FUNDS AVAILABLE TO SUPPORT PROJECTS THAT PROMOTE POSITIVE RELATIONSHIPS WITH MICHIGAN’S INDIAN TRIBES

Michigan’s public and private K-12 schools, colleges, universities, and local units of government are now eligible for funding through the Native American Heritage Fund’s (NAHF) 2020 grant cycle 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.

Projects 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 excited to announce the 2020 grant cycle for the Native American Heritage Fund,” said NAHF Board
Chairperson Jamie Stuck, who also serves as the Nottawaseppi Huron Band of the Potawatomi (NHBP) Tribal Council Chairperson. “The recipients over the last two grant cycles have been prime examples of the positive impact that the fund can have on communities across the state of Michigan, from funding the development of Native American curricula and programming in some of the state’s post-secondary institutions, to aiding in the replacement of offensive mascots and imagery in schools and communities.”

Application information is available online at nahfund.com. Applications are now available on the NAHF website and are due to the NAHF Board by Friday, Oct. 9, 2020, at 5 p.m. Please send applications via mail to Calhoun County Administrator/Controller Kelli Scott at 315 West Green Street, Marshall, MI 49068 or via email to kdscott@calhouncountymi.gov.

The NAHF, which was approved in 2016 as part of the Second Amendment to the Tribal-State Gaming Compact
between NHBP and the state of Michigan, 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 NHBP Director of Communications and Public Relations Judi Henckel at
269.704.8361 or judith.henckel@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