LONGMONT, Colo. –First Nations Development Institute is accepting proposals for its new “Seeds of Native Health” grant program, which is under its Native Agriculture and Food Systems Initiative.

According to a First Nations press release, the purpose of the campaign is to support Native tribes and organizations that are working to eliminate food insecurity, promote access to fresh and healthy foods and provide increased access to nutritional programs aimed at improving the overall nutrition and health of Native people and communities.

The release states the Shakopee Mdewakanton Sioux Community created the overarching campaign. First Nations and the SMSC established a partnership to further the goals of the SMSC “Seeds of Native Health” campaign, with First Nations utilizing its NAFSI experience to help achieve these goals.

“Seeds of Native Health” is a comprehensive, national campaign to improve Native American nutrition through capacity building, education and research supported by the SMSC. The campaign builds on localized efforts to solve the problems of Native American nutrition.

First Nations will distribute up to 16 grant awards ranging from $30,000 to $40,000 to selected groups and/or projects.

First Nations will accept proposals for programs and/or projects that are focused on strengthening Native food systems and ultimately improving the health and nutrition of Native people and communities.

The release states that desired programs and/or projects will noticeably improve a tribe or Native organization’s effort to increase access to traditional, fresh and healthy foods and increase access to nutrition-related programs aimed at improving the overall nutrition and health of Native people and communities. Selected proposals will increase awareness of and involvement with where the tribe and/or communities’ food comes from, expand knowledge of the linkages of food to Native cultures and/or contribute to tribal economic growth and development with income from entrepreneurially related food ventures.

Organizations eligible to apply include U.S.-based, Native American-controlled nonprofit 501(c)(3) organizations, tribes and tribal departments, tribal organizations and Native American community-based groups that are committed to improving the overall health and well-being of Natives and increasing healthy food access in rural and reservation-based Native communities.

Priority will be given to projects which are aimed at increasing the availability of healthy and locally-produced foods in Native communities; reducing food insecurity; promoting accesses to fresh, healthy and traditional foods and entrepreneurship and/or programs that create systemic change by increasing community control of local food systems.

Grant proposals are due by 5 p.m. MT on May 21. All applicants must fully complete the First Nations online grant application, including the submission of all necessary attachments.

First Nations has supported a variety of projects, including commercial kitchens, farmers’ market development and expansion, farm-to-table programs, food co-ops, mentorship projects and traditional foods projects.

For more information, visit http://bit.ly/1GrAScN.