The Tiwahe Foundation will serve as a community foundation that will be a resource and intermediary for individuals, foundations and American Indians with a goal of increasing philanthropic dollars to American Indian causes in Minnesota.
NEWS
⊕ Tiwahe Foundation Announces American Indian Family Empowerment Grant Recipients
MINNEAPOLIS (February 19, 2013) The Tiwahe Foundation is honored to announce that at their Board meeting February 12, 2013 ten grants were awarded to Native American individuals in the Twin Cities seven county metro area through its American Indian Family Empowerment Program (AIFEP). This program awards $80,000-$100,000 annually to American Indian individuals and families seeking financial resources to achieve their goals, shape their future and make positive contributions to their community through three priority areas: Economic Self-sufficiency; Education and Cultural Connections.
Grants range from $500 to $2,500—enough to make a significant impact on grantees and the community and contributing to the self-determination of individuals. During the October grant round individuals received awards in the following focus areas:
• Education — 5 grants
• Economic Self-sufficiency — 4 grants
• Cultural Connections — 1 grant
Individuals receiving grants are from the White Earth Band of Ojibwe, Lower Sioux Indian Community, Turtle Mountain Band of Ojibwe, Navajo/Dine, Leech Lake Ojibwe, Wichita and Affiliated Tribes, Pueblo of Zuni & Turtle Mountain. AIFEP, strives to reverse the social, educational, and economic challenges facing Americans Indians by investing in human capital, skills, resources and cultural strengths that people possess that allow them to live healthy and productive lives, build strong relationships, and make meaningful contributions to their communities.
The Tiwahe Foundation grew out of a culturally responsive donor designated grant-making initiative, the American Indian Family Empowerment Program (AIFEP) founded in 1993, the inspiration of Markell Brooks of the Marbrook Foundation and supported by Marbrook, Westcliff, and Grotto Foundations. In 2009, the Tiwahe Foundation became the first-of-its-kind independent community foundation in the Twin Cities. Tiwahe, a Dakota word for family guides the work of the Foundation. “Ti” means dwelling, “wa” means snow, sacred or purity, and “he” means stands. Tiwahe is a sacred dwelling and represents the value of family. The Tiwahe Foundation is a resource for giving and strengthens American Indian communities by building capacity through leadership, culture, values and vision. For more information, visit tiwahefoundation.org
⊕ Tiwahe Foundation Announces
New Board Members
(February 25, 2013) Tiwahe Foundation announces the election of two new members to its Board of Directors: Andrew Adams III, Associate at Jacobson, Buffalo, Magnuson, Anderson & Hogen, P.C and Anna Ross, Executive Director at Bii Gii Wiin Community Development Loan Fund.
Anna and Andrew have diverse backgrounds and skills that will enhance our mission, vision and future work of the Foundation. We are honored to have their expertise and leadership on the Tiwahe Board of Directors.
Kelly Drummer, President and CEO
Justin Huenemann, Board Chair
Andrew Adams III, Associate at Jacobson, Buffalo, Magnuson, Anderson & Hogen, P.C.
“I‘m very excited to join the Tiwahe Foundation and look forward to assisting in furthering its goals of philanthropy and strengthening American Indian communities through leadership, culture, values, and vision.”
Andrew Adams III is an associate at Jacobson, Buffalo, Magnuson, Anderson & Hogen, P.C., in St. Paul, Minnesota. He is a citizen of the Muscogee (Creek) Nation. Andrew joined Jacobson Buffalo in 2010 after working in-house for a northern Wisconsin tribe for four years. Andrew regularly advises clients on a wide range of legal matters involving federal Indian law, gaming law, litigation, internet gaming law, contracts, business development, and transactions. Andrew graduated from the University of Wisconsin Law School in 2006 and the University of Michigan in 1996 (BA) and 1999 (MA). Andrew currently serves as Vice-Chief Justice of the Muscogee (Creek) Nation Supreme Court. He is the Deputy Chair of the Federal Bar Association Indian Law Section, Board Member of the Minnesota American Indian Bar Association, Board Member of the State Bar of Wisconsin Indian Law Section, and Board Member of the Native American Community Development Institute.
Anna Ross, Executive Director
Bii Gii Wiin Community Development Loan Fund
“I am so excited to be a part of such an innovative organization that is doing amazing things, changing lives and making an impact on Indian Country.”
Anna Ross is a proud member of the Turtle Mountain Band of Chippewa, born in Everett, WA and grew up on the Turtle Mountain Indian Reservation in Belcourt, ND. She serves as the Executive Director of the Bii Gii Wiin Community Development Loan Fund. Anna received her Bachelor of Arts Degree from Haskell Indian Nations University and her Master's Degree from the University of Kansas. Prior to joining Bii Gii Wiin CDLF, she served as the Executive Director of a Poverty Reduction program for her tribe for four years and went on to work at Turtle Mountain Community College (TMCC) as the Internal Operations Director assisting in the development of a Foundation for TMCC. She has served as a leader in her community on her local school board as well as chairman of the Tribal Scholarship board.
Anna moved to the Twin Cities area in 2011 to work with American Indian Community Development Corporation (AICDC) in their development of a Native Community Development Financial Institution (CDFI). Since she has been in the Twin Cities, she has wrote many successful grants for the CDFI as well as successfully acquired 501c3 non-profit status for the CDFI known as Bii Gii Wiin. Bii Gii Wiin means coming home, in Ojibwe, and its mission is to promote homeownership among Native American households throughout the State of Minnesota through the provision of development services and financial products and services. Currently Bii Gii Wiin provides homebuyer education, entrepreneurship, and financial education classes as well as one on one coaching and counseling.She says that being raised by her grandparents has given her a respect for the history of the Native community and being a mother has given her a vision for the possibilities of the future.
About Tiwahe Foundation
The Tiwahe Foundation was created to help renew the American Indian community through the Circle of Giving. This philosophy is grounded in American Indian tradition and the value of reciprocity, recognizing that all life is inter-related and giving benefits the giver as well as the receiver. The Tiwahe Foundation is a trusted community partner with an intimate understanding of issues that affect Native American people, as well as the role American Indian values, such as generosity, compassion, courage and resilience, play in building a self-sustaining community.
Our Mission
The Tiwahe Foundation is a resource for giving and strengthens American Indian communities by building capacity through leadership, culture, values and vision.