HR/Shareholder Outreach Update: Get Up, Move, Do Something with Daaga’ Awards
Pictured: Daaga-funded Allakaket Culture and Language Camp, 2015.
“Get up, move, do something!” This is the meaning of the Athabascan word Daaga’ and the spirit of the Doyon, Limited Daaga’ Awards, which provide annual grants to programs and projects that promote healthy, clean and sober Alaska Native communities.
Proposals for the 2016 Daaga’ Awards will be accepted until the deadline of Friday, January 6, 2017 at 5 p.m. Applications are available at www.doyon.com.
Since 1990, the Daaga’ Awards have provided more than $220,000 in funding to Interior Native individuals and organizations to help promote drug- and alcohol-free communities and programs.
The proposed projects should support the values of the Daaga’ Awards, which include contributing to the healing that lies within the local people, utilizing the strength of traditional values, and encouraging programs that integrate spiritual, social and economic needs of the communities.
A limited number of awards are available. Proposals may be granted up to $3,000 per funding period. The awarded amount is dependent on the number of proposals received and the need of the program as described in the application and supporting materials. Applicants may not always receive the full $3,000. For this reason, Daaga’ should be considered supplemental funding and not be the only support sought when funding a program.
In February, the shareholder relations committee approved $38,000 in grants for 12 Interior organizations. The following are the recipients of the 2015 Daaga’ Awards:
- Chalkyitsik Village Council – Summer Youth Camp that will teach moose tanning, Native arts and language, and moose hunting skills, while promoting a drug- and alcohol-free lifestyle.
- Fairbanks Native Association – Native Strong Culture Group that will teach Native dancing, singing, drumming, making drums and regalia, and other activities related to Native culture.
- Northway Village Council – Ten Mile Cultural Camp that will teach beading, cooking, mapping, whitefish cutting and smoking, moose hunting and drying, berry picking, boat safety, fish net checking, talking circles, Native dancing and language.
- Carry the Cure, Inc. – Iditarod Suicide Prevention Campaign will build awareness about suicide, domestic violence and substance abuse.
- Nikolai Edzeno Village Council – Family Wellness/Sobriety Week will honor Elders and community members, host speakers that will discuss alcohol/drug prevention, historical trauma and how to heal.
- Dancing with the Spirit will work in the Doyon region to preserve Athabascan fiddling and dance traditions.
- Nenana Native Association – Summer Youth Fish Camp will focus on fishing and processing salmon, as well as learning traditional songs, dance and the Athabascan language.
- Huslia Tribal Council – Our Journey to Dakli Mountains will help to revive one of Huslia’s nomadic hunting trips and host traditional hunting festivities.
- Gwichyaa Zhee Gwich’in Tribal Government – Muskrat/Ice Fishing/Vest Making events will be held and will involve hunting and trapping muskrat, skinning and drying the hides, catching, preparing and storing fish, and sewing muskrat skins.
- Ruby Tribal Council – Camp Fire Youth Activities will include cold water and boat safety, swimming, cooking, nutrition, wellness, outdoor education and teen leadership activities.
- Saakkaay Association – Community Events will include Memorial Day activities, Fourth of July parade, new instruments and a Kaiyuh fishing trip.
- Koyukuk Tribal Council – Culture Camp will invite Elders, youth and other community members to learn and teach fishing, berry picking, plants and the environment.
For more information, please contact shareholder outreach at 1-888-478-4755 (toll-free), 459-2127 (in Fairbanks) or malamuted@doyon.com.