# 2025 Awards ## Sign Up for Updates Our Honoring Nations award cycle currently operates on a 2+ year cycle (one year for awards, one year for dissemination). Register for our newsletter so you can be notified about all Harvard Project news, including our next awards cycle! [Newsletter Signup](https://indigenousgov.hks.harvard.edu/newsletter-sign) ## expand\_more **Honoring Nations invites applications from American Indian governments across a broad range of subject areas, including:** Sort**Cultural Affairs** **Government Performance** **Economic and Community Development** **Health and Social Services** **Education** **Intergovernmental Relations** **Environment and Natural Resources** **Justice** Partnerships between tribal governments and other entitites are welcome to apply and multiple applications from a single tribal nation also encouraged. The Honoring Nations [Board of Governors](/honoring-nations-board-governors) guides the evaluation process in which programs are selected and receive national recognition as well as a monetary award. At each stage of the selection process, programs are evaluated on the basis of their significance to sovereignty, effectiveness, cultural relevance, transferability, and sustainability. At the heart of Honoring Nations is the principle that tribes themselves hold the key to generating social, political, cultural, and economic prosperity and that self-governance plays a crucial role in building and sustaining strong, healthy Indian nations. Honoring Nations serves as a vehicle for collectively celebrating our many and diverse successes, fostering pride and confidence in the ability of American Indian governments to improve the well-being of their respective communities and citizens. Another fundamental principle of the program is that American Indian nations benefit from access to innovative ideas and effective governing approaches. Award-winning programs serve as important sources of knowledge and inspiration that are drawn upon throughout Indian Country and far beyond. To date, the Honoring Nations family includes 142 exemplary programs and 12 All-Stars from over 100 tribal nations. ## General Information ### What is the Honoring Nations award? expand\_more Honoring Nations is a national awards program that shines a light on excellence in tribal governance. Since 1999, 142 programs from over 100 tribal nations have received an award. This year, six governance programs will be selected as Honoring Nations 2025 awardees, receiving international recognition as well as a monetary award. Up to 3 will receive High Honors and will receive a $5,000 award and exhibits at the Smithsonian to celebrate their work and impact; the remaining awardees will receive a designation of Honors and an award of $2,000. All awardees will receive specially curated online, multimedia exhibits through Google, case studies, and other curricular materials that are shared with tribal leaders, public servants, the media, scholars, students, and others interested in promoting and fostering excellence in tribal governance. ### When are applications due? expand\_more Applications submitted for Honoring Nations 2025 must be received by **5:00 pm EST on Wednesday, January 29, 2025**. ## Eligibility ### What kinds of tribal programs are eligible to apply for the award? expand\_more To be eligible for an Honoring Nations award, the program must: • Be administered under the authority of a federally-recognized American Indian nation or Alaska Native community (or an office, division, or agency thereof) that played a formative role in designing and implementing the program. • Be submitted by the tribal government office, division, or agency responsible for oversight and/or administration of the program. • Have been in operation for at least 12 months prior to the application deadline. ### Can nonprofits apply? expand\_more No, nonprofits cannot apply. However, Honoring Nations will accept applications that are partnerships between tribal governments and other entities (nonprofits, private organizations, or other governmental entities) as long as that tribal government is leading the initiative. All applications must be submitted by a tribal government or tribal government entity. ### Can tribal governments apply with more than one program? expand\_more Multiple applications from a single nation are welcome. Programs that have previously applied are encouraged to re-apply if they were not previously awarded. ### Can a collaboration between two or more tribal governments apply? expand\_more Absolutely! We just ask that one tribal government take the lead on filling out the application and facilitating interviews/site visits/etc. ## Selection Criteria ### What are the selection criteria? expand\_more *At each stage of the selection process, applications will be evaluated according to the following criteria:* • **Significance to Sovereignty** – The program strengthens self-governance and self-determination for the nation. • **Effectiveness** – The program achieves positive and measurable results in addressing a key concern, problem, or challenge facing the nation and its citizens. • **Cultural Relevance** – The program fits, reflects, and strengthens the nation’s culture. • **Transferability** – The program’s concepts, principles, and practices are applicable to other governments. • **Sustainability** – The program shows promise of sustained effectiveness. ## Selection Process ### Who reviews the applications? expand\_more The evaluation process is led by the [Honoring Nations Board of Governors](/honoring-nations-board-governors), with participation from the senior staff of the Harvard Kennedy School Project on Indigenous Governance and Development and from the Native Nations Institute at the University of Arizona. ### What is the overall selection process timeline? expand\_more - Application Deadline: **Wednesday, January 29, 2025 by 5:00 pm EST** - In **February 2025**, 18 programs will be chosen as semifinalists. Harvard Project staff will conduct a short telephone interview with representatives of each of the semifinalist programs. Each semifinalist will then be asked to submit supplemental information and a letter of endorsement from the chief executive of the nation (i.e. Chief, Chairperson, President, Governor, etc.). - In **May 2025**, up to 6 programs will be selected to receive a site visit. Site visits will be conducted by small teams of 2 to 3 people from the Harvard Project staff, Board of Governors, and/or experts within the field. - In **June**, **July**, and **August 2025**, site visits will be conducted. Finalists will be notified shortly after. - In **October 2025**, the Board of Governors will deliberate, select, and announce the awardees and associated award designations. ### What kind of approvals do I need to submit the application? expand\_more Please ensure that the department/agency director and/or other relevant authority(s) have approved the completed application prior to submission. If selected as a semifinalist, you will also need to submit supplemental information and a letter of endorsement from the chief executive of the nation (i.e., Chief, Chairperson, President, Governor, etc.). If you have any questions about the program, please contact: **Jael Whitney Brothers** Assistant Director of Honoring Nations [jael\_brothers@hks.harvard.edu](mailto:jael_brothers@hks.harvard.edu) (617) 496-2413