Indian Affairs OIED Seeking Applications for Living Languages Grants

Press Release

WASHINGTON – The Indian Affairs Office of Indian Economic Development announced today it is soliciting applications for its Living Languages Grant Program. Funds provided through the LLGP enable federally-recognized American Indian and Alaska Native Tribal entities as listed in 86 FR 7554 to support Tribal programs that document Native languages or build Tribal capacity to create or expand language preservation programs.

The office is seeking to fund about 15 to 60 grants ranging in value from approximately $25,000 to $200,000.

“Preserving Native languages is fundamental to preserving all aspects of Tribal cultures and traditions,” said Assistant Secretary – Indian Affairs Bryan Newland. “The Living Languages Grant Program can help sustain Indigenous knowledge that can only be transmitted through Tribal languages. I encourage Tribes interested in developing their language preservation programs to apply under this solicitation.”

OIED is administering the LLGP, which is a competitive discretionary program, through its Division of Economic Development. The solicitation and details on how to apply can be found in the Federal Register here and at Grants.Gov.

Questions about this solicitation may be addressed to Mr. Dennis Wilson, Division of Economic Development Grants Manager, Office of Indian Economic Development - Indian Affairs, U.S. Department of the Interior, at 505-917-3235 or Dennis.wilson@bia.gov.

The Assistant Secretary – Indian Affairs advises the Secretary of the Interior on Indian Affairs policy issues; communicates policy to and oversees the programs of the Bureau of Indian Affairs (BIA), the Bureau of Indian Education (BIE), and the Bureau of Trust Funds Administration (BTFA); provides leadership in consultations with tribes; and serves as the DOI official for intra- and inter-departmental coordination and liaison within the Executive Branch on matters concerning American Indians and Alaska Natives and the federally-recognized Tribes in the United States. The Office of Indian Economic Development is located within the AS-IA office.

Indian Affairs’ Office of Indian Economic Development (OIED), formerly known as the Office of Indian Energy and Economic Development, supports the economic development of American Indian and Alaska Native (AI/AN) communities by offering access to capital through grant opportunities and loan guarantees, and by providing technical assistance to federally-recognized AI/AN Tribes. OIED administers the Living Languages Grant Program through its Division of Economic Development (DED). For more information about OIED’s mission and programs, visit the OIED website.

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