Wildlife Refuge to leasing for oil. Over the past 15 years, the Steering Committee staff, board, and volunteers have succeeded at a grassroots level to educate the public and decision-makers on why the “coastal plain” of the Arctic Refuge must be permanently protected as wilderness. They feel strongly that a major part of their achievements are a direct result of the continuing wisdom and guidance provided to us by our elders. The Gwich'in people stand united in continued efforts to protect the area from oil and gas development. Gwich'in Steering Committee will use funds for general support.

Indigenous Revitalization School

Versailles, New York

The Indigenous Revitalization School (IRVS) is a private, non-governmental endeavor established to provide a favorable learning environment for the revitalization of the Indigenous, Ögwe'ö:weh, worldview with a focus on the Seneca Language, where families are nurtured by the guidance of traditionally versed elders whose first language is Seneca. This will be accomplished by teaming with fluent Elders to interview and record their knowledge of the natural world. These lessons will be produced into portable audio, such as CDs or MP3s, for use in homes. The Elders will be recruited and trained for immersion sessions involving family units. The school and reference library will be accessible as a learning center. Indigenous Revitalization School will use funds for general support.

Indigenous Stewardship Model

Pine Ridge Reservation, South Dakota

The Indigenous Stewardship Model is a comprehensive and dynamic program to re-establish and promote the traditional methods of Lakota ecology and land stewardship. It is representative of efforts by Indigenous peoples worldwide to revitalize their own unique knowledge systems and to replace the intrusive and culturally inappropriate systems imposed upon them by dominant cultures. The primary cause of the degradation of the environment and culture of the Pine Ridge Reservation is the system of land management imposed upon Tribes by the federal government. Among the nearly 300 reservation-based Indian Tribes in the U.S. few, if any, are able to manage their natural resources in a manner that reflects and promotes the traditional values and lifestyles of tribal members. As such, the primary goal of the Stewardship model is to revive, record, and implement the ecological values and practices of the traditional Lakota Knowledge System, which draws upon the extensive knowledge of local plants and animals that the Lakota have accumulated over time through spiritual relationships with the natural world and through their subsistence lifeways in hunting and gathering. Indigenous Stewardship Model will use funds for general support.

Indigenous Women's Network

Austin, Texas

IWN was created to support the self-determination of Indigenous women, families, communities, and Nations in the Americas and the Pacific Basin. In the process of promoting self-determination, IWN supports public education and advocacy for the revitalization of our languages and culture, elimination of all forms of oppression, the attainment of self-sufficiency, and the protection of Mother Earth for future generations.

Known for their inspiring, strategic, pro-active and affirming events and publications that reach Indigenous women activists around the world, IWN provides the organizational structure, land base and political platform that allows Indigenous women to participate in the political discussions pertinent to their community. By networking Indigenous women throughout the Americas and the Pacific Basin, women are able to share their knowledge, learn from the women elders of the Americas as well as award winning activists, artists and educators. IWN will use funds for project support for their Indigenous Women's Circle project.

Lummi Nation

As a leader in self-governance, the Lummi Nation is committed to a future of economic opportunity, improving the health and well being of their families and building productive partnerships with outside communities. The Lummi Nation will use funds for project support for their Grandmother's Project NW.

OMEICH-Organizacion de Medicos Indegenas del Estado de Chiapas

Chiapas, Mexico

The Organization of Mayan Doctors is working to recover and protect Indigenous knowledge of health and well-being. The group has a regional center in San Cristobal de las Casas that includes a museum, a medicinal garden and a pharmacy, but most of its work is conducted in the outlying Indigenous communities where they sponsor workshops and trainings in Mayan medicine. The group has partnered with Indigenous Video to create educational tools for use by the community, focusing on the art of midwifery. OMEICH will use funds for project support for the recovery, strengthening, and development of traditional Indigenous Mayan midwives

Peta Wakan Tipi

Saint Paul, Minnesota

Peta Wakan Tipi (Lakota for Sacred Fire Lodge) is one of Minnesota's oldest (20 years) American Indian-established and run nonprofit organizations, having provided culturally appropriate housing and support services for recovering American Indian people in the Twin Cities since 1986. Their mission is to help American Indian people achieve economic, emotional and cultural balance.

In order to ensure, propagate, and share priceless Indigenous foods and medicines medicines for the next seven generations, Peta Wakan Tipi's current project will expand community knowledge of and access to healthy Indigenous foods and medicines. Peta Wakan Tipi will use funds for project support for the Dream of Wild Health Program.

Piegan Institute

Blackfeet Reservation, Montana

The primary problem among many tribes, including the Blackfeet, is the loss of their tribal language base. The Piegan Institute is an 18 year old private, nonprofit serving the Blackfeet Indian Reservation, and countless other tribal communities to research, promote, and preserve Native American languages. The goal of the Piegan Institute is to keep the Nizipuhwahsin (Real Speak) School program in operation. The school, in its tenth year, has produced 14 eighth grade graduates, with the majority now high achieving high school students in public high schools. The school teaches the Blackfeet Language to 36 children on a full-day basis, 187 days per school year. All of the 36 students in the school are well on their way to becoming proficient speakers of the Blackfeet language in the same fashion as previous graduates. In a continuing quest to increase the number of fluent speakers of the Blackfeet language, the school has embarked on a long term program of addressing the need for new speakers. Piegan Institute will use funds in general support.

Ponca Tribe of Nebraska

Lincoln, Nebraska

Structurally unlike any other Tribe in Nebraska and similarly unique from nearly every other Tribe in the nation, the Ponca Tribe has embarked upon a vigorous program of educating and lobbying state and federal legislator officials to ensure that its membership receive all the benefits and programs that the status as a federally recognized Tribe of Indians implies. The Ponca Tribe of Nebraska is one of the most successful Tribes in Indian Country when it comes to effective lobbying and passage of favorable legislations and administrative policies. The Ponca Tribe of Nebraska will use funds for project support for the Ponca Native Garden Project.

Red Cliff Land Recovery Project

Red Cliff Reservation, Wisconsin

Red Cliff Land Recovery Project focuses on raising the awareness of their community as to the need for urgent action in regards to land recovery. It is for this reason that they are presently working toward separating themselves from the tribal political tangle and becoming a separate non-profit land trust. This will allow for them to move toward reaching their goals of land recovery, land protection, and supporting the traditional subsistence practices of their tribal members through sustainable agricultural practices. Since January 2004, the RCLRP and representatives from NRCS and the Indian Agriculture Program have worked to develop a community garden project. This effort brings elders together with youth, the local public and the farm, and brings organic vegetables and fruits to our community members. A part of this initiative is to produce native heirloom seeds to be cultivated in their soil. In implementing their community garden project they hope to bring an indigenous native seed source to their community in order to enhance and support their traditional Ojibwe life ways. Red Cliff Land Recovery Project will use funds in general support for their native heirloom seed recovery project.

Sicangu Way of Life

Whitewood, South Dakota

The Sicangu Way of Life Project (SWL), founded in 2000, is committed to re-establishing and strengthening sustainable communities grounded in Lakota thought and philosophy. The work of SWL began as discussions with community members on the Rosebud Sioux Reservation in the early 1990s and was borne of the Emerging Activist Leadership Program of the Indigenous Women's Network (IWN). Sicangu Way of Life is the only project on the Rosebud Reservation currently working to restore Lakota women's midwifery legacy, including the much-needed culturally appropriate birth education course. SWL is also the first project on the reservation community to offer workshops on Traditional Plants and Healing, which have not only sparked interest among hundreds of community members throughout the region, but have also been the catalyst to formalize and expand the Sicangu Lakota Herbal Cooperative. Sicangu Way of Life will use funds for general support.

Sicangu Way of Life

Whitewood, South Dakota

In partnership with the Bear Butte Preservation Task Force, Sicangu Way of Life will conduct a Sacred Sites Medicinal Plants Survey in the Black Hills. There are 7 major Sacred Sites in the Black Hills that hold cultural significance to the Lakota and regional tribes. They will target these seven sites in a medicinal plants survey in order to assess the cultural and medicinal resources at these sites. The information gathered will be used to help protect these areas from further development and provide access by Lakota people for cultural activities, including harvesting rights provided under the 1868 Treaty. Sicangu Way of Life will use funds for project support.

Standing Rock Diabetes Program

Fort Yates, North Dakota

The Standing Rock Diabetes Program (SRDP) focuses on providing general education on diabetes, exercise, and nutrition to prevent diabetes and the complications that it causes. SRDP offers nutrition and fitness education and conducts community outreach. Standing Rock Diabetes Program will use funds for project support for the Native Communities Garden Project, which involves a seed bank of Indigenous plant varieties such as corn, beans and squash. In addition to feeding people healthy foods, the garden serves to educate people about traditional American Indian gardening methods.

United Tribes Technical College

Bismarck, North Dakota

United Tribes Technical College (UTTC), through its Land Grant Extension programs,
strives to provide leadership in the areas of wellness and nutrition for the Tribal Colleges that they serve. They work to advance UTTC's body of knowledge in human nutrition and basic natural sciences to address a high priority concern of tribal health and nutrition education necessary to reduce the incidence of Type 2 diabetes. UTTC will use funds for project support for their Land Grant Extension programs.

Waadookodaading

Hayward, Wisconsin

The Anishinaabe (people) of Lac Courte Oreilles are experiencing a tremendous loss of the Ojibwe language as more first language speakers are dying. In 1999, only 15 - 20 individuals spoke Ojibwe fluently. All of these people were above the age of 70. There are now only 10-15 remaining fluent speakers. The tribal government and community offer very little, if any, language revitalization projects to meet the need of adequately sustaining the language (i.e. producing fluent Ojibwe speakers), an essential element of the Lac Courte Ojibwe culture, history, and future. Waadookodaading is currently striving to create fluent Ojibwe language speakers through education of preschool to 4th grade students. Along with operating a school and developing curricula, other projects include master-apprentice language teaching teams, parental involvement, seasonal language camps and an Ojibwe immersion language class for parents, staff and community members. Waadookodaading will use funds for a one week summer camp.

White Earth Land Recovery Project

White Earth Reservation, Minnesota

The White Earth Land Recovery Project works to facilitate recovery of the original land base of the White Earth Indian Reservation, while preserving and restoring traditional practices of sound land stewardship, language fluency, community development, and strengthening our spiritual and cultural heritage.

The White Earth Land Recovery Project achieves these goals through its many projects, including but not limited to alternative energy, education, forest stewardship, and wild rice campaign. The White Earth Land Recovery Project will use funds for project support for Manoomin Ogitchidaag (Defending the Rice).

White Earth Language Pilot Project

White Earth Reservation, Minnesota

The White Earth Language Pilot Project will develop a family-based immersion program, language tables, and the Wadiswan project aimed at development of a full-scale language immersion program beginning with pre-school and kindergarten. The project anticipates matching these funds to create a larger program. The White Earth Language Pilot Project will use funds for general support.

Winter Center for Indigenous Traditions

Hanover, New Hampshire

Winter Center is an advocacy organization with a nucleus of Native board members, a strong network of Native people and families, and a growing resource base to aid the work in both Native and non-Native communities. Based in the Abenaki homeland of northern New England, they work with the Penobscot, Pessamaquoddy, Micmac, Malecite, Wampanoag, Narragansett, Nipmuc, Mohegan, Mohican and Hodenausanee peoples. They exist to strengthen Northeastern Native communities and protect sacred and traditional sites. In addition to this work, they are seeking to protect the health and culture by working with health care providers to educate on culturally appropriate care and are promoting youth and elder gatherings. Winter Center for Indigenous Traditions will use funds for general support.

Wolakota Foundation

Eagle Butte, South Dakota

Wolakota Foundation has held World Peace and Prayer Day in the four directions twice; around Turtle Island to the four directions and next circling Grandmother Earth, visiting four countries praying at their Sacred Sites, along with the Indigenous Nations that care for them. In 2001 they were in Ireland, 2002 in South Africa, 2003 Australia, 2004 in Japan and now they come back for a thank you. After this year, they will then pass on the 'baton', so to speak, to the global community to carry on their spiritual practices together in unison. Their prayers are for "all nations, all faiths, one prayer" to continue holding our Grandmother Earth in a visual and practical way to regain her health for our future generation's well being. This event in its 10th year is expected to draw 10,000 people and 42 tribal nations, including Indigenous people from the United States, South Africa, Ireland, New Zealand, Mexico, Japan and Brazil. Wolakota Foundation will use funds to pay for the campgrounds in South Dakota.

Nuclear Waste/Safe Clean Energy

Solar Energy International

Carbondale, Colorado

At the time of this award both sisters were still with us, however, a few weeks after the installation Mary Dann passed away. Carrie and Mary Dann are two Western Shoshone matriarchs opposing Bureau of Land Management (BLM) encroachment on their lands. Their struggles of sovereignty and environmental justice are intricately linked to issues of nuclear waste disposal, western mining laws and the taking of Native lands. For the past three decades, the Danns have been the backbone of Western Shoshone resistance in opposing the theft of their land and Nuclear Waste. The Dann ranch is run off a gas generator and no running water. These funds will be used to provide the Dann ranch with an alternative energy system that will guarantee their self-sufficiency while protecting the land.

Sustainable Nations Development Project

Trinidad, California

Sustainable Nations is a uniquely experienced and capable collaborative, composed of NativeSUN, Indigenous Environmental Network and Solar Energy International. The first year of this two-year program is focused on conducting a hands-on intensive training of Native American people in renewable energy systems, sustainable building with an emphasis on high-quality straw bale construction, and alternative on-site wastewater treatment techniques. The second year of their program is devoted to providing support to the training participants to pursue sustainable development technology implementation in their communities. This includes business development training, further technical training, apprenticeships, and mentoring to ensure the success of on-reservation small scale sustainable development technology businesses and projects. Recently they have expanded their program to offer program consultation services to tribes themselves, in response to having several tribally-employed planning directors and environmental directors apply for the program. Sustainable Nations Development Project will use the funds to support their biannual Native American Sustainable Development Technology Training and Development Program.

Native Youth

Arctic Indigenous Youth Alliance

Yellowknife, Northwest Territories - Canada

The Arctic Indigenous Youth Alliance (AIYA) was created in 2003 by two Indigenous youth, out of a concern for the type of development that was being pursued in the North. AIYA is comprised of Aboriginal and Northern youth from across the Northwest Territories. Their mandate is to raise awareness and educate on the potential impacts of the proposed Mackenzie Gas Project. The AIYA seeks to connect the vision and creativity of the youth with the wisdom of the Elders and to educate in areas of Traditional Knowledge and Elder's Teachings in relation to issues of development and globalization. Their work is also closely linked with raising awareness about climate change, as the Arctic is one of the most impacted areas on the planet. Arctic Indigenous Youth Alliance will use funds for general support.

Black Mesa Water Coalition

Flagstaff, Arizona..

A youth led inter-tribal and multi-cultural organization, BMWC supports the development of young leaders by building skills as well as providing a safe space for young leaders to discuss important environment, social, political, and cultural issues. Black Mesa Water Coalition will use funds for project support for the “Art N' Earth” Youth Training.

Chiapas Media Project

Danbury, Wisconsin

For almost a decade, members of the Chiapas Media Project (CMP) staff have toured the US and the world bringing the voices and stories told in Indigenous-made videos from Chiapas and Guerrero to wide audiences and public acclaim at universities and film festivals. Yet, very little outreach to Native communities in the US (one of CMP's goals) has taken place due primarily to a lack of funding and institutional support. In contrast to major universities, tribal colleges and organizations have few funds to devote to such work. The goal of the “Lakota-Anishinaabe Tour: Chiapas Media Project” is to intervene in the isolation of Native peoples north and south of the US-Mexico border. The tour would bring Paco Vazquez of the Chiapas Media Project to Native communities in South Dakota, Wisconsin, and Minnesota for a week of community conversations, interviews, and presentations of Indigenous-made videos from the states of Chiapas and Guerrero. Honor the Earth funds would be used for travel, meals, and housing; publicity materials; and stipends to a student videographers and Chiapas Media Project.

Dakota Thunder

Waubay, South Dakota

Dakota Thunder is an unincorporated authentic community-based grassroots organization providing positive identities and leadership skills for Dakota youth and young adults through traditional horsemanship on the Sisseton-Wahpeton Lake Traverse Reservation in South Dakota. On a reservation where there are few if any structured activities for young people and 90% of the children and teenagers have at least some involvement with the juvenile justice system prior to reaching their majority, Dakota Thunder provides critical services and a solid grounding in traditional Dakota life ways that give children the positive values they need to resist involvement in drugs, alcohol, and gang violence. Founded by elder Ken Seaboy and his nephew Alan Neilan, Dakota Thunder provides, free of any charge, traditional horsemanship training and structured leadership and cultural education based on traditional Dakota values and life ways. Dakota Thunder will use funds for their Horsemanship and Violence Prevention program.

Fourth World Rising

Minneapolis, Minnesota

Fourth World Rising is a training program whose mission is to identify and recruit newly emerging Indigenous Leaders and provide them with skills and experience that promote the human rights, self-determination and sovereignty of Indigenous Peoples'. The organization's primary purpose is to create change by assisting Indigenous Youth in connecting their local issues to the global struggles and victories of Indigenous Peoples, thereby assisting in the sustainability of the International Indigenous Movement as well as furthering Indigenous Peoples' inherent right to self-determination. Fourth World Rising was created in response to a need for Indigenous Youth to have the experiences, skills and training necessary in order to achieve meaningful and effective participation locally, nationally, and internationally. Fourth World Rising will use funds to send youth to the World Festival of Youth in Caracas, Venezuela.

Indigenous Environmental Network

Bemidji, Minnesota

Indigenous Environmental Network will use funds to send an Indigenous Environmental Network (IEN) Delegation to the International Indigenous Youth Conference (IIYC) June 17-21in Vancouver, BC-Canada.. The IEN Delegation consist of Native youth organizers who would be responsible to report back on the International work, campaigns, and development that IEN has been involved in, as well as facilitate workshops and present on panels during the IIYC Conference. The IIYC Conference is an extension of the national campaign work of IEN and the leadership of our Native youth in both the campaigns and international work is integral to the continual building of our human resources and the capacity of our Native Environment Justice movement.

Indigenous Youth Coalition of Pinon

Flagstaff, Arizona

Indigenous Youth Coalition of Pinon (IYCP), a project of the Seventh Generation Fund, is a grassroots youth-led organization that emerged in response for a need to give local youth a positive outlet while dealing with the many challenges/struggles they encounter in the community and society. It strives to provide young people with the tools and knowledge within the context of traditional Diné (Navajo) philosophy so they may be better prepared to deal with the many challenges and struggles that Indigenous Peoples face in today's surrounding society. IYCP advocates for sustainable development, Indigenous Peoples rights, youth empowerment, environmental justice and social justice. IYCP is made up of local youth group from the community if Pinon, AZ. This community is located in the center of the Navajo Nation, in an area known as Black Mesa. Black Mesa has been impacted and devastated by numerous Federal Indian policies, especially energy development. It has been a place with many controversial issues that ranges from environmental injustices to human rights violation from the US government and a transnational energy corporation known as Peabody Coal Company. These outside intervention have contributed to the social ills ranging from gang violence to diabetes high unemployment rates. Indigenous Youth Coalition of Pinon will use funds for their Weaving Project.

International Indian Treaty Council

San Francisco, California

In 1997, the International Indian Treaty Council (IITC) launched its Bay Area Indian Youth Mentorship Program to provide ongoing educational and community activism opportunities for high school and college-age Indian youth in the Bay Area and Northern California in order to empower future leaders. By addressing issues of environmental injustice and incomplete history curricula in public schools, the IITC hopes to reverse the tendency of education systems to perpetuate stereotypes that teach insensitivity and alienate Native youth. Moreover, environmental problems are often separated from historical events and the IITC wishes to raise awareness around the health hazards of mercury and its encroachment into the Bay Area river and lake systems. In 2004-2005, IITC's Mentorship Program will focus on “Truth in Education” through youth-developed curriculum and research and dissemination of the “Gold, Greed, and Genocide” video and study guide to dispel myths, combat racism in education (including racist school mascots) and present the California Gold Rush from a Native perspective. As well, IITC plans to continue their “Mercury, Health, and the Environmental Justice Community Education” program, which seeks to raise awareness, build coalitions, and push for media coverage of the abandoned gold mines and the leeching of mercury into the water. Participating youth will learn public speaking skills, campaign organizing, office management, research skills, networking, event coordination, and computer skills. Funds will be used as general support for IITC's Bay Area Indian Youth Mentorship Program and to continue their educational outreach, capacity building, leadership development within the areas of human rights and racial and environmental justice.

Native Lens

Seattle, Washington

The past hundred years of filmmaking have virtually ignored the true identity of Native people. Many damaging stereotypes have grown from Hollywood's image of the American Indian, and left Tribes without a voice. The Native American community in the Pacific Northwest represents a large portion of underserved youth and is particularly absent from the larger media making scene, yet their cultural traditions are rich with stories, images, and activism. Several tribes in the Washington area (Swinomish, Tulalip, Lummi, Muckleshoot, & Chehalis) contacted 911 Media Arts because they received technology grants designed to “wire the reservation.” They have received plenty of computers but no media training. Native Lens is dedicated to creating sustainable youth media programs that give Native youth the skills it takes to tell their own stories through digital media making. The program offers youth training in media literacy, video production, and digital storytelling, and empowers them to produce engaging and professional - caliber media on their own. 911 Media Arts Center will use funds for general support of the Native Lens project.

Native Youth Cultural Exchange

Shasta Lake, California

Native Youth Cultural Exchange (NYCE) takes Native youth on a journey with other Native youth and immerses them in a culturally focused program of sharing and learning. As the youth spend time with different Native communities they reflect on their own identity of being Native. This reflection has several positive effects: It develops an increased awareness of one's cultural identity; It builds greater appreciation for one's place, home and culture; It provides a clearer context of being Native in the present day; It reveals a greater realization of what the individual knows or does not know about their cultural ways and history. NYCE embodies a traditional model of intergenerational interaction that is illustrated in the Hawaiian metaphor of the Mo'o, the Lizard. The youth are the head of the Mo'o; they are the future, but they need the driving force of the adults who are the rear legs in order to move forward. The rear legs are given direction from the spine and the tail which are elders, culture and the past. When the adults follow the direction of the elders, they can push the youth forward into an appropriate direction. Native Youth Cultural Exchange will use funds for general support.

Lakota Action Network

Porcupine, South Dakota

Lakota Action Network's (LAN) mission is to create creative and strategic campaigns that work towards building and defending the Lakota Nation. These campaigns are designed to protect sacred sites, land, ecosystems, and Lakota way of life. LAN believes that they must both build and defend their nation in order to survive as a sovereign nation in the generations to come. LAN is a youth-led organization that brings together Lakota activists who have been working at a grassroots level in their community on issues ranging from health and substance abuse to treaty rights and community economic development. Using tactics such as non-violent direct action, media messaging, online campaigns, public education, community organizing, and guerrilla/street market movement building, LAN is currently carrying out three strategic campaigns: Black Hills Logging Campaign, Wind Powering the Lakota Nation Campaign, and Stop the Legalization of Alcohol Sales on Pine Ridge Campaign. Within these campaigns, LAN seeks to train and develop the next generation of youth leaders and to conduct educational outreach to youth aged 24 and under. Funds will be used as general support for LAN's youth leadership development.

Native Movement

Arctic Village, Alaska

Native Movement's actions and focuses stem from their vision of building strong and healthy Indigenous nations, while motivating the world's peoples toward balanced relations with each other and Mother Earth. Native Movement strives to raise awareness, advocate and take action in the protection of Indigenous Peoples' Rights. They are organizing tribes, organizations, and individuals--Native and non-Native--to work together to bring a peaceful and respectful resolution to subsistence issues in Alaska and to secure full recognition by State and Federal governments of Indigenous peoples' sovereignty. Their primary objectives are three-fold; the first of which is to raise awareness of the many threats to Alaska Native sovereignty and communities. These threats include the erosion of Alaska Native subsistence rights, the “regionalizing” of tribes, and the effects of energy development. Secondly, Native Movement endeavors to develop, encourage, and promote young leaders. Furthermore, Native Movement is working to develop educational curriculum that incorporates traditional values and tribal histories. Funds will be used as general support to maintain a basic working office, set up trainings, raise awareness, promote leadership development, and continue communications between tribes, individuals, and organizations (Native & non-Native). In general, funds will help Native Movement build a foundation of unity to protect Indigenous Peoples traditional and sustainable way of life, which is inseparably connected to our Mother Earth and all creation.

Owe Aku (Bring Back the Way)

Manderson, South Dakota

Owe Aku is a grassroots organization and its purpose is preservation and revitalization of Lakota culture and language. Owe Aku is engaged in cultural revitalization and preservation work through de-colonization training, historical grief and unresolved trauma training, land and environmental issues workshops, radio shows and public presentations. To combat the declining land base and the people's connection to the land, Owe Aku believes that they must reconnect the Oglala Lakota people to the sacred teachings of their ancestors through restoring star knowledge and the earth sacred sites of such a philosophy in order to provide a concrete connection between the people to the star nation as well as to sacred sites on earth. In the coming year, Owe Aku seeks to expand the training opportunities for Lakota Star Knowledge, especially for youth aged 16-30; to develop a youth leadership development training group, which will sponsor monthly trainings/gatherings; to sponsor the 12th Annual Lakota War Pony Races and the Children of the Red Earth Environmental Conference; to continue the fundraising and other development work for construction projects including a wind turbine, community house, and Kiza Park improvement; and to identify additional office space for Owe Aku. Funds will be used as general support Owe Aku's environmental and human rights work including workshops, mini-conferences, meetings, office supplies, stipends for organizers, travel costs, camping supplies, and other organizational costs.

Peta Wakan Tipi

St. Paul, Minnesota

Peta Wakan Tipi (Lakota for Sacred Fire Lodge) is one of Minnesota's oldest (20 years) American Indian-established and run nonprofit organizations, having provided culturally appropriate housing and support services for recovering American Indian people in the Twin Cities since 1986. Their mission is to help American Indian people achieve economic, emotional and cultural balance. Peta Wakan Tipi will use funds for project support for the Garden Warrior Apprenticeship program, which will foster American Indian seed-saving and community education.

Redwire Native Youth Media Society

Vancouver, British Columbia

Redwire Native Youth Media Society was formed in 1997 in response to the lack of Native youth voices in mainstream media, urban centers, and Native politics. Incorporated as a youth-led organization and dedicated to Native youth expression, Redwire publishes a quarterly magazine and promotes Native youth voices in the media. Redwire is also part of the International Indigenous Youth Conference (IIYC) June 17th -20th, 2005 secretariat, a partnership of grassroots Indigenous youth organizations working together to honor the invitation to host the next IIYC conference. A follow-up to the 2002 IIYC, next year's conference will build on the resolutions made in 2002, which assert their right to defend their self-determination, to defend peoples and nations against the adverse effects of globalization, and to advance rights to ancestral domains. The conference project is lead by Indigenous youth targeting other indigenous youth to promote wellness through active youth participation, and to address the social issues that affect indigenous peoples that we as youth inherit. The conference is an opportunity to build the capacity of indigenous youth all over to be involved in their communities and to proud of and share their cultural traditional practices.

The outcomes of the conference will be compiled with other submissions from indigenous youth delegates into an international Indigenous youth journal, Redwire Native Youth Media Society will do the production and distribution for the journal; delegates will come to agreement and inform a declaration/resolution to be presented by an indigenous youth at the 2006 World Urban Forum in Vancouver BC; continue to strengthen the international indigenous youth network through the web site and through the launch of an international indigenous youth committee body; and work with delegates present from the US and Latin America to work out the logistics of a regional indigenous youth network. Funds will be used to cover the costs for 2-3 Indigenous delegates from the colonial borders of the United States and speaker honorariums for the International Indigenous Youth Conference 2005.

SAGE Council

Albuquerque, New Mexico

For the past several years, SAGE Council has been working to protect a Native American sacred place of prayer from being destroyed by the construction of two new major freeways. Many young people have joined the SAGE Council, drawn to the organization because the community has relied on their cultural knowledge to strengthen their tenacity in which to continue the battle to protect the Petroglyph National Monument. While the youth have helped immensely with this organizing, the Council has been unable to spend as much time as they'd like breaking down the “science” of organizing. They would like to impart to the young activists the processes by which the Council has managed to stave off road development for so long. Specifically, they are interested in assisting young people to clearly understand how power analysis has been an integral part of how they've made strategic decisions about campaign targets, messaging, and direct actions.

The SAGE Council has to a certain degree mentored youth activists, as can be seen by the emergence of several youth organizers as leaders in the Albuquerque community, but the Council has been unable to formalize a mentoring program. Presently, the SAGE Council has about 7 young people in the age range of 17-24 who could benefit from a leadership development and organizing training, which would be invaluable component to all social justice efforts taking place in the Southwest. Funds will be used to organize three roundtable discussions around People of Color Justice issues, to host two political movie nights with discussion periods, to recruit, prepare and send young people to the Southwest Network for Environmental and Economic Justice Boarder Action in October 2005, and to complete other related work that fosters the development of engaged, intergenerational organizing.

Seventh Native American Generation

San Francisco, California

Seventh Native American Generation (SNAG) is a youth publication created and produced by indigenous people 26-years-old and younger residing in the San Francisco Bay Area. They are inclusive of all young people and accept submissions from throughout the world via their email. Their print edition is a 20-page, full-color, literary journal featuring art, personal essays, articles, and poetry created by indigenous young people. They have raised enough funds each year to publish three editions to date. SNAG provides the magazine free of charge to young people, and ask for donations of $3 to $5 per magazine at pow-wows and community events in order to raise money for the online edition, www.snagmagazine.com. The online edition will feature the elements found within the print publication, but will be updated with new material on a weekly basis. Funds will be used to produce a new edition of their print publication.

War Chief Canoe Club

La Conner, Washington

The War Chief Canoe Club was formed in 1999 with the vision of creating healthier lifestyles and promoting healthy living behavior among the youth, family, and community on the Swinomish Reservation in Washington. The canoe is a vehicle for cultural restoration, youth organizing, and development of youth leadership. The intent is to keep high-risk youth alcohol, drug and violence free for the duration of the program. The development of self-confidence, self-respect, physical fitness, nutrition, team building, cooperation, and strong social skills are positive outcome of the program, which promotes culture and sobriety and the passing on of the art of canoe racing so that the tradition will continue in future generations. Each year, the Club travels to approximately eight canoe races, and the thirty members of the Club range from seven years of age to 16 years. Funds will be used to cover the costs of travel including food, fuel, and incidental supplies.

White Earth Land Recovery Project

Ponsford, Minnesota

The mission of the White Earth Land Recovery Project (WELRP) is to facilitate recovery of the original land base of the White Earth Indian Reservation while preserving and restoring traditional practices of sound land stewardship, language fluency, community development, and strengthening spiritual and cultural heritage. WELRP is also engaged in youth leadership development, and with their Oshki Anishinaabeg program, they will build youth cultural and political knowledge through an after-school program for high-school students. Cultural teachings will include weekly programs and will be supplemented with youth attendance at organizing meetings and a national youth gathering in the summer of 2005. The program will also include a youth media project focusing on documentaries and other youth directed video projects. In addition, WELRP will co-sponsor a Native American Film and Video Festival in Winter/Spring 2005, featuring pre-eminent filmmakers as well as the work of local residents. Funds will be used as project support for implementing the Oshki Anishinaabeg program and the associated costs with weekly meetings, film projects, and cultural/educational teachings.