WASHINGTON — In addition to news already covered during the previous week, each Sunday Native News Online provides an overview of activity in Washington, D.C. that impacts Indian Country during the past week.
Funding for Living Languages Grants Now Available
The Indian Affairs Office of Indian Economic Development announced on Friday it is soliciting applications for its Living Languages Grant Program.
The program enables federally recognized American Indian and Alaska Native tribal entities, as listed in 86 FR 7554, to support Tribal programs that document Native languages or build tribal capacity to create or expand language preservation programs.
Want more Native News? Get the free daily newsletter today.
“Preserving Native languages is fundamental to preserving all aspects of Tribal cultures and traditions,” Assistant Secretary – Indian Affairs Bryan Newland said. “The Living Languages Grant Program can help sustain Indigenous knowledge that can only be transmitted through tribal languages. I encourage tribes interested in developing their language preservation programs to apply under this solicitation.”
Native language preservation has for many years been cited by Indigenous leaders as important to their self-preservation, self-determination and sovereignty. Native preservation and language revitalization is a critical priority because languages go to the heart of a tribe’s unique cultural identities, traditions, spiritual beliefs and self-governance.
Proposals must be submitted to Grants.gov by March 7, 2022. The solicitation and details regarding the application can be found in the Federal Register here and at Grants.Gov. The office is seeking to fund about 15 to 60 grants ranging in value from approximately $25,000 to $200,000.
While only federally recognized Tribes or Tribal Organizations may apply for LLGP grants, grantees may select or retain for-profit or non-profit Tribal Organizations to perform a grant’s scope of work for grant funding to support Tribal programs to document Native languages or build Tribal capacity to create or expand language preservation programs.
Questions about this solicitation may be addressed to Mr. Dennis Wilson, Division of Economic Development Grants Manager, Office of Indian Economic Development - Indian Affairs, U.S. Department of the Interior, at 505-917-3235 or [email protected].
Indigenous Peoples Exchange and Economic Cooperation Act Introduced
New legislation was introduced on Monday by Rep. Norma Torres (D-CA) and Rep. Tom Cole (R-OK), who is co-chair of the Congressional Native American Caucus, that would expand trade and investment opportunities for Native American tribes and Indigenous People in the Western Hemisphere overall.
This act will promote cross-investments and export opportunities between Native American tribes and Indigenous People in throughout the Western Hemisphere. Specifically, this is meant to encourage collaboration in enterprises that include sustainable natural resource management, agricultural development, timber, fish, and other seafood, energy, and art production.
This act is also intended to facilitate the development of` supply chains specifically for products produced by Native American tribes and Indigenous Peoples.
Indian Health Service Sets Tribal Consultation to Discuss Allocation of New Funds
The Indian Health Service (IHS) sent tribal leaders a letter to inform them of tribal consultation in an effort to begin tribal consultation regarding the allocation of new funds.
The funds are $210 million from the American Rescue Plan Act, $3.5 billion from Infrastructure Investment and Jobs Act, and $2.35 billion that is currently under consideration in Congress in the Build Back Better Act.
A variety of needs will be addressed through the use of these funds including public health workforce and activities, sanitation facility construction, health care facility construction and maintenance, behavioral health and many other things.
The Tribal consultation will take place virtually on December 14, 2021, 1:00 pm to 3:00 pm EST. This consultation can be joined by clicking here.
Written comments are due December 23, 2021 and can be emailed to [email protected].
Infrastructure Bill’s Investments to Improved Tribal Access to Clean Water Praised
Sen. Michael Bennet (D-CO) and tribal leaders celebrated funding signed into law as a part of the Infrastructure Investment and Jobs Act (IIJA) that will improve Tribal access to clean water.
The provisions in the IIJA largely mirror the Tribal Access to Clean Water Act introduced by Bennet and U.S. Senators Martin Heinrich (D-N.M.), John Hickenlooper (D-Colo.), and Elizabeth Warren (D-Mass.).
After President Joe Biden signed the IIJA into law last month, the Initiative on Universal Access to Clean Water for Tribal Communities released a report to the administration, federal agencies, and Tribes rapidly deploy IIJA resources to the places they are needed most.
“Clean water is a fundamental human right, but far too many Tribal communities and Alaska Native villages currently lack access to it,” Bennet said. “Every day, we must continue working to ensure all Tribal communities have access to safe, clean water.”
"Our country's investment in infrastructure must be a priority including the funding necessary to provide access to basic clean water to Native American tribes” Manuel Heart, Chairman of the Ute Mountain Ute Tribe of Colorado and of the Ten Tribes Partnership said. "We appreciate Senator Bennet’s leadership on this issue with his Tribal Access to Clean Water Act and his efforts to help secure this funding in the infrastructure bill. This work is an essential element of the federal trust responsibility to sovereign tribal Nations and communities and a step toward a more racially just and equitable nation."
“This is a historic moment. We are happy to see this large infusion of funding that will provide access to clean water for Tribes; the funding of Indian Health Service’s water and sanitation projects for water storage projects; and for rural water projects. All of these projects will assist Indian Country. We thank Senator Bennet for his leadership on these issues.” Southern Ute Indian Tribe Chairman Melvin J. Baker said.
The IIJA provides $3.5 billion for the Indian Health Service (IHS) Sanitation Facilities Construction program, which is consistent with the $3.4 billion provided to IHS in the Tribal Access to Clean Water Act to address needs for tribal sanitation facilities and services.
Neely Bardwell (descendant of the Little Traverse Bay Bands of Odawa Indians), a Michigan State University student who is interning with Native News Online, contributed to these briefs.
More Stories Like This
Native News Weekly (August 25, 2024): D.C. BriefsUS Presidents in Their Own Words Concerning American Indians
Native News Weekly (August 4, 2024): D.C. Briefs
Photographs of the Homecoming of the Three Fires Powwow
Peggy Flanagan on Minnesota Shootings: "We can’t become intimidated by this act of terrorism.”
Help us tell the stories that could save Native languages and food traditions
At a critical moment for Indian Country, Native News Online is embarking on our most ambitious reporting project yet: "Cultivating Culture," a three-year investigation into two forces shaping Native community survival—food sovereignty and language revitalization.
The devastating impact of COVID-19 accelerated the loss of Native elders and with them, irreplaceable cultural knowledge. Yet across tribal communities, innovative leaders are fighting back, reclaiming traditional food systems and breathing new life into Native languages. These aren't just cultural preservation efforts—they're powerful pathways to community health, healing, and resilience.
Our dedicated reporting team will spend three years documenting these stories through on-the-ground reporting in 18 tribal communities, producing over 200 in-depth stories, 18 podcast episodes, and multimedia content that amplifies Indigenous voices. We'll show policymakers, funders, and allies how cultural restoration directly impacts physical and mental wellness while celebrating successful models of sovereignty and self-determination.
This isn't corporate media parachuting into Indian Country for a quick story. This is sustained, relationship-based journalism by Native reporters who understand these communities. It's "Warrior Journalism"—fearless reporting that serves the 5.5 million readers who depend on us for news that mainstream media often ignores.
We need your help right now. While we've secured partial funding, we're still $450,000 short of our three-year budget. Our immediate goal is $25,000 this month to keep this critical work moving forward—funding reporter salaries, travel to remote communities, photography, and the deep reporting these stories deserve.
Every dollar directly supports Indigenous journalists telling Indigenous stories. Whether it's $5 or $50, your contribution ensures these vital narratives of resilience, innovation, and hope don't disappear into silence.
The stakes couldn't be higher. Native languages are being lost at an alarming rate. Food insecurity plagues many tribal communities. But solutions are emerging, and these stories need to be told.
Support independent Native journalism. Fund the stories that matter.
Levi Rickert (Potawatomi), Editor & Publisher
