First Nations Receives Grant to Help Fund Indigenous-Led Environmental Justice Efforts

Published February 1, 2019

LONGMONT, Colo. —  First Nations Development Institute (First Nations) has received a $200,000 grant from the Broad Reach Fund of the Maine Community Foundation. The funds will be used to provide support to Native American-led community efforts pursuing environmental justice, with a particular emphasis on combating abusive extractive industry practices occurring in Native communites.

“For too long, outsiders have dictated the use of Native Amercan assets. We are happy to be able to provide some support to community-based efforts looking to ensure Native communities can control development processes locally, especially when it comes to resource extraction,” noted Michael E. Roberts, First Nations’ President & CEO.

Previously, in late 2017, with the generous support of the Broad Reach Fund, First Nations was able to provide $100,000 in anti-extraction rapid-response grants. The organizations that received support included the following:

• Diné C.A.R.E. (Citizens Against Ruining our Environment) Durango, Colorado – $20,000
• Gwich’in Steering Committee, Fairbanks, Alaska – $20,000
• The Pawnee Nation of Oklahoma, Pawnee, Oklahoma – $20,000
• Menominee Indian Tribe of Wisconsin, Keshena, Wisconsin – $15,000
• Columbia River Inter-Tribal Fish Commission, Portland, Oregon – $20,000
• Native Village of Venetie Tribal Government, Venetie, Alaska – $4,000
• Native Organizers Alliance, Seattle, Washington – $1,000

First Nations welcomes expressions of interest for the new grants from Native American communities and organizations that are engaged in grassroots and community-based efforts to preserve and protect Native community access and control of natural resources, with a particualr emphasis on combating extractive industry practices occurring in Native communites. Grants generally will range from $15,000 to $20,000 each.