First Nations Development Institute

As part of our Fortifying Our Forests project, First Nations is presenting a hands-on webinar about funding opportunities for land return, restoration, and management objectives. The webinar will walk through what to expect when applying for the USDA Forest Service’s Community Forest and Open Space Conservation Program, what’s needed to make a robust application, and how to use geospatial data to determine eligibility and changes in landscapes of interest. The webinar will be Thursday, September 12, 2024, at 1 pm MT. Register: https://bit.ly/3MvLi1x

We are now accepting applications under our Stewarding Native Lands program to support the development of tribal co-stewardship agreements on National grasslands. First Nations expects to award six grants of up to $125,000 each to tribes located in the Northern Great Plains. Learn more and apply here by September 16, 2024: https://bit.ly/3Zdt5xd

We want to express our heartfelt gratitude to all who joined us at the Exploring Native Justice Convening at our headquarters in Longmont. Participants brought their perspectives from across multiple sectors, exploring our collective responsibility and opportunity to create a more just and humane world. We trust that the conversations that took place will further inform the ongoing research, resulting in approaches and actions that lessen the burdens for our young people and our future generations. First Nations thanks everyone for their time, energy, and commitment to this important work.

TOMORROW, 9/5: Join us for a new webinar! In this first installment of First Nations’ Tribal Co-Stewardship and Co-Management Webinar Series, Native American Rights Fund (NARF) fellow Noah Lee (Ho-Chunk Nation) will provide an overview of the development of the Sovereign-To-Sovereign Cooperative Agreements Repository and the types of resources that can be found within the site. The goal of this database is to effectively consolidate the large variety of information and resources within this field of cooperative agreements to address common goals in land, water, and other environmental stewardship between Tribal Nations and other sovereigns. The webinar will be on Thursday, September 5, 2024, 1 pm MT. Register: https://bit.ly/3Mubutp

Apply Now for the Northern Great Plains Young Natural Resource Professionals Cohort! First Nations is launching a Young Natural Resource Professionals Cohort to encourage peer-to-peer learning, foster leadership skills, and enhance technical knowledge. The first cohort is open to 15 young tribal natural resource professionals in the Northern Great Plains. The cohort includes a $50,000 tribal grant to lead a conservation-focused project. Learn more and apply here by September 12, 2024: https://bit.ly/4ebOZp0

Don't forget! Eligible Tribes and Native-led nonprofits interested in the U.S. Forest Service's Tribal Access to Emerging Private Markets for Forest Resilience or Climate Mitigation opportunity are encouraged to join us for our Community Navigator office hours. Learn more and get your questions answered next Wednesday, September 4. Register now: https://bit.ly/3zYAtC4

First Nations is happy to share that the Indian Pueblo Entrepreneur Complex, part of First Nations’ community partner Indian Pueblo Cultural Center, will open its doors on September 5, 2024. Through the new complex, IPCC will serve as a catalyst to self-determination by providing resources, training, and information in a supportive and innovative entrepreneurial community. Individuals seeking to nurture their entrepreneurial journey and elevate their culinary and business endeavors are encouraged to learn more and apply: https://bit.ly/3ApIQXp

First Nations continues to build capacity to meet our strategic goals in serving Native communities through advocacy, financial support, and knowledge sharing. We’re excited to share the following career opportunities: 🟠 Individual Giving Assistant — New! 🟠 Program Officer, California Tribal Fund – New! 🟠 Director of Human Resources 🟠 Program Officer, Stewarding Native Lands 🟠 Lead Grants Development Officer Learn more and apply: https://bit.ly/3SayQGM

The Request for Proposals for the 2025 U.S. Forest Service Landscape Scale Restoration grant opportunity is open now through December 16, 2024, for federally recognized tribes and Alaska Native corporations. Funding objectives include reducing wildfire risk; improving fish and wildlife habitats; maintaining or improving water quality; and mitigating invasive plants, insects, and disease. Access the RFP: https://bit.ly/4fPXMyl Through our Fortifying Our Forests efforts, First Nations is providing technical assistance and small grants to tribes to engage in this funding opportunity. Learn more: https://bit.ly/3WSq6rd

This month, members of our Stewarding Native Lands team and the film crew from Waters Media, LLC, were in Lewiston and Kamiah, Idaho, and at the Nez Perce Fisheries Department. The crew captured footage and interviews of the Nez Perce Tribe’s efforts to restore and preserve the culturally significant Pacific lamprey. First Nations Senior Program Officer Leiloni Begaye (Diné) said the team is planning to share the film at First Nations’ Food Sovereignty Summit in the fall. The film crew is making one of the latest First Nations’ mini-documentaries showcasing tribal stewardship practices that are protecting natural resources essential to the culture and sustainability of Native communities: https://bit.ly/3SXQCxi