The overall purpose of the SBHP is to advance local, national, and international understanding and preservation of the region's resources and to sustain the cultural vitality of its Indigenous people. The mission statement for the Shared Beringian Heritage Program is, "To connect people and promote collaboration for thriving cultures and ecosystems and to celebrate the Beringian region." One of the program goals is to ensure that SHBP implements projects and programs that reflect meaningful engagement with current and future Beringian partners and Indigenous communities.

The 2023 proposals should address a key action of this goal, which is to support programs that connect young people to science, culture, and/or related opportunities within the Beringia region through:

  • Creating a youth program that incorporates Indigenous knowledge, science, and cultural activities focused on Beringia;
  • Partnering with organizations to support internships that provide professional development opportunities within Beringia; and
  • Developing a community exchange program that includes participants of all ages, as well as international and Indigenous communities within the Beringia region.

Proposed projects may be community-based, educational, cultural, conservational, or research focused, but must demonstrate how they fulfill this key action of the SBHP.

Project examples include, but are not limited to:

  • Youth camps that provide Indigenous cultural teachings, storytelling, language, and art within the Beringia region;
  • Internships and mentorships between youth and Indigenous elders, knowledge bearers/keepers, and community members of the Beringia region;
  • Projects that demonstrate the relationship between Indigenous stories, songs, place names, cultural heritage sites, and landscapes of the Beringia region; and
  • Projects that develop Beringia tools and materials that will help safeguard Indigenous languages, arts, and cultural heritage of the Beringia region.

Eligible applicants include:

  • State governments;
  • County governments;
  • City or township governments;
  • Public and state controlled institutions of higher education;
  • Native American tribal governments (Federally recognized);
  • Nonprofits having a 501(c)(3) status with the IRS, other than institutions of higher education; and
  • Private institutions of higher education.

Proposal deadline: 8 May 2023

For more information, go to:
SBHP Funding Call