Native Voices Endowment
Funds projects to document, revitalize, and academically study Native American languages spoken by tribes encountered by the Lewis & Clark Expedition.
Funder: Endangered Language Fund
Due Dates (Anticipated): November 2026 (Full application deadline, projected)
Funding Amounts: $250–$20,000 per project; one-year grant period; multiple awards annually
Summary: Supports documentation, revitalization, and academic study of Native American languages spoken by tribes encountered by the Lewis & Clark Expedition.
Key Information: Principal Investigators must be enrolled tribal members or employees of tribal colleges; see detailed eligibility criteria.
Description
This program funds projects to document and revitalize Native American languages spoken by tribes that had contact with the Lewis & Clark Expedition (1803–1806). Grants support a range of activities, including language documentation, revitalization initiatives, curriculum development, scholarships for academic study in linguistics or Native languages, and Master/Apprentice language learning programs. The Native Voices Endowment is managed by the Endangered Language Fund and is a legacy of the Lewis & Clark Expedition Bicentennial, funded by the U.S. Mint's commemorative coin revenues. Projects must directly benefit eligible tribes and their languages, with a focus on community impact and sustainability.
