Description

The Initiative on Native American Intellectual Leadership primarily supports a fellowship program for Indigenous knowledge makers and knowledge holders administered by First Nations Development Institute. However, monies were also allocated to support other projects that advance the broad goals of the Initiative. Such projects will support intellectual leaders in Native communities, help Indigenous organizations working in the knowledge sector, and develop research tools and resources that Native leaders and organizations may use in their work.
The Colorado Plateau Foundation seeks to strengthen Native communities in the Colorado Plateau region, which includes parts of Arizona, New Mexico, Colorado and Utah and encompasses such sacred sites and national treasures as the Grand Canyon, Arches National Park, and Canyon de Chelly. Eight tribal nations call the region home; their reservations comprise one-third of the entire Plateau region.
Founded in 2012 by Jim Enote, a Zuni farmer, writer, and museum director, the Foundation is a public charity. It has disbursed funds to support Indigenous-led projects focused on the protection of water and of sacred sites and endangered landscapes, language revitalization, and sustainable, community-based agriculture. These are critical areas of focus for Native knowledge makers in the Southwestern United States—and also for the Luce Foundation’s new fellowship program for intellectual leaders in Indian Country.
In addition to funding projects in the Colorado Plateau region, the Foundation also seeks to support and to develop the leadership capacity of the organizations in which it invests. Beginning in 2016, the Foundation began organizing an annual convening of its grantees. Through this Learning Community, the Foundation encourages the sharing of knowledge among Native leaders, provides leadership and management training, and educates participants about the Colorado Plateau and the challenges confronting the region and its peoples.
Recipients of Foundation support may send up to four representatives to the Learning Community gathering which takes place over two days in June in Flagstaff, AZ. About 60 Native leaders participate each year. The Foundation provides housing for the participants, as well as meals, in order to encourage attendance.
The Luce Foundation’s grant would help to fund the Learning Community convening for two years, covering about two-thirds of the total cost. Luce monies would pay for honoraria for speakers and workshop leaders, food and accommodations for participants, conference facilities, documentation of the events, and salary support for staff.
The Colorado Plateau Foundation is supported by the Packard, Kalliopeia, Hewlett, and DiCaprio Foundations. This would be the Luce Foundation’s first grant to the organization.