Education

Many Indian land tenure issues stem from widespread lack of knowledge and understanding about the history, cultural significance and legal status of Indian lands. To make lasting, positive change, education about Indian land tenure must reach all generations of Indian and non-Indian people, from young children attending school to adults seeking to better understand an accurate history of Indian-United States relations. The Foundation’s education focus primarily concerns land history and tenure through the Lessons of Our Land curriculum, and professional development for K-12 teachers using the curriculum.

Grantee: Koahnic Broadcasting Corporation

Across Indian Country, sacred lands are facing mounting threats from commercial development and government intervention. One way to combat these challenges is through the type of educational programming created by the Koahnic Broadcast Corporation (KBC), a non-profit, Alaska Native-operated media center in Anchorage. Thanks to a $25,000 grant from ILTF, Koahnic was able to produce Our Sacred Spaces, a four-part series on sacred lands and resources that examines the issues vital to the cultural and legal aspects of Native land and land ownership.

“Koahnic” is an Athabascan word in the Ahtna dialect meaning “live air.” KBC’s goal is to help preserve Native cultures and languages, combat misconceptions and prejudices against Alaska Natives, and create cross-cultural bridges. Koahnic operates the country’s first urban Native radio station in Anchorage. It also produces the award-winning shows National Native News and Native America Calling, which is hosted by Tara Gatewood of Isleta Pueblo (photo). Programs air on more than 300 public and tribal radio stations in 32 states.

Visit www.nativeamericacalling.com to learn more about Koahnic Broadcasting

Share an Idea

The Indian Land Tenure Foundation promotes activities that support the recovery and control of Indian homelands.  We work to promote education on Indian land ownership and management, increase cultural awareness of Indian land tenure, create economic opportunity on Indian-owned lands, and reform the legal and administrative systems that prevent Indian people and Native nations from owning and controlling their lands. Before submitting an idea, please read the list below of ILTF’s eligibility requirements, funding priorities, and the list of activities we do not fund.

Entities eligible for funding include:

  • Tribal, local and state governments
  • Nonprofit organizations with a 501(c)(3) designation, including institutions

Activities that are not eligible for funding include, but are not limited to, the following:

  • Advocacy and lobbying efforts to influence legislation
  • Endowments
  • Land purchases
  • Benefits, fundraisers, walk-a-thons, telethons, galas, etc.
  • Scholarships, tuition assistance or other direct funding to individuals
  • Special events, except when the event is a key strategy in a continuum of efforts to achieve community goals in the Foundation’s program areas

Send a Letter of Inquiry

Have an idea for a land-related project that can benefit Native nations and people? Please share it with the Foundation. Please include the following information in your Letter of Inquiry (LOI):

  1. Organization name & contact information
  2. Details about the request
    • Amount – Budget range for successful implementation of project
    • Project description – A brief description of the proposed project and rationale behind it
    • Sustainability – Explain how the organization plans to sustain this project.
  3. Identify whether the proposed project has been discussed with, and is supported by, tribal or organization leadership.

Please limit your LOI to two pages. ILTF will review your submission to determine whether we can support such a project at this time. The Foundation will invite successful applicants to submit a full grant proposal for consideration.

Please email info@iltf.org to submit your idea.

 

INDIAN LANDS IN INDIAN HANDS