Apply for Mini-Grants to Support Learning about Native American Content
Starting Aug. 26, educators can apply for grants funded by the Shakopee Mdewakanton Sioux Community’s Understand Native Minnesota campaign.
Educators at schools across Minnesota can now apply for the second and final round of mini-grants to support classroom learning about Native American culture, history, and modern tribal governments.
Today through Sept. 26, K-12 educators statewide can apply for mini-grants established and funded by the Shakopee Mdewakanton Sioux Community’s Understand Native Minnesota campaign. These grants aim to increase awareness of Native history and culture by supporting teachers who are pursuing training or classroom projects to share accurate narratives and build understanding of the contributions and experiences of Native peoples in Minnesota.
This grant round builds on nearly $400,000 in funding that was awarded to 173 educators and schools earlier this year. An additional $150,000 will be distributed this fall, with awards of up to $2,000 per educator.
Educators who received mini-grants this spring got support for a wide range of activities, from a field trip to Spring Lake Park Reserve where students learned about the reintroduction of bison to professional development opportunities like the Native Studies Summer Workshop for Educators. Many educators used mini-grants to purchase new books, maps, games, and other classroom resources.
Just over 60 percent of the mini-grants awarded this spring are supporting work in the seven-county metro area. Educators in northwestern Minnesotan received 16 percent of the grants, northeastern Minnesotan accounted for 8 percent, and schools in other parts of the state received 5 percent. Review a complete list of those awards.
“All students benefit when our schools reflect the full story of Minnesota, including the contributions of Indigenous communities.”
“The interest we’ve seen in these grants tells us that Minnesota teachers understand the importance of these lessons and are eager to tap into resources that help them provide meaningful classroom experiences for their students,” said Jo-Anne Stately, Senior Vice President of Impact at the Minneapolis Foundation, which is administering the mini-grants.
Mini-grants can be used for classroom resources, materials and projects, professional development, or curriculum and resource development. Educators in Minnesota K-12 public, charter, tribal, and private schools are all eligible to apply for funding. Educators who have already received funding through this opportunity are not eligible to apply a second time.
Grant applications will be accepted until the deadline of 6 p.m. on Sept. 26, 2024.
Applications will be reviewed by a committee composed of staff members at the Minneapolis Foundation, the Shakopee Mdewakanton Sioux Community, and other Native education experts.
