NCAI
Partners with Alaska Federation of Natives' Newest Initiative that
Challenges
Native Thinkers to Share Economic & Political Insights
WASHINGTONApril
28, 2009The Alaska Federation of Natives (AFN), in partnership
with the National Congress of American Indians (NCAI), is launching
a new national initiative in the tradition of its successful Alaska
Marketplace Competition.
Native
Insight: Thoughts on Recession, Recovery & Opportunity is a
writing competition crafted to tap the wisdom and ingenuity of our
Native communities, and to encourage Native thinkers to go public
with their perspectives on the challenges and opportunities in our
current economic and political landscape.
"The
Native Insight Competition originated with a surprise announcement
during the 2008 AFN Convention," said AFN President Julie Kitka,
"A great friend of Alaska invited members of the Native community
to share their fresh ideas about the challenges and opportunities
of the current economic climate in writing and he volunteered
thousands of his own hard-earned dollars to seed the pool of award
money."
When
the competition winners are announced in October 2009, $60,000 will
be distributed among three Alaska Native winners and three Native
Hawaiian/Lower 48 winners, with opportunities for their winning
essays to be published in Native journals and magazines across the
United States. Along with NCAI, AFN is also partnering with the
Council for Native Hawaiian Advancement to reach Native communities
across the nation.
"Overcoming
the challenges currently facing the US economy will require a major
shift in the way our economic system works," said Jackie Johnson
Pata, Executive Director of NCAI, "Native communities are great
resources that remain largely untapped by mainstream decision-makers.
The Native Insight Competition will provide Native thinkers a voice
in the national economic dialogue."
The
competition is open to Alaska Natives, Native Hawaiians and American
Indians of all ages. 500-1,600 word essays are due September 15,
2009. Essays must address one or more of three writing prompts focused
on how the Native community can support economic renewal, what it
will take for the American economy to rebound, and what the American
leadership can do to jumpstart recovery. Visit www.nativeinsight.org
for more information about this exciting new competition.
Founded
in 1944, the National Congress of American Indians is the oldest,
largest and most representative American Indian and Alaska Native
organization in the country. NCAI advocates on behalf of tribal
governments, promoting strong tribal-federal government-to-government
policies, and promoting a better understanding among the general
public regarding American Indian and Alaska Native governments,
people and rights.
1301
Connecticut Avenue NW Suite 200 Washington, DC 20036
(202) 466-7767 (202) 466-7797 fax ncai@ncai.org
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