“Get up, move, do something”, this is the meaning of Daaga’ and the spirit of the Doyon Daaga’ award. Through the Daaga’ Fund, Native leaders unite to promote healthy, drug-and-alcohol-free communities with grants of up to $3,000 per annual funding cycle. Since 1990, Doyon has awarded more than $220,000 to interior Native individuals and organizations.
The Daaga’ Award reflects our belief that communities are healthier when Native values are alive and traditional skills are prized-such as beadwork, artwork, hunting, and trapping. Programs that integrate the spiritual, social, and economic needs of our people make us all stronger. 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.
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.
The deadline for the 2018 Daaga’ Awards is Friday, January 12, 2018. View/download the application here.
In February 2017, the shareholder relations committee approved grants for 12 Interior organizations. The following are the recipients of the 2017 Daaga’ Awards:
- Tanacross Village Council – Educational retreat and culture camps focusing on self-esteem, self-awareness and health issues for all ages.
- Chalkyitsik Village Council – A summer youth camp with Elders helping to teach traditional values, as well as moose hunting and tanning, and Native arts and language.
- Rampart Village Council – Traditional song and dance group.
- White Eye Traditional Knowledge Education Program – Traditional knowledge education camp focusing on Elders handing down traditions to youth.
- Birch Creek Tribal Council – Cultural sewing workshop in Fairbanks teaching how to sew traditional clothing, and make fur hats, mittens and slippers.
- Tetlin Village Council – Creation of the Tetlin Dance Group to inspire and promote cultural and language revitalization.
- Gwichyaa Zhee Gwich’in Tribal Government – Youth Survivors, a firearm safety and skill-building project to promote rural life skills and firearm safety.
- Nenana Native Association – A summer youth fish camp focusing on fishing and processing salmon and exploring other traditional values.
- Young Native Fiddlers – Young Native Fiddlers group teaching fiddle and guitar, and promoting leadership skills, confidence, love of music and academic success.
- Council of Athabascan Tribal Government – Tribal history commemoration event.
- Nulato Tribal Council – Nulato Family Fish Camp, held for Elders and youth ages 10 – 18, will promote traditional values and subsistence.
- Koyukuk Tribal Council – Culture Camp for all ages, teaching youth skills in fishing, berry picking, healing plants and environmental surroundings used to sustain cultural heritage and the traditional lifestyle.
To Learn more about the Daaga’ Fund or for questions regarding the application, please contact:
Doyon, Limited
Shareholder Outreach Department
Tel: (907) 459-2085 (Fairbanks)
Tel: (888) 478-4755 (toll-free)
Email: outreach@doyon.com