Congratulations to the American Indian Family Empowerment Program Fund (AIFEP) grantees!

AIFEP strives to reverse the social, educational and economic challenges facing American Indians by investing in human capital, skills and cultural strengths through three priority areas: cultural connections, educational achievement and economic self-sufficiency. Over the past 20 years, the AIFEP fund has awarded over 800 individuals close to $1.5 million.

These grants are made in partnership with the Two Feathers Fund of The Saint Paul Foundation.

Goal 1 Preserving & Renewing Cultural Connections

Concepcion Davila-Day (Bois Forte Ojibwe) to support her family’s participation in ceremonial activities.

Ajuawak Kapashesit (White Earth Ojibwe & Waskaganish Cree) to purchase equipment to develop a digital storytelling project with local elders.

Misty Blue (White Earth Ojibwe) to support funding for her podcast storytelling project with Native mothers.

Goal 2 Educational Achievement

Maggie LaMorie (Lac Courte Ojibwe) to support her art study program at Minneapolis College of Art & Design.

Shannon Geshick (Bois Forte Ojibwe) to support her Master’s of Tribal Administration and Governance Program of the University of Minnesota Duluth.

Dakota Hoska (Oglala Lakota) to support her Master’s in Art History specializing in Native American Art History at the University of Saint Thomas.

Walter Goodwin (Winnebago of Nebraska) to support his Doctoral program in Educational Leadership at Bethel University.

Laura Trujillo (Leech Lake Ojibwe) to support her Master’s program in Non-Profit Leadership at Metropolitan State University.

Goal 3 Economic Self-Sufficiency

Rafael Gonzalez (Spirit Lake Dakota) to support the website launch and establish “Lucid Dreamer Music” production company LLC.

Melissa Olson (Leech Lake Ojibwe) to support the production of community audio projects, podcasts, and audio-documentaries.

Amanda Dionne (Northern Cheyenne) to support with the down payment of a new home.

Cecelia Benimon (Turtle Mountain Ojibwe) to support with start-up costs to launch her own tax business.