Grants go toward indigenous projects

The Northland Foundation announced this month the individuals and projects being awarded Maada’ookiing grants. Maada’ookiing (“the distribution” in Ojibwe) is a foundation program designed to strengthen relationships within the indigenous community, build partnerships with Native nations, and offer support for community members to expand capacity in northeast Minnesota.

A grant opportunity is being offered three times per year, awarding up to $2,500 per grant for tribal citizens, descendants, or those having kinship ties or affiliation to indigenous communities within the foundation’s geographic service area.

The next application deadline is Feb. 15. Those who are interested in exploring applying for a grant can visit the Northland Foundation’s website and contact Cayla Bellanger DeGroat by email at [email protected] or phone at (218) 730-3387 with questions.

Fall grant winners from the area include:

• Bonnie Fohrenkam, $2,500 to hold weekly beadwork classes for community members on the Fond du Lac Band of Lake Superior Chippewa Reservation, instructing participants on traditional and contemporary beadwork techniques.

• Natalie Smith, $2,500 to hold activities to support the Native American recovery community in the Duluth and Cloquet areas.

• Moira Villiard: $2,500 to support the implementation of Ojibwemowin signage and historical markers at the Chief Buffalo Memorial walls by Gichi-Ode Akiing in downtown Duluth.