Congratulations to our Fall 2022 Grantees!

Last fall, Tiwahe Foundation awarded 60 grants to individuals in the areas of Culture & Language, Economic Independence, Health & Wellness, and Education. This round of grantees are from 19 different Tribal nations.

This year marks 30 years that the American Indian Family Empowerment Program (AIFEP) has been investing in the strengths and gifts of our Native people living in the greater Twin Cities Metro Area. We’ve supported approximately 1,500 Native relatives representing over 100 Tribal Nations, careers, and lifeways.

A few of our most recent grantees include:

a farmer who incorporates Indigenous farming practices to feed their family
an uncle who teaches his nieces and nephews traditions on quilt-making
a ph.D student exploring plant medicines and healing from intergenerational trauma
a relative who is working to start a photography business for low-income Native families and families of color

Culture and Language

We awarded thirteen Native individuals under this impact area, in total $32,500.
Grantee highlight: David Bowen-Omaha will use his grant to teach his nieces and nephews the cultural traditions of quilting quilt. In addition to teaching his nieces and nephews he plans to make and gift quilts back to the community. In total this round, $32,500 was invested in Culture and Language.

Health and Wellness

We awarded six Native individuals under this impact area, in total $14,930.
Grantee highlight: August Yellow Bird will use a holistic approach to invest in food sovereignty for his family by constructing garden beds. He will also invest in his physical and mental health by enrolling in martial art classes.

Education

We awarded twenty Native individuals under this impact area, in total $48,790.
Grantee highlight: Christine McCleave has a vision for healing and sharing it with the world. She will finish her Ph.d and case study in healing her own historical trauma. By publishing her dissertation as a book, she will help others heal as well. Christine will explore powerful plant medicines for healing. Her research of plant medicines and healing will benefit Indigenous Peoples across Turtle Island and beyond.

Economic Independence

We awarded twenty-one Native individuals under this impact area, in total $47,872.
Grantee highlight: Gabriella Carroll will use her grant to purchase a professional grade camera and lenses to achieve her dream of starting an Indigenous-owned photography business for low-income indigenous families and families of color on a sliding-scale.

Tribal Nations represented:

Bad River Band of Ojibwe, Bois Forte Band of Ojibwe, Cheyenne River Lakota, Fond du Lac Lake Superior Band of Ojibwe, Grand Portage Band of Ojibwe, Ho-Chunk Nation, Lac Courte Orielles Ojibwe, Lac du Flambeau Band of Ojibwe, Leech Lake Band of Ojibwe, Omaha, Karuk, Mdewakanton Dakota, Red Lake Band of Ojibwe, Rosebud Lakota, Sisseton Wahpeton Oyate, Standing Rock Sioux, St Croix Band of Ojibwe, Arikara, Hidatsa, and Mandan (Three Affiliated Tribes), Turtle Mountain Band of Ojibwe, White Earth Band of Ojibwe