NDN Changemaker Fellowship Now Open for Indigenous Applicants Throughout Turtle Island

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE: April 17, 2020

The NDN Collective, an Indigenous-led organization dedicated to building Indigenous power, is launching for its second year a groundbreaking fellowship for Indigenous people throughout Turtle Island and surrounding Island Nations. The NDN Changemaker Fellowship will support 21 Indigenous leaders across the U.S., Canada and Mexico, also including the islands of Guam, American Samoa, Puerto Rico, and Hawaii. This fellowship is designed to amplify, deepen, and catalyze the development of Indigenous leaders ready to create movements in their communities and build a world that is just and equitable for all people and the planet.

The NDN Changemaker Fellowship is a 12-month opportunity for Indigenous leaders to articulate their vision for social change, to identify the support they will need to get there and to invest in their own development, health, healing and wellbeing.

“We’re grateful to be able to support visionary Indigenous leaders from across Turtle Island who are working toward sustainable solutions for their people and their homelands,” says Gaby Strong, NDN Collective Director of Grantmaking.

“As they draw upon their own inherent strengths and wisdom, the Changemaker Fellowship will help them strengthen their strategic approach for change, cultivate the knowledge, resources and networks for achieving change, and nurture their own holistic health and wellness, especially in these pandemic times,” she said. “All of this is critical to effective, sustainable changemaking.”

Individuals who are Indigenous to the U.S., Canada, Mexico and the islands of Guam, American Samoa, Puerto Rico and Hawaii and who are over the age of 18 are eligible to apply for the NDN Changemaker Fellowship. Applicants can come from all life experiences and professional backgrounds, working or aspiring to work toward defending our homelands and rights, developing model regenerative Nations, decolonizing and healing our communities and families and revitalizing their Indigenous ceremonies, cultures, languages and ways of life.

The NDN Changemaker Fellowship upholds NDN Collective’s cultural values and norms, including the interconnectedness of all things, Indigenous self-determination, and equity and justice for all people and the planet.

Each fellow will receive $75,000 (USD) to invest in and support their innovation as leaders. This includes a $50,000 stipend to support the Changemaker in her/his/their endeavors and a $25,000 professional & personal development stipend to cover a wide range of independently determined and organized direct costs, including but not limited to tuition, conference registration, equipment, travel, health and wellbeing practices, and childcare. No portion of the funds can be directed to another person.

To apply, applicants must first complete a one page letter of inquiry (LOI) which can be accessed on the NDN Changemaker page at the NDN Collective website.

For more information and to apply, visit http://new.cloverdalerancheria.com/grants-fellowship/ndn-changemaker-fellowship/ or contact Dr. PennElys Droz, NDN Foundation Program Officer for English speaking locations, at pennelys@new.cloverdalerancheria.com, or, Nicole Yanes, NDN Foundation Program Officer for Spanish speaking locations, at nicole@new.cloverdalerancheria.com.

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