Native Ways Federation

Members

The Native Ways Federation membership currently encompasses our 7 prominent and long- standing founding members. It is the intent and desire of the Federation to open membership to any and all American Indian nonprofit organizations across the U.S. who are ready, willing and able to meet the Membership Criteria of the Federation.

Membership criteria is presently under development. It is critically important to the Federation and the 7 founding members that American Indian nonprofits have the opportunity to comment upon and have welcomed input in the drafting and development of the Membership Critera. Due to the Federation’s emphasis upon comment and input from the American Indian nonprofit community, we expect that it will take some time to finalize the Membership Criteria. Once these are finalized they will be publicized on the Native Ways Federation website under “Membership Criteria”.

THE 7 FOUNDING MEMBERS OF NATIVE WAYS ARE:

	American Indian College Fund The American Indian College Fund provides scholarships and other support for the nation's 32 tribal colleges and universities, the vast majority of which are located on or near reservations. The Fund also provides support for other needs at the schools ranging from capital support to cultural preservation activities.
	American Indian Science and Engineering Society The American Indian Science and Engineering Society (AISES) offers financial, academic and cultural support to American Indians and Alaska Natives from middle school through graduate school, and helps them prepare for careers in science, technology and engineering.
	American Indian Youth Running Strong With our spokesperson Billy Mills, American Indian Youth Running Strong helps American Indian people meet their immediate survival needs-food, water, and shelter-while implementing and supporting programs designed to create opportunities for self-sufficiency and self-esteem for Native youth.
	Association on American Indian Affairs The Association on American Indian Affairs (AAIA), founded in 1922, primarily focuses its efforts in the areas of youth/education, cultural preservation and community development. Programs include Native language preservation, scholarships, youth summer camps, protection of sacred sites, Indian child welfare and federal recognition.
	First Nations Development Institute First Nations believes that when armed with the appropriate resources, Native peoples hold the capacity and ingenuity to ensure the sustainable, economic, spiritual and cultural well-being of their communities. First Nations Development Institute is working to strengthen American Indian economies by investing in, supporting, and developing innovative economic development strategies for asset control within the Tribal Nonprofit Sector, the Tribal Government Sector, and the Tribal For-Profit Sector.
	National Indian Child Welfare Association The National Indian Child Welfare Association (NICWA) works to enhance tribal capacity to deliver quality welfare services by promoting safe, healthy, and culturally-strong environments and aids child advocates in Indian communities with culturally-based training, networking and information.
	Native American Rights Fund The Native American Rights Fund (NARF) provides legal advice and representation to individuals, Indian tribes, and organizations and assisted tribes in federal Indian law pertaining to tribal sovereignty, religious freedom, federal recognition, repatriation, subsistence hunting and fishing, and environmental and educational support.