Native American Advised Fund

The Native American Advised Fund at the Santa Fe Community Foundation was established in 1993 with a gift from the late Allan Houser (Chiricahua Fort Sill Apache), a humanitarian and one of the world's great artists. Grants are made from the fund based on the recommendations of an advisory committee whose members reflect the diversity of our region’s 23 pueblos, tribes, and nations.

The purpose of the Native American Advised Fund is to enhance Native lifeways now and for future generations in New Mexico by promoting a spirit of sharing and supporting community initiatives. The Fund supports efforts that emphasize the commitment to Native core values: community, language, culture, and environment. Since 1997, the Native American Advised Fund has granted over $400,000 to Native-led and serving tribes, schools, and organizations.

Americans for Indian Opportunity

Albuquerque | aio.org

Mission | Americans for Indian Opportunity (AIO) advances the rights of Indigenous peoples through Indigenous valuesbased leadership development, transformative community organizing, hosting collaborative action networks, and sharing Indigenous worldviews and positive contemporary Indigenous narratives. AIO is a national organization headquartered in Albuquerque where we are a part of the urban Native community and provide support to local community activities and initiatives. Proposal | Americans for Indian Opportunity (AIO) will work with the Albuquerque urban Native community to establish the Urban Indigenous Elders/Youth Council of Albuquerque to facilitate the creation of an urban Indigenous resource center. Noteworthy | Natives suffer the worst socio-economic indicators of any group. AIO addresses these statics in the following areas: leadership-lack of culturally grounded, prepared proactive leaders; community-lack of opportunity for deep dive discussion on complex challenges, identify collaborative strategies, address root causes; networksdifficulties in forging relationships & collective action; and awareness as the US education system does not adequately include the history and experience of Indigenous peoples.

Institute for American Indian Arts Foundation

Santa Fe | iaia.edu

Mission | The Institute of American Indian Arts' mission is to empower creativity and leadership in Native arts and cultures through higher education, lifelong learning, and outreach. Proposal | The Institute of American Indian Arts (IAIA) has hundreds of undergraduate, graduate, and continuing education students who attend classes onsite or through virtual learning options. Almost 80% of IAIA’s undergraduates are Native and more than 75% of our students depend on scholarships and other forms of financial assistance to complete their degrees; we're requesting support to meet this need, which continues to grow every year. Noteworthy | To advance the work of the Foundation by building capacity which will serve students and IAIA, while building national awareness of the college. All grants from the Santa Fe Community Foundation will be matched by a member of the IAIA Foundation board.

Keres Children's Learning Center

Cochiti Pueblo | kclcmontessori.org

Mission | Keres Children’s Learning Center (KCLC) strives to reclaim our children’s education and honor our heritage by using a comprehensive cultural and academic curriculum to assist families in nurturing Keres-speaking, holistically healthy, community minded, and academically strong students. Proposal | KCLC’s request for funding will help support and nurture children, ages 2.5–12, into healthy, responsible, Keres-speaking adults. Noteworthy | The purpose of KCLC is Keres language revitalization. The core of this effort lies in our children. KCLC uses the image of a corn plant to represent the elements of our work. The children are the kernels in which Keres is being sown, and which, when ripe, we hope will yield in abundance. Keres is used to teach children all academic subjects in our two classrooms (primary and elementary).

Museum of Indian Arts and Culture

Santa Fe | indianartsandculture.org

Mission | To serve as a center of stewardship, knowledge, and understanding of the artistic, cultural, and intellectual achievements of the diverse peoples of the Native Southwest. Proposal | The Museum of Indian Arts and Culture (MIAC) is dedicated to telling the history of the diverse Indigenous people of the Southwest from their own perspectives. MIAC celebrates Native cultures in exhibits; offers culturallyrelevant onsite and virtual programs for Tribes, schools, and the public; and closely consults with communities on collections. In short, MIAC is foundationally committed to working with and for Native people in its exhibits, programming, and collections care. Noteworthy | Since its founding, MIAC has challenged the way museums document Native art and history. Instead of exhibits created by non-Native scholars focused on the past and discounting today’s cultures, MIAC integrates Native voices and knowledge into every exhibit, class, and public program. MIAC provides a forum for Native artists and scholars to share work often excluded by mainstream venues and plays a key role ensuring that schools adequately address the contributions and history of Native peoples.

New Mexico Foundation for Dental Health, Research & Education

Albuquerque | nmdentalassociationfoundation.org

Mission | To increase oral health literacy and access to care for all New Mexicans. Proposal | The NMDAF is requesting funds to provide oral health education and oral hygiene supplies for children at the Gathering of Nations event on April 28–30, 2022. Noteworthy | Almost half of New Mexicans lack dental insurance. Even with dental insurance, many cannot afford care. Delayed oral health care leads to poor mouth health and oral diseases, which can impact overall health in many ways including poor nutrition, diabetes, heart diseases and even Alzheimer’s disease. Poor oral health is also associated with reduced employment opportunities, poorer school performance, low self-esteem, and social isolation, which can significantly affect economic status.

New Mexico Kids Matter Inc.

Albuquerque | nmkidsmatter.org

Mission | We advocate for abused and neglected children in the foster care system by working on behalf of their best interests and speaking up for them in the courts, schools, and our communities. We empower community volunteers to work as Court Appointed Special Advocates (CASAs) to ensure that foster children are safe, get the services and support they need to overcome the trauma they have experienced, and can achieve permanent homes so they can thrive as they grow. Proposal | We are requesting support for our advocacy project on behalf of Native American children in foster care in New Mexico. The goal of this work is to achieve better outcomes for children, families, and tribes when Native American children are in the foster care system. Noteworthy | Native American children have historically been separated from their parents, extended families, and communities by state child welfare agencies. Studies show that Native American children in foster care, disconnected from their family and culture, are at high risk for behavioral and mental health problems. To address these issues, we provide advocacy services focused specifically on the needs of Native American foster children and the requirements of the Federal Indian Child Welfare Act (ICWA).

Northwest Tribal Emergency Management Council

Snohomish | nwtemc.org

Mission | To provide guidance and tools for member tribes to develop sustainable and all-hazard programs for Emergency Management, Public Health, and Homeland Security. Through an approach that emphasizes both inter and intrajurisdictional cooperation to maximize resources in mutual aid, training, exercises, planning, and equipping, the organization is able to share real time information and best practices. Proposal | The goal is to continue the mission of delivery of critically needed food and medical supplies to the Tribes throughout the United States. Due to COVID-19 and the remote and isolated nature of many of our Tribal communities, we have delivered more than 140 million pounds of food to 32 states to date, but need additional funds and resources. Noteworthy | COVID-19 Response and Relief for Indian Country.

Santa Fe Film Institute

Santa Fe | santafefilminstitute.org

Mission | Santa Fe Film Institute is committed to the advancement of independent film, filmmaking, support of the local community, and underserved youth. The main project of the Santa Fe Film Institute (SFFI), the Santa Fe Independent Film Festival (SFiFF) is the premiere forum for international and independent cinema in New Mexico. SFiFF serves as a creative center for film year-round, provides professional opportunities for artists, and presents the year's top films each October. Proposal | Santa Fe Film Institute presents SFiFF each October, including SFiFF’s Indigenous Film Program, which features acclaimed films created by Indigenous filmmakers or depicting Indigenous subjects or motifs. Encouraging cinematic creativity while also promoting awareness, appreciation, and sincere representations of Indigenous people in film, this program reflects issues affecting Native Americans and Indigenous peoples around the world. Noteworthy | SFFI and SFiFF address a need for more accurate and meaningful representations of Indigenous peoples in film with SFiFF’s Indigenous Film Program (IFP), created by Gary Farmer. The IFP includes films by Indigenous filmmakers or depicting Indigenous subjects; in 2020, it had six features, eight shorts, and six films in the NM Film program. SFiFF develops accessibility for Native American students to attend the IFP and its visiting filmmakers. In 2021, we will host an Indigenous Women in Film Panel.

Santa Fe Indigenous Center

Santa Fe | santafeindigenouscenter.org

Mission | The Santa Fe Indigenous Center is designed by and for Indigenous Peoples with the mission of supporting, promoting, and enriching our vital, diverse community by identifying and serving the needs and interests of our people. Proposal | SFIC requests general operating support to continue our operations of on-going support services available through our programs provided to the Indigenous community of Santa Fe County. Our resourceful position within the Indigenous community opens opportunities for us to learn about the needs of individuals and families that we serve. Access to this information will aid SFIC in providing and offering long-term solutions for positive, impactful change. Noteworthy | SFIC wants to address the existing hardships 60% of our constituents suffer from. Needs like food access, financial support for bills and necessities, technical support services, cultural awareness, and mental health wellbeing. Native Americans already have high rates in health disparities (diabetes and heart disease), unemployment, and homelessness. 60% of Native Americans living in Santa Fe County experience food insecurity, and homelessness and unemployment rates have increased in Santa Fe.

School for Advanced Research

Santa Fe | sarweb.org

Mission | SAR advances understanding of humanity through a unique alchemy of creative practice and scholarly research in Native American arts, anthropology, and related disciplines. SAR offers resident fellowships to Native American artists and, working collaboratively with descendant communities, stewards one of the nation’s finest collections of Southwest Native American art at the Indian Arts Research Center. SAR also hosts research seminars and provides public programs on topics of social concern. Proposal | SAR’s IARC public programs include topics on the history and evolution of Native American art and the issues facing contemporary Indigenous cultures. SAR Curates is a series of explorations of SAR grounds and Native American art holdings and history. SAR Artists Live includes visits to the studios of Native American artists to gain insight into their artistic process, what inspires them, how they apply traditional methods in their contemporary work, and how current events impact their work. Noteworthy | As it has for centuries, Southwest Native American art continues to evolve, with traditional techniques modified to reflect current social and environmental conditions. Few programs in northern New Mexico facilitate direct public engagement with the evolving Indigenous artist traditions. To strengthen support for Native American artists, there is an ongoing need for awareness of the power of the arts within their communities, and how the works of these artists contextualize present-day issues.

The HERD Project

Santa Fe | HERDProject.org

Mission | To promote psychological wellness and selfdiscovery through learning experiences involving horses and other animals. We invite teens into experiences with horses through equine assisted learning, equine therapy, art making, and a heart focused practice of self-regulation. We are strengthening the experience of co-regulation in the animal-human relationship. These activities decrease the impacts of trauma by lowering stress and increasing a sense of well-being. Proposal | The HERD Project is seeking funds to provide scholarships to local Native American teen girls (and nonbinary individuals) to access our equine assisted learning and therapy programs. We offer one-on-one sessions for those with more acute needs as well as group experiences. Noteworthy | The HERD Project is addressing teen trauma resulting from the COVID-19 pandemic, including extended grief, anxiety, depression, and displacement from home. There is a significant increase in the numbers of teens and their families seeking mental health services with concerns of suicidal thoughts, substance abuse, and self-harm such as cutting. Suicide rates in New Mexico are consistently 50% higher than the US rate. It is the second leading cause of death in New Mexico for people ages 10–34 according to the NM DOH.

Zuni Youth Enrichment Project

Zuni | zyep.org

Mission | To promote resilience among Zuni youth so they will grow into strong and healthy adults who are connected with Zuni traditions. Proposal | At the Zuni Youth Enrichment Project, we are champions for Zuni youth and provide them with positive role models, enriching programs, and nurturing spaces that promote their health by connecting them to their culture. Noteworthy | While Zunis have tremendous strengths that have sustained them for millennia, they are also coping with profound challenges that threaten these foundations, including systemic poverty, which affects one in two Zuni youth. Notably, ZYEP is the only non-school youth development program for Zuni's 2,900 tribal members under the age of 18. ZYEP serves 800 youth annually and seeks to grow to serve more of the of 2,100 youth not currently participating in ZYEP programs.