�FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE:
Wednesday, August 20, 2008
Contact: Kenneth J. Wolfe
(202) 401-9215
Grants Announced for Alaska Tribes and Native Organizations
The Administration for Children and Families (ACF), announced the award of $5.1 million in grants to 21 tribal organizations in Alaska to promote economic self sufficiency and preserve Native languages and culture. The announcement coincided with site visits in Alaska by Quanah Crossland Stamps, Commissioner of the Administration for Native Americans (ANA).
“These grant awards promote the Bush Administration’s goal of fostering the development of stable, diversified local economies and economic activities within the Native American communities,” Commissioner Stamps said.
Commissioner Stamps visited six ANA projects in Chickaloon, Kodiak and Anchorage, to view first-hand ongoing project activities and meet with community leaders. Currently, ANA has 14 projects in Alaska totaling $8.8 million for social and economic development strategies, Native language preservation and maintenance and environmental regulatory enhancement. Today’s $5.1 million award announcement brings the total ANA funding for Alaska Native projects to $13.9 million.
The grants announced in Alaska are as follows:
Social and Economic Development Strategies Grants
- $281,518 for one year to Old Harbor Tribal Council to partner with the research and technology department of the Alutiiq Pride Shellfish Hatchery.
- $560,713 for three years to the Spruce Island Development Corporation to develop a business through which day visitors will come from Kodiak by boat to tour the Quzinkie waterfront, learning about plant and animal life and the local population.
- $730,040 for three years to Kawerak, Inc. to develop interpretive programs and displays. This project will train local people to educate local youth and visitors on the culture, arts and science of the Beringia region.
Alaska Social and Economic Development Grants
- $125,680 for one year to the Native Village of Napaimute to prepare lots adjacent to the newly constructed airstrip for commercial lease by installing water and septic tanks.
- $92,500 for one year to the Nanwalek IRA Council to establish a digital tribal enrollment system to enable documentation of enrollment actions, production of reports and the provision of membership cards.
- $146,579 for one year to Chugachmiut to identify health and social service program needs in four Alaska Native villages.
- $130,000 for a one year project to the Native Village of Anaktuvuk Pass to reopen the community’s washeteria, the first tribally-owned business.
- $150,000 for one year to the St. George Traditional Council to stimulate economic development on St. George Island.
- $283,342 for two years to the Chilkat Indian Village to strengthen tribal organizational and management capacity.
- $111,233 for one year to the Qutekcak Native Tribe to increase participation in tribal community events.
Native Language Preservation and Maintenance Grants
- $383,571 for two years to Chugachmiut to document the fluent speakers of the Sugpiaq language.
- $101,435 for one year to the Gulkana Village Council to preserve and revitalize the Ahtna Athabascan culture and language through the development of a comprehensive plan by Tribal elders.
- $223,474 for two years to the Alaska Native Heritage Center to preserve the endangered Dena’ina language.
- $114,848 for a one year project to the Native Village of Afognak to develop an early childhood Kodiak Sugpiaq/Alutiiq language curriculum.
- $99,700 for one year to the Telida Village Council to develop a comprehensive development plan to preserve the Upper Kuskokwim Athabascan language.
- $117,132 for one year to the Goldbelt Heritage Foundation to support Tlingit language teachers.
- $70,858 for a one year project to the Sitka Tribe of Alaska to conduct a language survey to obtain current data on the status of the Tlingit language in Sitka, Alaska.
Native American Healthy Marriage Initiative Grant
- $445,768 for three years to the Mt. Sanford Tribal Consortium to provide healthy relationship skills training to 30 youth and 20 young adults and increase public awareness on the value of healthy marriage and responsible fatherhood.
Environment Regulatory Enhancement Grants
- $212,298 for two years to the Aleut Community of St. Paul Island to develop four environmental ordinances.
- $390,918 for two years to the Sitka Tribe of Alaska to encourage better environmental stewardship and introduce the possibility of environmental careers to its youth.
- $284,954 for two years to the Central Council of Tlingit and Haida Indian Tribes to plan and implement a training program which will increase member communities’ ability to manage their natural resources.
Several of the awards fund multi-year projects for which continuation grants will be determined annually.
For more information on the Administration for Native Americans, visit: http://www.acf.hhs.gov/programs/ana/.
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