New Mini-Grants Support Learning about Native American Content
K-12 educators statewide are eligible to apply for funding from the Shakopee Mdewakanton Sioux Community's Understand Native Minnesota campaign.
A new grant program that is accepting applications starting Dec. 18 will award mini-grants to support K-12 educators as they teach students about Native American culture, history, and modern tribal governments in schools across Minnesota.
Established and funded by the Shakopee Mdewakanton Sioux Community’s Understand Native Minnesota campaign, this mini-grant program aims 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.
“You can’t understand our state without understanding the important contributions of Indigenous communities, today and throughout our history,” said Jo-Anne Stately, Senior Vice President of Impact at the Minneapolis Foundation, which will administer the grants. “All students benefit when our schools reflect the full story of Minnesota.”
The program has $500,000 available for mini-grants in 2024, with awards of up to $2,000 per educator.
“If we are going to dramatically improve the position of Native people and tribal nations in the consciousness of our fellow Minnesotans, it naturally leads us to concentrate most of our efforts on the kids who will be tomorrow’s citizens, workers, voters and leaders,” said Rebecca Crooks-Stratton, Secretary/Treasurer of the Shakopee Mdewakanton Sioux Community and chair of the Understand Native Minnesota campaign. “Through Understand Native Minnesota our tribe is pleased to commit $500,000 to this mini-grants program to advance Native American narrative change in Minnesota’s public schools.”
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.
Grant applications will be accepted until the deadline of 1 p.m. on January 22, 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.
To learn more about the fund or apply for a mini-grant, view our grant guidelines.
