First Nations Development Institute: Strengthening Native Resilience in California in the Wake of the Pandemic

First Nations Development Institute (First Nations) today announced the awarding of $550,000 in grants to 30 Native-led California organizations to help them continue vital programs and services that have been compromised due to the COVID-19 pandemic.

Native Americans overall are 3.5 times more likely to contract COVID-19 than their white counterparts, and this issue is further compounded in California, where federal programs for health services and outreach are chronically underfunded and under-resourced, and where there are an estimated 75 non-federally recognized Tribes that are often denied federal funding opportunities.

This round of awards is provided by Together Toward Health, a program of the Public Health Institute, through funding from a group of philanthropic organizations. Susan Watson, Director of Together Toward Health & CA4Health, said, “Support for these Native-led organizations will enhance communication, public awareness, and health education that will reduce the spread of COVID-19 in California overall by making sure that the Native communities are included and reached in culturally appropriate ways.”