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2023 Reflection Report
Dear relatives,
My one-year anniversary as the Commissioner of ANA was on March 8th. I cannot believe it’s been a whole year since that momentous day and how much ANA has accomplished in 12 months. Please see the 2023 ANA Reflection Report on the ANA website, where I offer a reflection on the collective work, recognize the importance of the relationships we’ve established, and preview opportunities for deeper engagement with our Native and Indigenous Community Partners in the year ahead.
ANA’s grant funding to community-driven projects has lifted up Native communities, families, and children and catalyzed economic development across the United States and the Pacific Islands. ANA grants preserve Native languages, teach little children, honor the wisdom of tribal elders, create art spaces and celebrate culture, restore tribal homelands, train a strong steady workforce, and so much more. Throughout this past year, I’ve seen firsthand the impressive impacts of ANA grants on building thriving communities.
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This reflection cannot possibly capture everything ANA does in service to its Community Partners (grant recipients) and in support of the tremendous work of the Administration for Children and Families. Nevertheless, I hope this captures ANA’s impressive investments and remarkable Community Partners who are creating new opportunities and hope for the future.
Pilamayaye, Patrice
Patrice H. Kunesh
Descendant of the Hunkpapa Band of Lakota and Standing Rock Sioux Tribe
Commissioner, Administration for Native Americans
Deputy Assistant Secretary for Native Americans
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Celebrating 50 Years of ANA
The Administration for Native Americans (ANA) is turning 50 this year. As part of the celebration, ANA has launched a special webpage to honor this milestone.
The website features Stories of Self-determination, Community Partner Spotlights, and Leadership Tributes and Messages.
Throughout this year, ANA will share stories of its roots, growth, and hopes for the future. Be sure to check out landing page throughout 2024 to see the inspiring messages.
ANA 50th Anniversary Website
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Commissioner Kunesh Addresses Alaska Tribal Justice Systems as Foundations to Community Healing and Wellness
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ANCHORAGE, Alaska – On January 22, Administration for Native Americans (ANA) Commissioner, Patrice Kunesh attended the Eklutna Clerk of Court and Court Administrator Training in Anchorage and shared remarks on the critical importance of tribes demonstrating inherent sovereignty through their judicial systems.
The event brought together Alaska Native village court staff for a 2-day training in Anchorage, Alaska. Commissioner Kunesh also invited Administration for Children and Families Commissioner, Rebecca Jones Gaston, to join the discussion and share updates on the many ways ACF provides services and support to Native people and communities, including new rules underway to expand legal representation in child welfare cases, kinship care definition expansion, and Title IV-E services.
While in Anchorage, Commissioner Kunesh met with five ANA community partners and learned more directly about how they are making social and economic community investments and lasting impacts in their communities.
“I’m very grateful they came to meet me in Anchorage on a very cold, frosty day. Some flew in and drove several hours for our visit. Each project is addressing a particularly compelling need in unique way. The impacts of that work are felt well beyond the project participants – with their families and communities too,” said Kunesh. One project manager referred to its ANA award as a “catalyst” for workforce development; and another described ANA funding as “pivotal” to its language immersion work.
Chugach Regional Resources Commission (CRRC)
Alutiiq Pride Marine Institute’s Director Jeff Hetrick discussed the progress of his project with the Chugach Regional Resources Commission (CRRC) under the ANA Environmental Regulatory Enhancement (ERE) program.
“CRRC has had several projects supported through ANA funding, most recently developing our Harmful Algae Bloom (HAB) lab designed to protect our residents from toxic algae and presently an eDNA project designed to help better understand the herring populations near several communities,” said Hetrick. “I was impressed by the Commissioner's sincere interest in our programs and the impacts they make and how ANA can support those efforts.”
Clare Swan Early Learning Center
Chief Operating Officer of the Cook Inlet Tribal Council (CITC) LeeAnn Cooper Garrick said it was an honor to share information about the language nest work at the Clare Swan Early Learning Center.
“This ANA-funded language program brings language revitalization and preservation right to the heart of the Clare Swan Early Learning Center,” said Garrick. “By expanding the community’s capacity to support Alaska Native children learning and speaking the Yup’ik (Yugtun) language…this program can provide immersion-based language preservation by supplementing instructional delivery with a school readiness program and instructional resource development activities.”
At the end of the day, Commissioner Kunesh added her appreciation for the deep commitment of each of ANA’s Community Partners to their projects and people. “I also value the feedback I received about the challenges they experience in delivering much needed programs and services while managing several grants. Reducing those burdens is a top priority for my team.”
Commissioner Kunesh also met with the following Community Partners during this visit.
Alaska Native Heritage Center - Tin Hoozoonh Project
Southcentral Foundation - Ch'aqiniya Network
Yukon Delta Fisheries Development Association (YDFDA) Lower Yukon Youth Agriculture Project
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ANA’s Notice of Funding Opportunities FY 2024
Applications for all five NOFOs are due May 20, 2024, 11:59 PM EST. Please refer to the funding opportunities above for all official updates.
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Notice of Proposed Rulemaking on Adoption and Foster Care Analysis and Reporting System (AFCARS) and Tribal Consultation
A Notice of Proposed Rulemaking (NPRM) was published in the Federal Register on February 23, 2024 (89 FR 13652) to amend the AFCARS regulations to require state title IV-E agencies to collect and report data elements related to the procedural protections of the Indian Child Welfare Act of 1978.
Comments can be submitted on this NPRM on or before April 23, 2024 at Regulations.gov.
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New Rule to Improve Child Care Access,
Affordability, and Stability in CCDF
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The Administration for Children and Families (ACF), Office of Child Care (OCC) announced a new rule that will lower costs for families that receive child care subsidies, improve payment practices to childcare providers, and increase families’ child care options. The changes make much-needed updates to the Child Care and Development Fund (CCDF), which is the nation’s largest funding stream to help families afford child care and improve quality in childcare settings.
The text of the full rule is available here.
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Native Early Childhood Development
Learning to be Teachers
Wicoie Nandagikendan means “seek to learn the language.” A Dakota and Ojibwe early childhood immersion program. Founded in 1998; the Alliance of Early Childhood Professionals (AECP) started as a Native American Leader’s Circle. Seven women came together to serve underrepresented indigenous communities. Discovering ways to revitalize language and culture; it was acknowledged that there was a lack of curriculum and a loss of language. Wicioe Nandagikendan has helped produce over 50 language immersion teachers throughout the years. This program is a great way to give back to Indigenous communities and help grow the next generation of language speakers.
Wicoie has been a place for children to learn the language and prides itself on being able to see the children grow. One Ojibwe apprentice has her daughter in the program. The apprentice and daughter were able to participate in an Ojibwe immersion summer program in 2023. During this time Karissa Ficken, a parent and apprentice, said,
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“I’m raising one strong, Anishinaabekwe. To raise her with her language and culture so she can know her true self. There’s a saying in Native country that goes something like “May you raise your children with Indigenous Love, rather than colonial pain.” And that’s exactly what I’m hoping to do.”
"It’s amazing to see this family immersed in the culture and language. They participate in intergenerational learning within the classroom and speak Ojibwe in public places like the office and at events. The immersion program is intended to support children to stay rooted within the culture and language and ANA has given us the opportunity to help grow the next generation of language learners and teachers."
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Commissioner Kunesh Serves on NIEA Panel on Data Sovereignty | On February 28th, Administration for Native Americans (ANA) Commissioner, Patrice Kunesh, attended a listening session hosted by the National Indian Education Association (NIEA) relating to Tribal data priorities. A group of about 90 participants representing Tribal Colleges and Universities, BIE Tribally operated schools, American Indian Science and Engineering Society, and others gave feedback on data sovereignty and improving the quality of data collected through a partnership with U.S. federal resources. | |
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May is Missing and Murdered Indigenous People Awareness Month
The Administration for Children and Families (ACF) is committed to harnessing its resources to confront the crisis of Missing or Murdered Indigenous People (MMIP), which has disproportionately harmed Native communities.
For generations, Indigenous women, girls, Two-Spirit individuals and people have experienced high rates of violence and trauma caused by the devastating legacy of assimilationist policies of forced removal, boarding schools, and systemic oppression.
Responding with a sense of urgency is part of our nation-to-nation obligation. The MMIP Action Plan (PDF) updates the Tribal Advisory Council's (TAC) earlier work and responds to recent White House directives.
It also advances the whole government's commitment to addressing the MMIP crisis and sets out a multipronged approach to advance ACF’s work in preventing violence against Native people and promoting healing from historical trauma.
Importantly, it adopts responsive administrative processes such as equity, self-governance, and Indigenous knowledge, as well as identifying ways to leverage ACF’s grant funding, community engagement, and rulemaking authority.
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May is Asian American Native Hawaiian and Pacific Islander Awareness Month | |
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Commissioner Headed to Hawai'i and American Samoa
Commissioner Kunesh is traveling to Hawai'i and American Samoa this week and will spend time with varying grantees.
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May Day with Kāhuli Leo Le’a
May Day is Lei Day in Hawai’i. On Wednesday, May 1, Lei Day traditions will be celebrated by Kāhuli Leo Le’a. The organization was awarded an ANA SEDS grant in FY21 for Kani Kuaola: Amplifying Livelihoods in Mele, a project designed to implement an innovative training and music production program that improves marketing and earnings among Mele Practitioners. Mele is song and poetry, woven through the ancient epistemology of Native Hawaiians and with the contemporary material of lived experiences.
To celebrate, Kāhuli Leo Le’a will host a concert featuring mele, hula, and moʻolelo. Producer and executive director, Zachary Lum, explains that “the theme of this year’s show emphasizes the importance of lineage.” Lum adds, “Lineage is the essence of Hawaiian culture, especially in mele and hula, where knowledge is passed down from generation to generation. May Day will highlight keepers of lineage – of legacy – as living reminders that Hawaiians can endure centuries of change, so long as we tend to the lineages that connect us.”
You can join in the Lei Day celebration by watching the concert live, beginning at 7 p.m. HST on mele.com.
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13th Annual Festival of the Pacific
The Festival of Pacific Arts & Culture (FestPAC) is heading to Hawai’i on June 6th - 16th. FestPAC is the world's largest celebration of indigenous Pacific Islanders showcasing and celebrating traditions, art, and diverse cultures of the Pacific Region.
500 Sails will be at FestPAC with 4 traditional canoes. The organization was granted an ANA award in FY21 for The Taotao Tåsi – Maritime Career Pathways, a project providing the native community with new job training and professional development opportunities that prepare native jobseekers for successful entry into maritime professions, where their historical affinity to the ocean is an asset and they are likely to thrive.
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Community Partner Highlights
Hawai’i FoundHer by Purple Mai’a Foundation
ANA FY23 Community Partner Purple Mai’a Foundation just celebrated the launch of its third Cohort for Hawai’i FoundHer, an accelerator program tailored specifically to the needs of Native Hawaiian, Pacific Islander, and/or Asian women and mothers starting businesses in five core markets of Hawaiʻi’s economy: Tech, Fashion, Health & Wellness, Food System/Restaurants, and Keiki/Education.
Purple Mai'a Foundation
FoundHer Profile Companies
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AANHPI Resources
Mai Ka Pūnana Mai Podcast by ‘Aha Pūnana Leo
In February 2024, ‘Aha Pūnana Leo (ANA Pacific Region 2021 EMI Community Partner) launched their Podcast channel called Mai Ka Pūnana Mai, which shares stories of people and families who have raised or are raising their children in ‘Ōlelo Hawai’i (Hawaiian language). The podcast is available on all major podcast streaming services.
‘Aha Pūnana Leo will continue to upload ‘Ōlelo Hawai’i lessons presented to their students' parents weekly and ‘Ike Aukahi lessons to their podcast and YouTube channel every two weeks as a language learning resource and to extend access to these lessons beyond families enrolled in their program.
‘Aha Pūnana Leo YouTube Channel
Mai Ka Pūnana Mai Spotify
Mai Ka Pūnana Mai Apple Podcast
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Visit the ANA Newsletter Archive | |
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www.acf.hhs.gov/ana
Administration for Native Americans
An Office of the Administration for Children & Families
U.S. Department of Health & Human Services
330 C Street, S.W.
Washington, D.C. 20201
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