First Nations Development Institute: Luce Indigenous Knowledge Fellowship

Under a grant from the Henry Luce Foundation, the Luce Indigenous Knowledge Fellowship promotes intellectual leadership in Native American communities by supporting the work of Native knowledge holders and knowledge makers as they significantly advance their work and spark transformative change in their communities. In this sense, community is broadly defined and can include a Native community, knowledge community, etc.

The fellowship is a two-year, self-directed enrichment program designed to support the process of growth, development, knowledge and networks of Native leaders and thinkers. It seeks to support individuals from diverse fields and engaged in different modes of expression. The fellowship is open to both emerging and experienced leaders and thinkers from a wide variety of fields, including but not limited to agriculture, food systems, youth leadership development, natural resource management, climate change, economic development, journalism, language and cultural revitalization, traditional and contemporary arts and more.

For this fellowship, Native intellectual leadership is defined broadly and includes cultural leaders, media makers, scientists, health professionals, academics, curators, artists, writers, and policy makers, among others. The work of these leaders takes many forms, including journalism, visual art, film and video, speeches or sermons, educational curricula, music or theater, formal scholarship or research, public health strategies, legal arguments, fiction, and policy analysis.

During the fellowship period, fellows will gather together three times during the initial fellowship period to pool their collective knowledge, and create a community of practice that crosses fields, geographies and tribal cultures. These three required convenings will give fellows the opportunity to engage in rich conversations intended to strengthen their leadership skills, reflect on their impact, share their learning and experiences and promote enduring professional relationships. These cohorts will empower fellows to overcome any geographic and cultural isolation they may experience by being a Native knowledge holder or knowledge maker, possibly as the only one in their field.

The fellowship is open to emerging and experienced Native knowledge holders and knowledge makers actively engaged in meaningful, positive work that benefits Indigenous people and communities in either reservation and/or urban settings. Fellows may be engaged in either and/or both Western knowledge fields or traditional Indigenous fields of knowledge development and dissemination, including:

* Cultural Leaders and Activists
* Linguists and Language Preservationists
* Artists, Craftspeople and Designers
* Writers, Storytellers and Media-Makers
* Curators, Conservators and Educators
* Food System Workers and Food Justice Advocates
* Small Business Owners and Entrepreneurs
* Healthcare Professionals and Practitioners
* Environmentalists and Conservationists
* Academics, Researchers and Scientists
* And many more

Amount: Ten fellowships of $75,000 will be awarded.

The fellowship is flexible in that it allows emerging and experienced knowledge holders and knowledge makers to determine their own goals, and decide how their funds are best used to make a positive impact for creation, dissemination and perpetuation of knowledge. It may be used for a wide range of costs, including living expenses, tuition, conference registration, equipment, travel and childcare. The fellowship cannot be redirected to another person or organization.

Important Note: The $75,000 fellowship is considered taxable income.

Eligibility: To be eligible for the Luce Indigenous Knowledge Fellowship:

* Applicants must be tribally-affiliated with a Native American, Alaska Native or Native Hawaiian community.
* Applicants must be engaged in the creation, dissemination and/or perpetuation of knowledge in their field.
* Applicants should have experience or expertise within the knowledge field/area they are pursuing.
* Applicants must be at least 18 years old.
* Applicants must be U.S. citizens or permanent residents.
* Applicants must be able to clearly demonstrate how their work can impact and benefit an Indigenous community or communities in the U.S. and U.S. Territories.

Individuals may apply directly for this fellowship OR individuals may nominate Native knowledge holders and knowledge makers for this fellowship.

Link: https://www.firstnations.org/rfps/luce-2023/

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