First Nations Receives $5 Million from Bezos Earth Fund to Advance Indigenous Ecological Stewardship
LONGMONT, Colo. (December 6, 2021) – First Nations Development Institute (First Nations) announced today it has received a $5 million grant from the Bezos Earth Fund to help tribes and Native-led nonprofit organizations conduct and operationalize climate change plans and amplify the power of traditional ecological knowledge.
The grant from the Earth Fund will fund First Nations’ Racial Equity Justice 40 project, including the creation of a $1 million grant program to support up to 10 tribes or Native nonprofits working to create or advance green jobs and implement climate resilience plans. Additional objectives include:
- Working with regional and state-based tribal organizations to facilitate conversations around the Biden Administration’s Justice40 Initiative and building climate resilience in Native communities.
- Partnering with federal agencies to expand capacity, efforts, and research on climate change planning and implementation.
- Creating opportunities for capacity building, training, technical assistance and professional development for tribes and Native nonprofits focusing on climate justice and resilience.
First Nations’ President and CEO Michael Roberts said the organization is thankful for the Bezos Earth Fund’s investment, which will result in advancements that can be mirrored on a global scale to improve conservation and ecological stewardship worldwide. “We know that through the strengthening and sharing of Native practices, we can address the dire effects of climate change in not only Indian Country but for the planet overall,” he said.
The Bezos Earth Fund is a $10 billion commitment launched in 2020 to fund scientists, activists, NGOs, and private-sector entities that are taking critical action to combat the climate crisis, preserve and protect the natural world, and support climate justice.
More information about First Nations’ work surrounding Stewarding Native Lands and Environmental Justice can be found at www.firstnations.org.
About First Nations Development Institute
For 41 years, using a three-pronged strategy of educating grassroots practitioners, advocating for systemic change, and capitalizing Indian communities, First Nations has been working to restore Native American control and culturally-compatible stewardship of the assets they own – be they land, human potential, cultural heritage or natural resources – and to establish new assets for ensuring the long-term vitality of Native American communities. First Nations serves Native American communities throughout the United States. For more information, visit www.firstnations.org.
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