- Details
- By Native News Online Staff
WASHINGTON — American Indian tribes and Native American programs received $68 million in funding from the U.S. Department of Labor to use for local training programs.
The employment and training services are targeted toward low-income Native Americans, Alaska Natives and Native Hawaiians.
The 340 tribes and Native organizations participating in the funding round shared an award of about $54 million for adult programs as part of the Workforce Innovation and Opportunity Act, according to a statement. The award also reserved $550,000 for technical assistance.
The largest of the 170 awards for adult programming went to: Navajo Nation ($4,066,245), California Indian Manpower Consortium Inc. ($4,028,442), Rhode Island Indian Council Inc. ($2,101,890), Phoenix Indian Center Inc. ($1,725,076), California-based United American Indian Involvement ($1,650,869), New Mexico-based National Indian Youth Council ($1,546,257), North Carolina-based Lumbee Regional Development Association Inc. ($1,385,871), Hawaii-based Alu Like Inc. ($1,322,847), Cherokee Nation of Oklahoma ($1,310,545), Pennsylvania-based Council of Three Rivers American Indian Center Inc. ($1,129,405) and Texas-based Alabama Coushatta Indian Tribal Council ($1,064,172).
An additional $13 million went to youth programming.
Among the 170 youth-focused awards, the largest amount of funding went to Navajo Nation ($3,042,608), Alu Like Inc. ($1,854,213), Cherokee Nation of Oklahoma ($670,063), Oglala Sioux Tribe ($412,490) and Creek Nation of Oklahoma ($352,804).
Funding for the programs was included in the Further Consolidated Appropriations Act of 2020, which was signed into law in December.
“Indian and Native American Programs grantees and the Department of Labor share a vision of providing quality employment and training services to tribes, tribal organizations, Alaska Native entities, Indian-controlled organizations and Native Hawaiian organizations serving unemployed and low income Native Americans, Alaska Natives and Native Hawaiians,” the Department of Labor said in a statement.
The full list of adult and youth-focused funding is available on the DOL’s website.
More Stories Like This
American Basketball Association Announces Native ABA InitiativeFour Winds South Bend Upgrades to Class III Gaming Casino
Native News Online Wins Two Awards from Native American Journalists Association
Wahlberg Brothers Are a Big Hit at Indian Gaming Tradeshow and Convention in Las Vegas
Native Gro Offers Tribes a ‘One-Stop Shop’ for Entering the Cannabis Industry
Help us tell the stories that could save Native languages and food traditions
At a critical moment for Indian Country, Native News Online is embarking on our most ambitious reporting project yet: "Cultivating Culture," a three-year investigation into two forces shaping Native community survival—food sovereignty and language revitalization.
The devastating impact of COVID-19 accelerated the loss of Native elders and with them, irreplaceable cultural knowledge. Yet across tribal communities, innovative leaders are fighting back, reclaiming traditional food systems and breathing new life into Native languages. These aren't just cultural preservation efforts—they're powerful pathways to community health, healing, and resilience.
Our dedicated reporting team will spend three years documenting these stories through on-the-ground reporting in 18 tribal communities, producing over 200 in-depth stories, 18 podcast episodes, and multimedia content that amplifies Indigenous voices. We'll show policymakers, funders, and allies how cultural restoration directly impacts physical and mental wellness while celebrating successful models of sovereignty and self-determination.
This isn't corporate media parachuting into Indian Country for a quick story. This is sustained, relationship-based journalism by Native reporters who understand these communities. It's "Warrior Journalism"—fearless reporting that serves the 5.5 million readers who depend on us for news that mainstream media often ignores.
We need your help right now. While we've secured partial funding, we're still $450,000 short of our three-year budget. Our immediate goal is $25,000 this month to keep this critical work moving forward—funding reporter salaries, travel to remote communities, photography, and the deep reporting these stories deserve.
Every dollar directly supports Indigenous journalists telling Indigenous stories. Whether it's $5 or $50, your contribution ensures these vital narratives of resilience, innovation, and hope don't disappear into silence.
The stakes couldn't be higher. Native languages are being lost at an alarming rate. Food insecurity plagues many tribal communities. But solutions are emerging, and these stories need to be told.
Support independent Native journalism. Fund the stories that matter.
Levi Rickert (Potawatomi), Editor & Publisher
