Investing in Community Driven Native American Social and Economic Development Initiatives

To support Native communities in their efforts to become self-determining, healthy, culturally and linguistically vibrant, and economically self-sufficient, the Administration for Native Americans (ANA) administers three discretionary grant programs for Native groups. These include grant programs in Native American languages, environmental regulatory enhancement, and social and economic development strategies. The financial awards support community initiatives that are rooted in a foundation of self-governance, and emphasize community involvement in the conception, development, and operation of the program. This article describes ANA’s approach to project selection and assistance, and provides an example of an ANA grant in action in an Alaskan community.