The key to understanding Native American concerns starts with the idea of building a respectful relationship over time. That means learning about each Native community and their issues. This is in contrast to a foundation approach where there is a propensity to lump all tribal people together. When a Native project fails, foundations often become hesitant about funding future Native projects. There are many reasons why individual projects do not succeed. The failure could be that a foundation did not conduct good research on the Native grantee. Yet when one project fails, as one person reported, they “virtually stopped funding Native projects.”

This paper concludes with a series of recommendations about how the foundation community can be a better partner with Native American communities, nonprofits and tribes.

Lloyd Kiva New ( b. Lloyd Henri New, Cherokee Nation, 1916-2002) wrote his memoirs in the last four years of his life.

Everyone who knew Lloyd believed his remarkable life story had to be told. Not only would it inspire other young gifted people of destitute backgrounds, but it also offers an insight into the role of parents and the culture around the making of an artist.

After several months of editing, thanks to a grant by W.K.Kellogg Foundation, the life story of this extraordinary man, a visionary arts educator, is about to be told.

Currently reviewed and under consideration for publication by the Arizona University Press, readers should look forward to a sincere, heart-warming and inspiring memoirs of Lloyd Kiva New.