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Website a Resource for Native Food & Agriculture Efforts
A new website was launched on April 15 that aims to become a valuable online resource for Native American tribes, organizations and individuals who are involved in food systems and agricultural efforts, and/or who are aiming for better health and nutrition for their families and communities.
 
Production Underway on New Television PSAs
Through a generous grant from Comcast and the Comcast Foundation, First Nations will be launching two PSAs (public service announcements) later this year. The television “commercials” will run on Comcast cable TV systems in several markets around the U.S.
In early May 2013, folks from First Nations and its production company, Red 76 Creative in Denver, Colorado, traveled to Santa Fe, New Mexico, to do the on-location videotaping for the PSAs.
‘My Green’ Campaign Helps Native Youth
Take Charge of Their Money
It’s called “Minor’s Trust,” “Big Money” or “18 Money,” and for a number of Native American youth, it represents a blessing and a curse.
A small number of tribes pay out dividends from tribal businesses, or per-capita payments, to their members. For tribal members who are age 17 or younger, these payments are usually held in a financial trust until the youth turns 18. At age 18 (although sometimes later) minors can apply for their minor’s trust payout and sometimes receive a very large payment. Thus, many young people are faced with the responsibility of managing their “Big Money” at a young age.
Talented Native Students Make Art of Financial Literacy
In an effort to build Native youth financial literacy, First Nations worked with five art students at Miyamura High School in Gallup, New Mexico, to produce creative, camera-ready posters addressing various financial education topics. Miyamura art teacher Tine Hayes, who worked with First Nations to facilitate the project funded by the FINRA Investor Education Foundation, selected five especially gifted art students to participate.
Native Food Sovereignty Summit is a Hit
More than 250 people from all over the U.S. – representing tribes, Native organizations and businesses, food producers and others – packed the Food Sovereignty Summit held in mid-April in Green Bay, Wisconsin. Registration for the conference had to be discontinued well ahead of the event because attendee capacity had been reached.
The summit was sponsored by First Nations, the Oneida Nation, the Intertribal Agriculture Council and Northeast Wisconsin Technical College. It was held April 15-18, 2013, at the Radisson Hotel & Conference Center.
First Nations Moves into New Office Building
First Nations Development Institute has a new address!
First Nations purchased its own headquarters office building in Longmont, Colorado, and moved in on April 26, 2013. The purchase was a strategic move that makes great economic sense both for the organization and for the Native communities it serves.
Nambe Pueblo Honors Elders by
Addressing Senior Hunger & Sustainabillity
The experience, knowledge and wisdom of tribal elders have the potential to improve the health and well-being of tribal communities.
In 2012, the Pueblo of Nambe launched an innovative project to demonstrate its respect and appreciation for tribal elders’ lifelong contributions to the tribe. It established a community farm that has helped revitalize traditional farming methods and produced more than 4,000 pounds of food to help eliminate senior hunger on the reservation.
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