Maada’ookiing grants support 20 projects that strengthen Native American culture and traditions

The Northland Foundation is pleased to share that 14 individuals were awarded $66,500 in Maada’ookiing grants this past summer which include awards made through a special “pop-up” Maada’ookiing grant opportunity that was announced in the spring. Another six grants totaling $29,450 were awarded in the fall grantmaking round.

“The Maada’ookiing Advisory Board is proud to support grant recipients knowing that these individuals and small groups are creating such a resounding impact in the region,” stated Michelle Ufford, Vice President of Grantmaking. “Since there was additional funding available as we moved toward summer, they decided to offer an extra round in July. We could not be more pleased to see almost $30,000 extra being put to work in communities by Native American changemakers.”

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.

The next deadline to apply for a Maada’ookiing grant is February 15, 2026. Find information about the program and application on the Northland Foundation’s website under Grant Funding at https://northlandfdn.org/grant-funding/maadaookiing-grants/.

The summer and fall 2025 Maada’ookiing grantees and their projects are listed below.

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Summer 2025 Grants

Savannah Pemberton, Cass Lake: $4,500
To host beadwork classes that promote cultural knowledge and community in Leech Lake District 1.

Ruth Porter, Orr: $5,000
To support a class that teaches Bois Forte youth how to craft their own pow wow regalia.

Anthony Drews, Ham Lake: $5,000
To support a series of traditional game events that teach Ojibwe culture and language in the communities of Bois Forte, Fond du Lac, and Mille Lacs.

Sarah Agaton Howes, Cloquet: $5,000
To support an ongoing series of classes for Native makers and artists to learn, share, and build community on the Fond du Lac Reservation.

Laura Winter, Duluth: $5,000
To support the development of a comprehensive foundational literacy program in the Ojibwe language that can be utilized by educators.

Nate Smith, Duluth: $5,000
To support community workshops focused on the Four Sacred Medicines (sage, sweetgrass, cedar, and tobacco) with hands-on teachings about their cultural and spiritual significance.

Ivy Vainio, Duluth: $2,000
To continue to support a billboard that promotes self-love through the Ojibwe language and intergenerational families.

Wendy Savage, Duluth: $5,000
To support the development of a cultural art activity booklet and lesson that shares the art and history of the Fur Trade and the Ojibwe, which will accompany the exhibitions “Fur Trade Nation” and “Ojibwe Adornment in Beads, Cloth, Ribbon and Fur”.

Sharon Doolittle Shuck, Duluth: $5,000
To support the publishing of a book based on an Ojibwe elder’s memories of life on the Fond du Lac Reservation from 1939-1949, and the impact of the Treaty of 1854 on their family’s history.

Ryan Drew Bajan, Ely: $5,000
To support a three-day wild rice camp for youth and families on the Bois Forte Reservation.

M.B., Grand Portage: $5,000
To support equipment for the safe storage and transportation of sports equipment for Grand Portage youth teams.

Rebecca Gawboy, Tower: $5,000
To support the development of natural medicine repositories on the Nett Lake and Vermilion Reservation that will provide space for community members to learn about traditional plant medicines.

Alexander Kmett, Cloquet: $5,000
To digitize, transcribe, and preserve recordings of pow wow, traditional music, and Ojibwe language recordings.

Fall 2025 Grants

Danielle Fairbanks, Duluth: $5,000
To support sharing cultural knowledge with the Indigenous community of Duluth through quilt-making classes.

Caitlyn Taylor, Duluth: $5,000
To support trauma-responsive yoga classes that are grounded in language, culture, wellness, and community connection.

Victoria McMillen, Cloquet: $5,000
To empower American Indian families to engage more confidently in Local Indian Education Committees through publicly available training resources.

Jesse Thompson, Cass Lake: $4,500
To support a 3-week pow wow regalia making workshop for community members at Leech Lake District 1.

Giuseppina Odin, Bloomington: $4,950
To support a training opportunity for Native American relatives in the Duluth area and surrounding areas on how to effectively communicate with local, and state representatives and how to testify on the capitol floor.

Shane Drift, Nett Lake: $5,000
To support a children’s book that uses storytelling to convey simple traditional teachings for youth, and ensure these teachings are shared with future generations.

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