KALAMAZOO, MI (WKZO AM/FM) — The Native American Heritage Fund Board selected projects in six Michigan communities as recipients of the fund’s 2022 grants, at the Board’s June 17 meeting.
From a pool of 11 applicants, the NAHF board chose to award grants totaling nearly $480,000 in support of community projects, academic programming updates, mascot changeovers and other projects that honor Native American culture and history in the area.
The 2022 NAHF grants include:
- Chippewa Hills School District — $52,371.20 to rebrand the current mascot from “Warriors” to “Golden Knights.”
- Hartford Public Schools — $132,249.25 to rebrand the current mascot from “Indians” to “Huskies,” and implement a new curriculum to help build meaningful connections with students.
- Lansing School District — $87,500 to rebrand the current mascot from the “Big Reds” to a new culturally appropriate mascot and logo.
- Michigan College Access Network — $55,000 to continue funding the “College Completion Corps,” a program that places completion coaches at three Tribal colleges: Saginaw Chippewa Tribal College, Keweenaw Bay Ojibwa Community College and Bay Mills Community College for the upcoming academic year.
- Saranac Community Schools – $139,318.90 to rebrand the current mascot from the “R-word” to “Red Hawks” before the upcoming academic year.
- Western Michigan University’s Native American Affairs Council — $12,295 to host “A Conversation with Dallas Goldtooth” of the Mdewakanton Dakota and Dine with Native News Online live streaming the event.
The awards will be distributed and shared with the public at the NAHF Grant Award ceremony at FireKeepers Casino Hotel on Friday, August 19 at noon.
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