Longmont, Colorado-First Nations Development Institute Announces the Publication and Release of “Integrated Asset Building Strategies for Reservation-Based Communities”

Released on: October 24, 2007, 3:42 pm

Press Release Author: First Nations Development Institute

Industry: Non-Profit, Management

Press Release Summary: Today, First Nations Development Institute (First Nations) announced the publication and release of "Integrated Asset Building Strategies for Reservation-Based Communities: A 27-Year Retrospective of First Nations Development Institute.” This unprecedented report is the culmination of more than a quarter century of work by First Nations and highlights the economic, social and cultural resilience and ingenuity of Native peoples across the United States.

Press Release Body: Today, First Nations Development Institute (First Nations) announced the publication and release of "Integrated Asset Building Strategies for Reservation-Based Communities: A 27-Year Retrospective of First Nations Development Institute.” This unprecedented report is the culmination of more than a quarter century of work by First Nations and highlights the economic, social and cultural resilience and ingenuity of Native peoples across the United States.

Funded by a generous grant from the Ford Foundation, the report includes original research on several key asset-building strategies in Native communities: financial education, individual development accounts, community development financial institutions, entrepreneurship development, building Native controlled philanthropic foundations and funds, and utilizing the earned income tax credit. Drawing upon a unique mix of practitioner and academic research, the report presents new data and analysis of asset building in Native communities.

According to Michael E. Roberts, President of First Nations, “In order to accurately identify and assess the needs and trends in Indian Country, we need to continually review and evaluate First Nations’ major asset building approaches and their effects in Native communities and this report does just that.” In addition, Roberts notes that the report is being released publicly “to allow everyone with an interest in Indian Country the opportunity to access the models, tools, analysis and information from First Nations’ comprehensive body of work over the last 27 years.”

Through a three-pronged strategy of Educating Grassroots Practitioners, Advocating Systemic Change, and Capitalizing Indian Communities, First Nations is working to restore Native control and culturally-compatible stewardship of the assets they own - be they land, human potential, cultural heritage, or natural resources - and to establish new assets for ensuring the long-term vitality of Native communities.

To learn more about this report, or to order copies, visit the First Nations Development Institute Website at www.firstnations.org or contact Sarah Dewees, Director of Research, via email at: sdewees@firstnations.org or by phone at: 540-371-5615.

Media Contact: Sarah EchoHawk Vermillion
Phone: 303-774-7836 e-mail: svermillion@firstnations.org

First Nations Development Institute
703 Third Avenue, Suite B
Longmont, CO 80501
www.firstnations.org
303-774-7836
303-774-7841 (fax)

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Web Site: http://www.firstnations.org

Contact Details: First Nations Development Institute
703 Third Avenue, Suite B
Longmont, CO 80501
www.firstnations.org
303-774-7836
303-774-7841 (fax)