Program Background
Nalwoodi Denzhone Community (NDC) currently operates “Nnee Nalwoodi (Strong Apache) Life Center” using the 90-acre Dripping Springs property, owned by the Tribe, in the Gilson Wash District of San Carlos Reservation as a “transition center” for struggling youth. This will become a place of transformation in body, soul, mind, and spirit through reconnection to earth’s Creator by means of education, farming, gardening, animal husbandry, art, and inspiration in a way that is reproducible and sustainable.
This grant will be used to assist with the development of the NDC General Store. This includes store equipment/fixtures, inventory, supplies, materials, and mobile market vehicles. In addition, the project team will also help the tribal communities with engineering consulting services.
The program is also open to all Federally Recognized Tribe in Arizona (Arizona has 22 Federally Recognized Tribes).
Program objectives
The Overarching Goal of this proposed program is to promote food production, healthy lifestyles, and economic development on the historically underserved San Carlos Apache Reservation.
To achieve the overarching goal, this program intends to address the following objectives/purposes in San Carlos Apache Reservation as well as other tribal communities in Arizona:
Objective 1: Increase tribal community healthy foods outreach and education. Through community outreach and strategic planning, NDC will help build a strong community through public education and encouraging the adoption of healthy
eating and lifestyles.
Objective 2: Accomplish local food store development. This will increase the availability and access of high-quality, fresh and healthy foods on the Reservation by promoting farming and community gardening. It also helps to preserve Apache identity, tradition, and culture as a host center for food related events in culturally sensitive ways.
Objective 3: Provide technical assistance and training. Through culturally sensitive ways, the project team will help provide direct business and operational technical assistance and training (finances, feasibility, planning, engineering consults).
Objective 4: Provide successful program management. The project team will provide all of the support listed above. We will also facilitate and provide all required federal reports to ensure all grant requirements are met for our constituents.