Post by blackcrowheart on Feb 2, 2006 8:59:30 GMT -5
Three American Indian Tribal Governments Enter Unique Partnerships
Three American Indian Tribal Governments Enter Unique Partnerships
With The Northwest Area Foundation to Reduce Poverty Long Term Tue
Jan 31, 1:01 PM ET
ST. PAUL, Minn., Jan. 31 /U.S. Newswire/ --
Today, the Northwest Area Foundation announced that three American
Indian reservations have each agreed to enter into a 10-year
partnership directly with the foundation.
Each of the three Foundation-Reservation agreements is distinct and
is based upon a strategic plan each reservation created to reduce
poverty long term. Each partnership begins with a one-year grant of
$1M or more. Additional disbursements will be made as each
partnership meets set milestones. The Foundation will support each
partnership with a total of $6 to $10 million.
The three American Indian nations entering into an agreement with the
Foundation are: Cheyenne River Sioux Tribe reservation in central
South Dakota; the Lummi Nation reservation in Northwest Washington,
near the city of Bellingham; and the Turtle Mountain Band of Chippewa
reservation, North Dakota. These partnerships come after nearly two
years of planning during which leadership groups on each reservation
received Foundation support to develop a 10-year strategic plan to
reduce poverty.
The Foundation worked with each reservation separately and evaluated
each strategic plan independent of the others. During the first year,
each reservation will refine the linkages between its strategic plan
and long-term poverty reduction within its community.
"We are very honored and very excited to form this unique
relationship with three distinct American Indian nations," said Karl
Stauber, president and CEO of the Northwest Area Foundation. "We are
eager to join each reservation community in implementing strategies
that will go long and deep in an effort to reduce poverty for the
long term," he said. "Our intention is to gather the lessons learned
from these efforts and offer them throughout Indian Country, so that
other tribes can make lasting inroads against poverty and for
prosperity across their communities."
The Cheyenne River reservation will receive an initial $2.5 million
grant to support its strategic plan which focuses on workforce and
economic development, promoting income-generating opportunities in
remote settlements, youth leadership internships, improving cross-
reservation communications, establishing financial literacy, and
individual savings account programs. As agreement milestones are met,
the 10-year partnership would be supported by an additional $7
million over the life of the partnership.
"The Cheyenne River Sioux Tribe would like to thank the Northwest
Area Foundation for expanding their Ventures initiative to include
tribal reservations," said Tribal Chairman Harold Frazier. "We
appreciate their respectful approach that promotes tribally designed
strategies. This approach allowed our plan to be holistic; connected
to our cultural values and targeted at stimulating sustained growth
for our economy. The Tribe is looking forward to strengthening our
families, our communities and our partnerships as we implement our
Tribal Ventures Ten Year Poverty Reduction Plan. Our partnership with
the NWAF will help us direct resources toward meaningful strategies
moving our people toward prosperity," he said.
The Lummi Nation Reservation's initial grant is for $1 million to
support its strategic plan which focuses on small-business and micro-
enterprise development to create jobs and business ownership
opportunities, support for rejuvenating the fishing industries,
daycare expansion, improving transportation for workers, and
promoting financial literacy. Up to $5 million in additional funding
will be disbursed over the 10-year partnership as it meets agreement
milestones.
"We recognize what a wonderful opportunity this is for the Lummi, and
we are excited for this chance to reduce poverty in our community,"
said Tribal Chairman Darrell Hillaire. "This project represents a
long-term commitment to address the symptoms of poverty our people
face. It lies at the root of many of Lummi's problems, and we see
this funding as a chance to help our people become self sufficient,"
he said.
The Turtle Mountain Reservation's first grant is for $2.9 million. As
it meets its milestones, the Foundation will provide up to $7.1
million in additional funding to support the 10-year partnership.
Turtle Mountain's strategic plan focuses mobilizing the reservation
for poverty reduction, youth leadership, making full use of income
supplements such as EITC, establishing an Enterprise Center to spur
business ownership and jobs, revitalization of downtown Belcourt, and
using Tax Credits to develop housing, utilities, and tourism economic
engines.
"I have always thought that American Indian tribes needed the
equivalent of the Marshall Plan in which the United States rebuilt
Europe after World War II," said Tribal Chairman Ken Davis. "I see
this project as that type of effort. With the three pathways our
strategic plan covers, we look forward to planting the seeds
necessary for us to grow and build not only a self-sustaining
economy, but also our most valuable resource, the members of the
Turtle Mountain Band of Chippewa," he said.
The Northwest Area Foundation has established seven 10-year
partnerships to date: BuRSST, in King County, Washington; Partners
for Prosperity in Eastern Idaho; The North Central Montana Community
Ventures Coalition; NorthWay Community Trust, in north Minneapolis,
Minnesota; Miner County Community Revitalization, South Dakota;
Central Oregon Partnership; and the Indian Land Tenure Foundation,
headquartered in Little Canada, Minnesota.
The Northwest Area Foundation is dedicated to helping communities
reduce poverty for the long term. It does this by sharing lessons
learned from its programs and from the work of other communities and
organizations. The Foundation provides financial resources and
technical assistance that help communities create a climate and build
the capabilities to achieve: asset identification and development;
expanded economic opportunities that create living-wage jobs;
increased community skills for planning, teaching, leading and
implementing poverty reduction initiatives; and decision making that
incorporates the voice and vote of broad segments of the community,
including those of people in poverty.
The Foundation works on strategic efforts with a small number of
rural, urban, and American Indian reservation communities, and
organizations supporting these efforts, in its eight-state region:
Minnesota, Iowa, North Dakota, South Dakota, Montana, Idaho, Oregon
and Washington. These states were served by the Great Northern
Railway, founded by James J. Hill. In 1934, Hill's son, Louis W. Hill
established the foundation. Foundation assets were approximately
$452.5 million as of March 31, 2005. For additional information,
visit www.nwaf.org, or call 651-224-9635.
------
Cheyenne River Sioux Reservation, Central South Dakota
Contact: Sharon Vogel, 605-964-4265, ext. 132,
svogel@lakotanetwork.com
-- 2.8 million acres of rolling prairie reservation
-- 43 percent owned by non-Indians who also lease large plots of
tribal land for cattle grazing
-- Population: 14,4000 enrolled tribal members
-- 46 percent below poverty level
-- Tribal members are distributed across four Lakota bands, in 19
remote communities
-- Individual average income: $7,026
-- Major occupations: government services, farming and ranching
-- Governed by three elected tribal officials and six districts with
15 council reps
Lummi Nation Reservation, Northwest Washington, near the city of
Bellingham
Contact: Rena Priest, 360-384-1489, RenaP@lummi-nsn.gov
-- 12,500 acres extending into Puget Sound, and 8,000 acres of
tidelands.
-- Population: 4,650 enrolled tribal members
-- 3,900 live on the reservation
-- 28 percent below poverty level
-- Individual average income: $10,785
-- Employment is now mostly government, services and light industry
in nearby towns. Once thriving fishing industry -- of several hundred
fishing boats, seafood processing plant and an aquaculture farm --
has dramatically diminished due to foreign competition, factory fish
farms, and disappearing supply due to damming of rivers and a change
of fish migration away from Lummi shores.
-- Governed by 11-member Lummi Indian Business Council
Turtle Mountain Chippewa Reservation, North Dakota, near the Canadian
border
Contact: Jeremy Laducer, 701-477-2650, Jeremy@tribalresources.com
-- 68,000 acres, of which 40 percent is lakes and sloughs
-- Pop. 28,650 enrolled tribal members
-- 8,100 live on the reservation, making it one of the more densely
populated in US
-- Additional 3,300 live nearby towns and use tribal services
-- 36 percent below poverty level
-- Average individual income: $8,855
-- Employment: government, a few tribally-owned businesses, a casino,
light industry in near-by towns. Many jobs are sporadic -- depending
on government contracts.
-- Governed by slate of elected officials and four district
representatives
www.usnewswire.com/
________________________________________________________________________
Three American Indian Tribal Governments Enter Unique Partnerships
With The Northwest Area Foundation to Reduce Poverty Long Term Tue
Jan 31, 1:01 PM ET
ST. PAUL, Minn., Jan. 31 /U.S. Newswire/ --
Today, the Northwest Area Foundation announced that three American
Indian reservations have each agreed to enter into a 10-year
partnership directly with the foundation.
Each of the three Foundation-Reservation agreements is distinct and
is based upon a strategic plan each reservation created to reduce
poverty long term. Each partnership begins with a one-year grant of
$1M or more. Additional disbursements will be made as each
partnership meets set milestones. The Foundation will support each
partnership with a total of $6 to $10 million.
The three American Indian nations entering into an agreement with the
Foundation are: Cheyenne River Sioux Tribe reservation in central
South Dakota; the Lummi Nation reservation in Northwest Washington,
near the city of Bellingham; and the Turtle Mountain Band of Chippewa
reservation, North Dakota. These partnerships come after nearly two
years of planning during which leadership groups on each reservation
received Foundation support to develop a 10-year strategic plan to
reduce poverty.
The Foundation worked with each reservation separately and evaluated
each strategic plan independent of the others. During the first year,
each reservation will refine the linkages between its strategic plan
and long-term poverty reduction within its community.
"We are very honored and very excited to form this unique
relationship with three distinct American Indian nations," said Karl
Stauber, president and CEO of the Northwest Area Foundation. "We are
eager to join each reservation community in implementing strategies
that will go long and deep in an effort to reduce poverty for the
long term," he said. "Our intention is to gather the lessons learned
from these efforts and offer them throughout Indian Country, so that
other tribes can make lasting inroads against poverty and for
prosperity across their communities."
The Cheyenne River reservation will receive an initial $2.5 million
grant to support its strategic plan which focuses on workforce and
economic development, promoting income-generating opportunities in
remote settlements, youth leadership internships, improving cross-
reservation communications, establishing financial literacy, and
individual savings account programs. As agreement milestones are met,
the 10-year partnership would be supported by an additional $7
million over the life of the partnership.
"The Cheyenne River Sioux Tribe would like to thank the Northwest
Area Foundation for expanding their Ventures initiative to include
tribal reservations," said Tribal Chairman Harold Frazier. "We
appreciate their respectful approach that promotes tribally designed
strategies. This approach allowed our plan to be holistic; connected
to our cultural values and targeted at stimulating sustained growth
for our economy. The Tribe is looking forward to strengthening our
families, our communities and our partnerships as we implement our
Tribal Ventures Ten Year Poverty Reduction Plan. Our partnership with
the NWAF will help us direct resources toward meaningful strategies
moving our people toward prosperity," he said.
The Lummi Nation Reservation's initial grant is for $1 million to
support its strategic plan which focuses on small-business and micro-
enterprise development to create jobs and business ownership
opportunities, support for rejuvenating the fishing industries,
daycare expansion, improving transportation for workers, and
promoting financial literacy. Up to $5 million in additional funding
will be disbursed over the 10-year partnership as it meets agreement
milestones.
"We recognize what a wonderful opportunity this is for the Lummi, and
we are excited for this chance to reduce poverty in our community,"
said Tribal Chairman Darrell Hillaire. "This project represents a
long-term commitment to address the symptoms of poverty our people
face. It lies at the root of many of Lummi's problems, and we see
this funding as a chance to help our people become self sufficient,"
he said.
The Turtle Mountain Reservation's first grant is for $2.9 million. As
it meets its milestones, the Foundation will provide up to $7.1
million in additional funding to support the 10-year partnership.
Turtle Mountain's strategic plan focuses mobilizing the reservation
for poverty reduction, youth leadership, making full use of income
supplements such as EITC, establishing an Enterprise Center to spur
business ownership and jobs, revitalization of downtown Belcourt, and
using Tax Credits to develop housing, utilities, and tourism economic
engines.
"I have always thought that American Indian tribes needed the
equivalent of the Marshall Plan in which the United States rebuilt
Europe after World War II," said Tribal Chairman Ken Davis. "I see
this project as that type of effort. With the three pathways our
strategic plan covers, we look forward to planting the seeds
necessary for us to grow and build not only a self-sustaining
economy, but also our most valuable resource, the members of the
Turtle Mountain Band of Chippewa," he said.
The Northwest Area Foundation has established seven 10-year
partnerships to date: BuRSST, in King County, Washington; Partners
for Prosperity in Eastern Idaho; The North Central Montana Community
Ventures Coalition; NorthWay Community Trust, in north Minneapolis,
Minnesota; Miner County Community Revitalization, South Dakota;
Central Oregon Partnership; and the Indian Land Tenure Foundation,
headquartered in Little Canada, Minnesota.
The Northwest Area Foundation is dedicated to helping communities
reduce poverty for the long term. It does this by sharing lessons
learned from its programs and from the work of other communities and
organizations. The Foundation provides financial resources and
technical assistance that help communities create a climate and build
the capabilities to achieve: asset identification and development;
expanded economic opportunities that create living-wage jobs;
increased community skills for planning, teaching, leading and
implementing poverty reduction initiatives; and decision making that
incorporates the voice and vote of broad segments of the community,
including those of people in poverty.
The Foundation works on strategic efforts with a small number of
rural, urban, and American Indian reservation communities, and
organizations supporting these efforts, in its eight-state region:
Minnesota, Iowa, North Dakota, South Dakota, Montana, Idaho, Oregon
and Washington. These states were served by the Great Northern
Railway, founded by James J. Hill. In 1934, Hill's son, Louis W. Hill
established the foundation. Foundation assets were approximately
$452.5 million as of March 31, 2005. For additional information,
visit www.nwaf.org, or call 651-224-9635.
------
Cheyenne River Sioux Reservation, Central South Dakota
Contact: Sharon Vogel, 605-964-4265, ext. 132,
svogel@lakotanetwork.com
-- 2.8 million acres of rolling prairie reservation
-- 43 percent owned by non-Indians who also lease large plots of
tribal land for cattle grazing
-- Population: 14,4000 enrolled tribal members
-- 46 percent below poverty level
-- Tribal members are distributed across four Lakota bands, in 19
remote communities
-- Individual average income: $7,026
-- Major occupations: government services, farming and ranching
-- Governed by three elected tribal officials and six districts with
15 council reps
Lummi Nation Reservation, Northwest Washington, near the city of
Bellingham
Contact: Rena Priest, 360-384-1489, RenaP@lummi-nsn.gov
-- 12,500 acres extending into Puget Sound, and 8,000 acres of
tidelands.
-- Population: 4,650 enrolled tribal members
-- 3,900 live on the reservation
-- 28 percent below poverty level
-- Individual average income: $10,785
-- Employment is now mostly government, services and light industry
in nearby towns. Once thriving fishing industry -- of several hundred
fishing boats, seafood processing plant and an aquaculture farm --
has dramatically diminished due to foreign competition, factory fish
farms, and disappearing supply due to damming of rivers and a change
of fish migration away from Lummi shores.
-- Governed by 11-member Lummi Indian Business Council
Turtle Mountain Chippewa Reservation, North Dakota, near the Canadian
border
Contact: Jeremy Laducer, 701-477-2650, Jeremy@tribalresources.com
-- 68,000 acres, of which 40 percent is lakes and sloughs
-- Pop. 28,650 enrolled tribal members
-- 8,100 live on the reservation, making it one of the more densely
populated in US
-- Additional 3,300 live nearby towns and use tribal services
-- 36 percent below poverty level
-- Average individual income: $8,855
-- Employment: government, a few tribally-owned businesses, a casino,
light industry in near-by towns. Many jobs are sporadic -- depending
on government contracts.
-- Governed by slate of elected officials and four district
representatives
www.usnewswire.com/
________________________________________________________________________