| There are an abundant number of Native | | | | write to the Board of Certification of |
| American grants available for registered | | | | Genealogists or the Association of |
| American Indian tribal members and Alaskan | | | | Professional Genealogists and request their |
| and Hawaiian natives. There are Native | | | | listings of genealogical researchers for |
| American grants for education, housing, | | | | hire. |
| caring for elderly tribal members, cultural | | | | |
| renewal, environmental protection, and tribal | | | | When searching online you'll be astonished at |
| economic development. And that's just the | | | | the amount of grants out there (just use |
| tip of the ice burg! However, just because | | | | 'Native American Grants' as your key word on |
| funds are available in all of these areas and | | | | my website). For example, the Native |
| more, one must not get the impression that | | | | American Housing Assistance and |
| the money is easily won. Receiving Native | | | | Self-Determination Act of 1966 created a |
| American grants is a competitive procedure | | | | block grant that gives money annually to |
| and that requires persistence and research. | | | | low-income Native Americans and Alaskan |
| My website at the bottom of this article will | | | | natives to help with housing needs. The |
| give you all the information you need to get | | | | money is awarded to tribes and Alaskan |
| a hold of one. | | | | villages who in turn manage the money and |
| | | | distribute it in the way that best fits the |
| One of the first steps of applying to almost | | | | needs of their individual community. The |
| all Native American grants is proving that | | | | U.S. Department of Housing and Urban |
| you are a registered member of a federally | | | | Development (HUD) also has home ownership and |
| recognized tribe. It is important to get | | | | housing rehabilitation opportunities |
| this underway as soon as possible. To | | | | available specifically for Native Americans. |
| determine if you are eligible for tribal | | | | |
| membership you should contact your ancestral | | | | One interesting resource is the Seva |
| tribe. Individual tribes determine tribal | | | | Foundation, which awards grant money anywhere |
| membership. The Bureau of Indian Affairs | | | | between $500-$5,000, for grass roots, native |
| (BIA) Tribal Leaders Directory lists all | | | | people initiated programs which may be |
| federally recognized tribes, as well as | | | | overlooked by the larger foundations. Seva |
| contact information for local tribal leaders | | | | awards $50,000 a year in small grants to |
| and BIA offices. Other avenues for tracing | | | | urban and rural communities in the United |
| your Native American heritage include | | | | States. Because of Seva's strong belief in |
| searching home records, using internet search | | | | the importance of self-reliance and |
| engines, and checking local and state record | | | | self-determination only Native led and |
| keeping offices. Talk to your older | | | | initiated projects are accepted. The beauty |
| relatives and try to find birth and death | | | | of these grants is that they allow for a lot |
| certificates, marriage licenses, diaries, | | | | of creativity and originality. |
| newspaper clippings, etc. Check school, | | | | |
| church and county courthouse records for | | | | Another great resource is CodeTalk, which is |
| information - also look for deeds, wills, | | | | a federal, interagency, Native American |
| land or other property conveyances. You can | | | | website designed specifically to deliver |
| also write to the Bureau of Vital Statistics | | | | electronic information from government |
| for information. Another options is | | | | agencies and other organizations to Native |
| employing a professional genealogist to do | | | | American communities. |
| the research for you for a fee. You can | | | | |