Press Release | January 7, 2025
Ten Native American individuals receive Maada’ookiing grants for projects that strengthen Native culture
Up to $5,000 each awarded to Native-led grantees throughout the region
The Northland Foundation is pleased to share that ten individuals were awarded a total of $32,500 in Maada’ookiing grants in recent months.
Maada’ookiing (“the distribution” in Ojibwe) is a Native American-led program of the Northland Foundation. Grant funding up to $5,000 is offered three times per year to Tribal citizens, descendants, or those who have kinship ties or affiliation to Native American communities within the foundation’s geographic region. Maada’ookiing grants are considered and approved by the Maada’ookiing Advisory Board.
“This group of grantees is all about creating opportunities to engage in traditional practices, activities, and language learning. At the same time, they are nourishing cultural and community connections in beautiful ways,” stated Cayla Bellanger DeGroat, Program Officer at the Northland Foundation.
“It is also a delight to have grantees who come from communities all across the region,” she added, “The advisory board and foundation truly appreciates supporting the good work that is happening in many sites.”
The next deadline to apply for a Maada’ookiing grant, for spring funding, is February 15, 2025.
The recently awarded Maada’ookiing grantees and their projects are listed below.
Cassandra Losh, Deer River: $2,500
To hold classes teaching traditional Ojibwe floral art on various mediums in District 1 of the Leech Lake Reservation.
Danielle Fairbanks, Duluth: $2,500
To hold classes for the Duluth Native American community to learn about traditional moccasin construction and design.
Chantel Novak, Cass Lake: $2,500
To hold a multi-day class teaching native youth beadwork in District 1 of the Leech Lake Reservation.
Emma Carlson, Grand Portage: $5,000
To provide supplies and space for Grand Portage elders to gather and create sewing projects.
David Wise, Sawyer: $5,000
To support a series of classes about harvesting, processing, and utilizing bison.
Jessica Bobrowski, Deer River: $2,500
To support a series of classes that bring community members together with native artists in Itasca County.
John Daniel, Redby: $2,500
To support documenting and sharing audio and video Ojibwe language speakers in the region.
Sharon Nordrum, Laporte: $5,000
To support a series of gatherings at Leech Lake District 1 to play Snow Snakes, a traditional Ojibwe wintertime game.
Victoria McMillen, Cloquet: $2,500
To support gatherings where community members can create cultural items and learn about leatherworking on Fond du Lac Reservation.
John McMillen, Cloquet: $2,500
To support community gatherings where men and boys can create drumsticks and learn drum teachings at Fond du Lac Reservation.
Applications for grant funding can be submitted online at any time through the Northland Foundation’s website. Submission deadlines for each of the three grants rounds are February 15, May 15, and September 15.