Finding home by honoring our relationship with mother nature objective: by the end of year 3, a minimum of 70 american indian and alaska native community members (youth, adults, and elders) will…

The Department of Health and Human Services Administration for Native Americans awarded $615,512 to the Native American Indian Center of Central Ohio on September 30, 2025, under the Native American Programs grant (CFDA 93.612).

The recipient will implement NAICCO Outdoors Programming to deliver fishing skills instruction (rod and reel) and traditional food and medicine gathering practices to a minimum of 70 American Indian and Alaska Native community members—including youth, adults, and elders—over three years. Programming will progress from beginner-level instruction to advanced skills, incorporating both contemporary and traditional harvesting and gathering approaches guided by local experts and knowledge holders from various tribal nations. By the end of year three, the project aims for a minimum of 85 percent of participants to demonstrate increased interest, confidence, and knowledge in fishing and indigenous food and medicine gathering. The initiative seeks to foster reciprocal relationships between participants and the natural environment, establish sustainable practices that can be passed through generations, and strengthen connections to place through active engagement with Ohio's natural resources.

The period of performance runs from September 30, 2025, through September 29, 2028, with place of performance in Ohio.

Finding home by honoring our relationship with mother nature objective: by the end of year 3, a minimum of 70 american indian and alaska native community members (youth, adults, and elders) will have participated in naicco outdoors programming, with a minimum of 85% indicating an increased interest, confidence, and knowledge in fishing (rod/reel) and gathering indigenous foods/medicines. Summary: the native american indian center of central ohio (naicco) proposes "finding home by honoring our relationship with mother nature," a three-year project focused on creating lasting connections to ohio through hands-on outdoor activities. The project will implement naicco outdoors programming to teach fishing skills and traditional food/medicine gathering practices to 70 participants. Through exposure to these activities - guided by local experts and knowledge holders from various tribal nations - participants will develop practical skills while building meaningful relationships with the natural environment. The project aims to foster a reciprocal relationship between participants and nature, instilling a sense of belonging and purpose. Programming will progress from beginner level instruction to advanced skills over the three-year period, incorporating both contemporary and traditional approaches to harvesting and gathering practices. This initiative will help establish sustainable practices that can be passed down through generations while strengthening participants' connection to place through active engagement with ohio's natural resources.