The Cherokee Preservation Foundation recently awarded 41 grants for 2017 for a total of more than $5.8 million. Grants were awarded to partners that meet the Foundation’s mission of improving the quality of life for the Eastern Band of the Cherokee Indian (EBCI) and the surrounding region.
The 2017 grants include:
–Cherokee Central Schools to implement Qualla Education Collaborative plans for a blended learning model and E-STEM curriculum.
–Cherokee Historical Association to support revitalization of the Unto These Hills play.
–Cherokee Boys Club to diversify its operations.
–Cherokee Boy Club to support the Ray Kinsland Leadership Institute in its first year.
–Friends of the Great Smoky Mountains National Park for sustaining existing National Park Service field trip program in NC and TN to include Cherokee cultural activities.
–EBCI Enterprise Development to continue Indianpreneurship training.
— Qualla Arts & Crafts to expand and upgrade artisan archives.
— North Carolina International Folk Festival to enhance the annual Folkmoot Festival with performances and special events from Cherokee artisans.
— Sequoyah Birthplace Museum to focus on events, educational programs and maintain capacity while the museum is being renovated.
–Western Region Education Service Alliance to expand STEM-E curriculum in elementary schools in Cherokee and surrounding counties.
–Community Foundation of Western North Carolina to provide training, learning opportunities, and resources to nonprofits and community groups in Qualla Boundary and WNC.
–Snowbird and Cherokee County Services to establish a cohesive language program in the Snowbird community.
–EBCI Division of Commerce to enhance marketing efforts for Cherokee.
–Western Carolina University Cherokee Studies Department to support the Cherokee language program as an integral partner in the Cherokee language revitalization initiative.
–Revitalization of Traditional Cherokee Resources (RTCAR) to protect traditional artisan resources for future generations.
–Cherokee Boys Club: Right Path to continue implementation of the Right Path Adult Leadership Program.
–Cherokee Boys Club: Cherokee Youth Council to promote Cherokee cultural leadership training, youth empowerment activities, and regional youth council development.
–EBCI Natural Resources to enhance cultural lands management and grow cultural and environmental education for EBCI members, neighbors, and visitors to the Nikwasi-Cherokee Cultural Corridor.
–Mainspring Conservation Trust for building on the planning previously supported by the Foundation to build facilities at the Cowee Cultural Corridor hub.
–American Indian Science and Engineering Society to increase interest and competency in science, technology, engineering, math, and computer science.
–North Carolina Symphony to allow Cherokee Central Schools and Kituwah Preservation and Education with education music curriculum materials and training for youth choirs.
–North Carolina Trail of Tears Association to educate the public on WNC historical aspects of the Trail of Tears.
–Cherokee Boys Club to demonstrate a clean-burn used-oil furnace.
–Southwestern Commission to market agricultural and food-related products in the seven westernmost counties of NC and on the Qualla Boundary.
–EBCI Kituwah Preservation and Education Program to support Cherokee Language preservation through continued learning, adult immersion, archiving, teacher training, community outreach, and more.
–Big Cove Women’s Group Revitalization Project supporting additional cultural classes in the Big Cove community.
–Big Y Community Free Labor Group to support their efforts to purchase major capital equipment.
–The Museum of the Cherokee Indian to continue implementation of the business plan and Cherokee Friends program.
–Cherokee Boys Club: Jones-Bowman Leadership Award Program to support implementation of the program within the Ray Kinsland Leadership Institute.
–Snowbird Cherokee Traditions for the Snowbird summer language camp and adult evening classes.
–Sequoyah Fund to make loans to entrepreneurs and continue financial education through new programs.
–Asheville Art Museum for planning a shared Cherokee exhibition with the Museum of the Cherokee Indian
–Stecoah Valley Arts, Crafts and Education to develop a plan for a Cherokee exhibit
–Western Carolina University to create an interactive exhibit on Cherokee language and culture in the WCU Bardo Arts Center.
Some of the grants included funding from RTCAR (Revitalization of Traditional Cherokee Resources), part of the Foundation. These include:
–Graham Revitalization Economic Action Team (GREAT) to support Phase II of a “living laboratory” on Sweetwater Creek Greenway at Robbinsville High School.
–Highlands Biological Station to improve the Cherokee garden and Cherokee-related programming at the station.
–Mainspring Conservation Trust to continue bird monitoring, research, and education at Tessentee Bottomland Preserve, EBCI’s Cowee Mound, and Welch Farm property in Andrews.
–Western Carolina University Cherokee Studies Program to create a community mapping project on the Qualla Boundary.
–Swain Arts Center to provide a summer arts camps for students at two Swain County elementary schools.
–North Carolina Arboretum Germplasm Repository to develop, test, and publish material supporting Cherokee traditional harvesting methods. This grant should help expedite access to harvesting on National Park lands.
— Chattooga Conservancy to continue implementing a management plan at the Chattooga Town site and create an additional arrangement in the Chattahoochee National Forest.
– Cherokee Preservation Foundation
