American Rescue Plan Act for Native Language in the US

Deadline: 25-Jun-21

The Department of Health and Human Services, Administration for Children and Families, and Administration for Native Americans (ANA) have announced the availability of Fiscal Year (FY) 2021 funds made available from the American Rescue Plan Act (ARP) for Native Languages.

Native American communities, including federally and state-recognized Indian Tribes, Alaska Natives, Native Hawaiian and Pacific Islander communities, have had disproportionately higher rates of virus infection cases and loss of life due to COVID-19.

Social distancing and closures have limited the ability to meet in-person for language instruction, cultural activities, and ceremonial practices that utilize Native languages.

Many Native communities are unable to conduct language programming virtually due to inadequate technology, broadband, and infrastructure. Native Tribes and communities are at different stages of language preservation efforts.

Because the needs are so diverse and great, ANA wants to strategically and equitably use this funding to support the needs of as many entities as possible that the legislative authority allows.

The proposed emergency language projects should be able to identify one or two of the following domains that will be the focus of the project:

Resources and Documentation (for example: language instruction modules, recordings, transcribing, curriculum development, dictionary building)
Instruction (teacher training, professional development, Master-Apprentice)
Technology and Infrastructure (computer and devices, internet enhancements, IT networking)
Planning (survey, community readiness or interest assessment, strategic plan)
Elder or inter-generational engagement (Elder language instruction, Elder storytelling in the language, Elder speaker recordings)

Funding Information

Estimated Total Funding: $19,000,000
Expected Number of Awards: 200-500
Award Ceiling: $95,000
Award Floor: $37,000
Average Projected Award Amount $37,000
Anticipated Project Start Date: 9/7/2021 (upon award)
Length of Project Period: 12-month project and budget period, 24-month project and budget period, and 36-month project and budget period

Eligibility Criteria

Eligible Applicants –
- Native American tribal governments (federally recognized);
- Federally-recognized Indian Tribes, as recognized by the Bureau of Indian Affairs (BIA);
- Incorporated state-recognized Indian Tribes.
If designated by a federally-recognized or state-recognized Tribe to receive the Tribe’s funding allocation, the following entities are eligible to receive an award. The designation must be submitted either by the Tribe as an official statement on letterhead or a resolution with its application:
- Incorporated non-profit multi-purpose community-based Indian organizations;
- Non-profit Native organizations in Alaska with village-specific projects;
- Incorporated non-profit Alaska Native multipurpose, community-based organizations;
- Tribal colleges and universities.
An eligible applicant is limited to one award under this FOA. Additionally, an eligible applicant may subaward to another eligible applicant. In this instance, the subrecipient may also choose to submit its own application for an ARP award to implement its own project