Red Cliff Receives Tribal Heritage Grant Award

September 3, 2020

The Red Cliff Band of Lake Superior Chippewa have received a $50K Tribal Heritage Grant award for its Gete Anishinaabeg Izhichigewin Community Archaeology Project, which will allow Red Cliff to focus on protecting and promoting its unique cultural heritage and traditions.

Funding for the Tribal Heritage Grant program is made available by the Historic Preservation Fund and is administered by the Department of Interior National Park Service.

“We are very excited to receive this grant as it will afford the Red Cliff Band the opportunity to research and document our recently purchased Pageant Grounds, and will allow us to identify and document old homestead sites within Reservation boundaries,” said Marvin Defoe, Red Cliff Tribal Historic Preservation Officer. “We will also be able to prepare our Frog Bay ancient historic site for the National Register of Historic Places.”

Red Cliff is one of only 13 award recipients nationwide that will be receiving tribal heritage grants.

“These grants provide critical support to help American Indian Tribes and Alaskan and Hawaiian Native communities connect people with their traditions and preserve their cultural heritage for future generations,” said Margaret Everson, Counselor to the Secretary, exercising the delegated authority of the NPS Director.

The official National Park Service press release, along with a list of Tribal Heritage Grant Awards, can be found at https://bit.ly/3jBYyRE.



Marvin Defoe, Tribal Historic Preservation Officer, performs a traditional song during the 2020 Red Cliff graduation ceremony.
The Tribal Heritage Grant Program will help Red Cliff protect and promote its cultural heritage and traditions.
Photo by Red Cliff Band.