Native American Food Sovereignty Alliance & Indigenous Seed Keepers Network are excited to offer total of 9 individual $5,000 microgrant awards to financially support our Indigenous community partners in hosting Native-led hands-on, educational opportunities related to seed literacy and food sovereignty skill share in the Upper Midwest Network (Minnesota, Wisconsin, Michigan, Iowa, North Dakota, and South Dakota) and Southwest Network (Arizona, Colorado, New Mexico, and Utah) region.
- Application will be open for submissions September 9, 2024
- Application are due by November 1, 2024 at 5pm MST
- Grant Cycle will be one year from award date
- Projects will be require a post-project report via 1 hour Zoom interview and 4-6 photos of the Field Day event.
purpose
As ISKN continues to develop its Regional Seed Network model, we envision that these community networks will provide space and opportunity for preserving and practicing Indigenous cultural foodways, and that they will play an important role in increasing Indigenous seed availability and improving the resiliency of local seed supply.
NAFSA will be offering 9 community partners microgrants to support Field Days in the Upper Midwest and Southwest Networks as well as nationally within the U.S. The grant will fund and allow our Native partners to host educational opportunities that build seed literacy and food sovereignty capacity in their community.
This offering is intended to serve the Southwest (Arizona, Colorado, New Mexico, and Utah) region of the Indigenous Seed Keepers Network or the Upper Midwest (Minnesota, Wisconsin, Michigan, Iowa, North Dakota, and South Dakota) of ISKN.
offering description
In an effort to aid and support seed literacy and food sovereignty mentorship among the community partners in the Southwest, we will be providing funds to Indigenous community partners to host 1-day skill share Field Days. The Field Days must offer educational opportunities For community members to build seed literacy and food sovereignty capacity. Field Day topics may include, but are not limited to: seed/growing production, harvesting techniques, hand-pollination, isolation techniques, equipment training, etc. Funds may assist with expenses such as— but not limited to—facilitator and participant stipends, honorariums, venue rental, food purchases, travel expenses, supplies and equipment, and any other costs associated with hosting a community Field Day.
ISKN staff will provide awardees with a planning session and templates to ensure a smooth and successful event. Applications that display a strong collaborative and collective effort will have a higher consideration.
JOIN THE ISKN NETWORK
Stay connected with the Indigenous Seed Keepers Network (ISKN) by joining our community! Whether you’re a new seed keeper or a long-time grower, signing up ensures you’ll receive updates, resources, and future grant opportunities.
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Southwest Region Network
The Southwest Network region currently includes Indigenous-led organizations, groups, collectives, individuals or grassroots initiatives located in:
- Arizona
- Colorado
- New Mexico
- Utah
Upper Midwest ISKN Region Network
The Southwest Network region currently includes Indigenous-led organizations, groups, collectives, individuals or grassroots initiatives located in:
- Minnesota
- Wisconsin
- Michigan
- Iowa
- North Dakota
- South Dakota
NAFSA Indigenous Seed Keepers Network
The mission of the Indigenous Seed Keepers Network (ISKN) is to nourish and assist the growing Seed Sovereignty Movement across Turtle Island (North America). As a national network, we leverage resources and cultivate solidarity and communication within the matrix of regional grass-roots tribal seed sovereignty projects. We accomplish this mission by providing educational resources, mentorship training, outreach and advocacy support on seed policy issues, and organizing national and regional events and convenings to connect many communities who are engaging in this vital work. We aim to create a collaborative framework and declaration for ethical seed stewardship and indigenous seed guidelines for tribal communities to guide them as they protect their seeds from patenting and bio-piracy. We support the creation of solutions-oriented programs for adaptive resilient seed systems within tribal communities to enhance the creative capacity to continue to evolve as the face of our Mother Earth changes.
If you are an Indigenous seed keeper building Indigenous seed access, and increasing seed literacy for Tribal communities, and would like to join the Regional Network please reach out to Aaron Lowden at aaron@nativefoodalliance.org.