Cook Native American Ministries Foundation is pleased to announce recipients of grant funding that will be used to empower Native churches and communities, all aligned with the mission of the organization.

“CNAMF received a record number of applications this year and our Grants Committee worked diligently in the award selection process and we are pleased this year’s awards have a national reach”, said Wendy Weston, Executive Director/CEO in a recent interview. Below are the organizations and projects funded as part of CNAMF’s 2020 Grant cycle.

• Native American Urban Ministry, Phoenix, Arizona – funds will allow the NAUM to launch “Elders and Youth, Leaders Together”, a project that will serve inner city Natives from multiple generations and varied life experiences. Elders and youth will be paired up to learn from one another by engaging in community service and leadership training projects and sharing cultural and spiritual experiences. At the center is the notion of Christian fellowship that will allow youth and elders to build supportive and long-lasting relationships.

• Native Chaplaincy Alliance, Rocky Boy, Montana- in an effort to bridge the gap between the secular and spiritual environments of life within Native communities, the Native Chaplain alliance will recruit and train Native chaplains to teach the Fatherhood is Sacred/Motherhood is Sacred, Linking Generations by Strengthening Relationships and Addressing Family Violence curriculums, developed by Native American Fatherhood and Families Association. Identified students are those from remote reservation communities in Montana, Idaho and Washington on the healing journey and seeking spiritual and life skill training.

• Healing Circle Drop-in Center, Shiprock, New Mexico - will use CNAMF funds to support its Providing Skills For Success Program, aimed at working with youth and young adults who have faced challenges in obtaining a high school education or are struggling with post-secondary education. The program utilizes the six directional components of Navajo spirituality, alongside Christian beliefs, to ground the students, restore self-confidence and achieve success in education or a career path.

• Kingdom Workers, Waukesha, Wisconsin – plans to conduct a youth gardening project in Whiteriver, Arizona, where White Mountain Apache youth will have the opportunity to learn the basics of sustenance gardening and how this can address issues of obesity, diabetes, and depression. The youth will learn the importance of proper nutrition, leadership skills, land stewardship, relationships and developing strong work ethics that lead to community stability.

• Living Water Food Pantry and Resource Center, Cherokee. North Carolina- recognizing the need for nutritional food sources in pockets of impoverished communities, the Community Outreach ministry of Living Waters Lutheran Church will be able to continue to offer assistance to those who may have specific dietary concerns or are unable to physically come to the church for assistance. Clients are also encouraged to learn about nutrition, in addition to receiving counseling and assistance in joining the work force or seeking educational opportunities.

• St. John’s United Methodist Church, Bridgeton, New Jersey – will develop and offer an afterschool program to serve young teens from local tribes including Nanticoke Lenni-Lenape and Powhatan Renape Nations. A certified teacher, along with Native high school scholars will mentor and tutor students and provide homework assistance, literacy development, Native immersion and Study of Scripture over a 20- week period.

• Wetlands Theological Educational Center, Gray, Louisiana – in response to desecration of the land through natural disaster, land erosion and pollution, the center will recreate sacred land spaces that will serve as a food, water and refuge for local wild life as well as sacred places for prayer and contemplation. Local tribal youth from the Atkapa Tribe of the Grand Bayou, Pointe au Chien, Grand Caillou and Isle de Jean Charles tribes will learn about traditional medicinal plants of the region and the connections created through faith, prayer and indigenous connections to sacred sites.

In addition, Cook Native American Ministries Foundation will provide continued funding to the Achena Indian Presbyterian Church in Maud, Oklahoma towards their efforts in organization and capacity development and to Three Precious Miracles from the Gila River Indian Community in Sacaton, Arizona for their tireless efforts to provide support and cultural resources to Native children who are in the Arizona foster care system.

These projects and programs collectively uphold the mission of CNAMF- To equip leaders to better serve their churches and communities. To learn more about Cook Native American Ministries Foundation: www.cooknam.org.