FUNDS AVAILABLE TO SUPPORT MASCOT CHANGEOVER AND UPDATED CURRICULA

Michigan’s public and private K-12 schools, colleges, universities, and local units of government are invited to submit proposals to the Native American Heritage Fund (NAHF) for funding to defray the costs of projects that promote positive relationships and accurate information about the history and role of Michigan’s Indian tribes and Native Americans in the state.

These may include changing or revising curricula or improving program development, replacing or revising mascots or imagery that might be considered offensive to Native Americans, and replacing or revising government seals or images in public spaces. Nonprofit organizations that are undertaking a project on behalf of a K-12 school, college, university, or local unit of government are also eligible to apply for NAHF funding.

“We are anticipating another gratifying year of funding by the Native American Heritage Fund,” said Jamie Stuck, NAHF Board Chairperson and Nottawaseppi Huron Band of the Potawatomi (NHBP) Tribal Council Chairperson.

Information and applications are available at nahfund.com, and are due to the NAHF Board by Friday, Oct. 9, 2020, at 5 p.m. by email to Calhoun County Administrator/Controller Kelli Scott at kdscott@calhouncountymi.gov or 315 West Green Street, Marshall, MI 49068.

“Past recipients in the last two grant cycles have shown the positive impact that the fund can have on communities across the state, especially in the areas of positive Native American curricula and programming in some of the state’s post-secondary institutions, and replacing offensive mascots and imagery in schools and communities,” Stuck said.

Approved in 2016 as part of the Second Amendment to the Tribal-State Gaming Compact between NHBP and the state of Michigan, the NAHF allocates a portion of NHBP’s annual state revenue sharing payment to the fund.

The NAHF Board is composed of NHBP Tribal Council Chairperson Jamie Stuck and Vice Chairperson Dorie Rios, Grand Traverse Band of Ottawa and Chippewa Vice Chair Kimberly Vargo, Sault Ste. Marie Tribe of Chippewa Indians Citizen Elizabeth Kinnart, and the Michigan Dept. of Civil Rights Tribal Liaison/Native American Specialist Melissa Kiesewetter.

For questions regarding the 2020 NAHF application process, please contact Calhoun County Administrator/Controller Kelli Scott at 269.841.6853.

For media inquiries, please contact Communications Manager Katie Houston at 269.704.8314 or katie.houston@nhbp-nsn.gov.

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About The Native American Heritage Fund

The NAHF was established in 2016 as part of the Second Amendment to the Tribal-State Gaming Compact between the Nottawaseppi Huron Band of the Potawatomi (NHBP) and the State of Michigan. The amendment allowed for a portion of NHBP’s annual state revenue sharing payment to be deposited into the NAHF.

The fund serves to promote positive relationships between public and private K-12 schools, colleges, universities, local units of government and Michigan’s federally recognized Native American Tribes. The NAHF provides resources to help improve curricula and educational resources related to Michigan Indian history, as well as to replace or revise mascots and imagery that may be deemed as offensive to or inaccurately conveying the culture and values of Native Americans.

For more information visit: nahfund.com.