ONAP - Success Stories 2007

Office of Native American Programs (ONAP) - Success Stories 2007

December 19, 2007 - White Eagle, Oklahoma: The Southern Plains Office of Native American Programs is proud to be a part of the Grand Opening of the Clyde Warrior Memorial Multi-Purpose Facility, an ICDBG-funded project, built on lands owned and occupied by the Ponca Tribe of Oklahoma. [image: ClydeWarriorCtr.] The facility was built as a depiction of the tribe?s former roundhouse used for all kinds of tribal activities in years gone by. The facility is named for Clyde Warrior, a Ponca Indian activist who lived from 1939-1968 and was one of the founders of the National Indian Youth Council. The multi-purpose building will house a library, a media center including computers and videos, a multi-generational classroom, a conference room, a kitchen, and private cubicles for meetings with individuals and/or families. The facility is a key element of the strategic plan for the Ponca Tribe to strengthen the ability of the Tribal government to provide for the safety, health, social, cultural, and economic needsof its members.

July 18, 2007 - Red Rock, Oklahoma: Otoe Tribal Elder Activity Center - A ribbon [photo: Otoe Activity Center]

cutting ceremony was held to open the new Elder Activity Center on the Otoe-Missouria tribal campus in Red Rock, Oklahoma. The facility was funded in part by an ICDBG grant from the Southern Plains Office of Native American Programs. Tribal elders, staff and tribal council members celebrated the opening of the long-awaited facility which houses a spacious dining room, kitchen, multipurpose activity area, classroom, meeting area and offices for senior program administration. The back porch is covered and overlooks a very pretty pond area and is furnished with rocking chairs for the elders to sit and enjoy the peacefulness. Senior programs include promoting proper nutrition, socialization and respite services for the growing elderly population.

The San Carlos Apache Housing Authority in Arizona has successfully implemented drug prevention activities to promote a safer environment in its housing subdivisions. Revised policies require eviction of residents who engage in illegal drug and gang related activity. Residents received training on how to recognize illegal drug and gang related activity and are required to sign a notice stating that they understand the housing authority's policies regarding such behavior. Another successful measure was to hire a full-time security officer. The security officer reviews complaints, coordinates with tribal police, and implements crime prevention activities with youth, such as a cultural exchange program with the Navajo Tribe. The Housing Authority also received a grant from the Boys and Girls Club to carry out youth activities. These positive steps represent a commitment both to the Indian housing programs and to the community members.

[Photo: Clinic] In October 2006, the Navajo Nation Community Development Block Grant program held ceremonies and dedicated a new 13,025 square-foot health care clinic in Tohajeelii, New Mexico. The clinic was funded by HUD's ICDBG program, with matching funds from the State of New Mexico, and USDA's Rural Development. The new clinic was sorely needed in this rural community that faces high poverty and unemployment rates.

[Photo: New Home] The Pyramid Lake Housing Authority in Nevada recently constructed 10 new units using IHBG funds. The project consists of two, three-bedroom and eight, four-bedroom homes. The units are larger in size to accommodate larger families.

The Yupiit of Andreafski and the Algaaciq Native Village, two Alaska Native tribes, combined Indian Community Development Block Grant funds with other leveraged sources for the construction of a piped water and sewer system, which serves14 new homes built with Indian Housing Block Grant funds. The communities' location on fragile tundra and the health hazards associated with hauling water and human waste were reasons that the community made development of piped water and sewer a priority.

The Lac du Flambeau Chippewa Community Wellness Center was completed in May 2006, funded in part by an Indian Community Development Block Grant awarded in 2003. The physical fitness facilities in the 20,392 square-foot building will serve the low and moderate-income members of the Lac du Flambeau Band, located in Wisconsin.

[Photo: Well House] The Sokoagon Chippewa Tribe (WI) successfully completed a water and sewer project, which included a $500,000 ICDBG award in FY 2003. The Tribe constructed a well and pump house to supply the Mole Lake Reservation with water, and, installed: 6,464 LF of sewer force main; 2,893 LF of sewer service main; and, 2,538 LF of sewer service line. Twenty-eight (28) homes were connected to sand filters; and, 434 LF of water force main and 586 LF of water service line were installed. Two tribal program buildings and a church were connected to water. Some of the positive outcomes are: the protection of Rice Lake and wild rice beds, a source of food for Tribal Members; effectively treated wastewater; and, an improved community water system making the drinking water more reliable and safer. The Total Project cost $667,108.

[Photo: Cuspes Park] In 2005, the Cuspes Park project ( pronounced "jus-bez) developed by the Pleasant Point Reservation Housing Authority of the Pleasant Point Passamaquoddy Tribe in Perry, ME was placed into service. The development consists of 28 new single-family houses with garages and is the first Housing Authority housing to be financed with Low-Income Housing Tax Credit (LIHTC) equity. In addition to the LIHTCs, financing also includes loans from USDA Rural Development and HUD Title VI Loan Guarantee Program and an Affordable Housing Program grant from the Federal Home Loan Bank of Boston. Other partners supporting the project include the IHS, BIA and EPA. All units are occupied by Pleasant Point Passamaquoddy families.

In 2005, the Squaxin Island Tribe in Washington financed the construction of 26 units of single-family and duplex housing in its Slocum Ridge Development. Anchor Bank financed a $2,184,000 loan, secured by a Title VI guarantee, and the State of Washington provided a $425,000 grant.

In April 2006, the Northwestern Band of Shoshone Housing Authority celebrated the completion of Project So-So-Goi (Those Who Walk) Meadows. The housing project includes 10, low-rent units. Funding came from the Indian Housing Block Grant Program, Utah's Rural Collaborative, NWB Economic Development Corporation, the Enterprise Foundation, HUD HOME funds, the Indian Community Development Block Grant program and the Federal Home Loan Bank of Utah.

In 2006, the Nez Perce Tribe in Idaho opened a new subdivision on its reservation, Sundown Estates. Nez Perce Tribal Housing used a Section 184 guaranteed loan for construction of the 20-unit subdivision.

The Sac and Fox Nation of Oklahoma held a grand opening for a Learning Center funded partially with Indian Community Development Block Grant funds in May 2006.

The Chippewa Cree in 2006 opened a new Wellness Center on the Rocky Boy's reservation in Montana. The Center was constructed with funds from several entities, including the Indian Health Service and the Indian Community Development Block Grant program. The state-of-the-art facility contains a wide variety of exercise equipment, an Olympic-sized swimming pool, and a double basketball court. The Tribe was proud to create a facility where families can play and get fit together.

In 2006, the Sisseton-Wahpeton Tribe completed a 10,000-square-foot Tribal Health Fitness Center funded largely with an Indian Community Development Block Grant awarded in 2003. This facility houses the Tribal Diabetes Prevention and Treatment Program. The primary beneficiaries of the new facility are low- to moderate-income tribal members with diabetes (approximately 600). Activities planned for the facility include a wide range of physical fitness activities, dietary training and health/fitness counseling.

On the Hawaiian island of Oahu, 33 single-family homes for low-income Native Hawaiians were constructed with assistance from the Native Hawaiian Housing Block Grant. Housing construction employed the self-help method, whereby low-income Native Hawaiians received credit towards the purchase price of their homes through sweat equity contributions. Homebuyers realized a savings of at least 40 percent through this program.