Northland Foundation increases Maada’ookiing grants to $5,000 per award and announces Spring grantees

The Northland Foundation has increased the amount of funding available through its Native American led Maada’ookiing program to $5,000 per grant, twice the previous cap of $2,500. The increase is effective immediately, so those applying for the Fall 2024 grant round (September 15 deadline) may request up to $5,000. The Board also opted to allow recipients to apply for additional grants within the same year.

The changes were approved during a recent Maada’ookiing Advisory Board retreat where board members and foundation staff reflected on what has been working well and possible program improvements.

“Grantees are facing higher expenses for supplies, renting space, transportation, and so on,” stated Michelle Ufford, Director of Grantmaking. “The increase will help offset rising hard costs but also better recognize the time, talent, and labor involved in bringing grant-funded projects to life.”

Following an exploration and development process guided by Tribal and other Native American leaders, in collaboration with the Northland Foundation, the program launched in May 2021. The intent was to increase support for community-based activities led by Native American individuals or small groups as opposed to nonprofits or government entities.

“Native American people in the region are doing incredible work that is often planned and carried out in a purely volunteer capacity and with a minimal budget. We intend Maada’ookiing grants to provide a boost to this good work,” Ufford added

Grants are 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. To date, 81 Maada’ookiing grants totaling nearly $200,000 have been given to a diverse range of projects that:

• engage in Native American grassroots organizing to strengthen community well-being and/or respond to Native American community issues.
• strengthen use of or access to Native American language,
• share Native American culture/spiritual practices and activities,
• sustain Tribal civic engagement, sovereignty, and self-determination,
• shift the narrative and increase visibility of contemporary Native American communities
• promote Native American leadership and experiences

---

Spring/Summer 2024 Grants Awarded

The recent round of seven grants awarded in May showcase the wide variety of activities happening at the grassroots level throughout the region. Spring 2024 Maada’ookiing grantees are:

Jessica Anderson, Ely: $2,500
To support a series of events, workshops, and activities that highlight Anishnaabe culture at Minnesota North College – Vermillion.

Aaron Fairbanks, Cass Lake: $2,500
To hold a multi-day class to teach beading skills to the Leech Lake community.

Brian Stillday, Duluth: $2,500
To support a drum and dance class for the urban Native American community in Duluth.

Kevin Kot, Wrenshall: $2,500
To support a workshop on extracting and using medicinal birch tar oil in the Fond du Lac community.

Ruth Porter, Orr: $2,500
To support a beading class for youth in the Bois Forte community.

David Wise, Sawyer: $2,500
To support horse training for Fond du Lac community members seeking to learn about Ojibwe horse culture and traditions.

Larissa Littlewolf, Cloquet: $2,500
To support a summer volleyball and wellness camp for young, Indigenous female athletes.

The next grant deadline is September 15, but applications can be submitted using the foundation’s web-based portal at any time. Discover more about Maada’ooking.