:: NSAIE Knowledge Preservation Project ::

The National Society for American Indian Elderly (NSAIE), announces a Grant Award from the Administration for Native Americans, under the Social and Economic Development grant opportunity:

• The NSAIE will work with its member tribes to create Intergenerational programs that transfer the knowledge of elders to the next generation
• This project will produce a high quality “coffee-style” cookbook
• Develop an accessible on-line archive for the collection of traditional knowledge
• Honor the knowledge of elders through a partnership that creates a lasting legacy of their important contribution
• Provides on-line access to collected knowledge, information and resources to help strengthen local communities elders through a partnership that creates a lasting legacy of their important contribution

An Overview of the NSAIE Knowledge Preservation Project

The National Society for American Indian Elderly will develop and sell a cookbook of traditional American Indian recipes to be produced and distributed in conjunction with a national publisher. Program Income from the sale of the cookbook will be granted back to tribal senior services and centers, giving each tribe the financial autonomy to use the funds in ways that are most culturally appropriate and socially necessary. As a result of this project, a sustainable non-federal funding source will be developed to continue and expand services to American Indian elders.

The development of this project was made possible by a partnership with the Corporation for National and Community Service (CNCS), the help and support of the CNCS New Mexico state office, and through the AmeriCorps VISTA project grantee Ser de New Mexico.

One of the project objectives is the development of a high quality, high concept cookbook; this high-end series will increase awareness of Native American foods, including historical and traditional methods, and highlight regional differences in food preparation. Additionally, the project will support a system to collect and archive information regarding food collection, preparation and service while developing a system to allow for local and national access to this information for generations to come. This project is a partnership with our member tribes, it will be administered at the national level, but the project focus is local.

This multi-year grant will result in the development of increased services for American Indian elderly. Finally, as a result of the increased resources for elder service programs increase the quality of life for seniors and youth alike through intergenerational activities and increased services to elders through senior service programs.

Grant Timeline: Coming Soon!

How you can Participate

We are seeking recipes and information on Traditional food preparation methods. If you would like to contribute information or a recipe, please follow the link to an online form and make sure to include your contact information so that we can reach you if we need additional information.

The information collected may be used to help us produce our Knowledge Preservation Project cookbook.  Recipes selected for inclusion in the national addition will be paid a submission fee.

- Project Cookbook

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Image: Northwestern University Library, Edward S. Curtis's 'The North American Indian': the Photographic Images, 2001. http://memory.loc.gov/ammem/award98/ienhtml/curthome.html