Northland Foundation launches Indigenous-led grant program

Revitalizing Ojibwe language, teaching traditional storytelling and educating young people on treaty history are all efforts that northern Minnesota's tribal communities often rely on volunteers to carry out.

A new Duluth-based Northland Foundation grant program, Maada'ookiing, aims to finance some of that volunteer work.

Built so that representatives from area tribal nations - not foundation staff - decide who is awarded money, Maada'ookiing translates to "distribution" in Ojibwe. Grants of up to $2,500 will be awarded three times a year to individuals or informal groups starting May 1. The idea is to award grassroots efforts as opposed to nonprofits and ensure that proposals are viewed from an Indigenous perspective. This first round, $25,000 has been set aside to award to people within the foundation's service area.

https://www.startribune.com/northland-foundation-launches-indigenous-led-grant-program/600047871/