ARLINGTON — The Stillaguamish Tribe of Indians last month was awarded more than $1 million in federal grants to improve crime prevention efforts and services for young people.
The tribe is one of 13 in Washington to receive more than $14 million total in grants, according to the U.S. Department of Justice, which published a list of the awards in late September. Nationally, the department gave out more than $100 million in competitive grants.
The Stillaguamish Tribe received $339,053 for cultural activities programs for young people, $372,561 for services for children in difficult or dangerous family situations, and $359,795 to aid community and police responses to drugs and criminal activity.
The youth program is through the Office of Juvenile Justice and Delinquency Prevention.
It connects young tribal members with adult role models and creates activities and events that “get them in touch with the culture that ties them to a past of perseverance,” said Cynthia Toop, grants director for the tribe. The goal is to “bring them confidence in who they are in this modern day world.” Kids and teens learn traditional crafts and canoe carving. The grant is expected to help add language lessons and provide supplies for camping, hunting, carving and making tribal regalia.
The grant to help children is through the Children’s Justice Act Partnerships for Indian Communities. It’s expected to go toward training for tribal employees, new software and supplies, and travel needs, Toop said. Travel costs include taking children in foster care to visit relatives elsewhere in Washington or out of state.
“It lets them keep those strong family bonds,” Toop said.
The community policing grant through the Department of Justice’s COPS office is to pay for training and equipment geared toward improving programs for substance abuse prevention, child welfare, juvenile crime intervention and tribal court systems.
Other, smaller federal grants have been won by the tribe this year to focus on clean energy capabilities at tribal buildings and promoting carving and other cultural activities and education.
Directors from every tribal department came together to pursue the grants, Toop said. The awards reflect a focus on preserving the Stillaguamish culture, helping young people stay safe and healthy, and preventing crime and substance abuse.
There are about 340 members of the Stillaguamish Tribe.
Kari Bray: 425-339-3439; kbray@heraldnet.com.
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