Michigan Gaming Revenue Helping Fund Mascot Changes, Other Community Efforts

Please rewrite the given prompt or provide additional context for me to rewrite.

Six community projects in the state have been granted nearly $480,000 by the board of the Native American Heritage Fund.

At the board’s June 17 meeting, the winners were announced after considering a group of 11 applicants. Grant funds will be utilized to assist schools and programs that are making positive changes to celebrate and respect Native American history and culture.

State gaming revenue supports the fund.

Winners to receive awards in August

The ceremony for presenting the awards is scheduled to take place at FireKeepers Casino Hotel in Battle Creek on August 19th at noon, and it will be open to the public.

The following individuals/organizations have been awarded the NAHF grants for 2022:

• The Chippewa Hills School District has been awarded a grant of $52,371.20 to fund the replacement of the existing “Warriors” mascot with a fresh new branding known as the “Golden Knights.”
• Hartford Public Schools has been awarded a grant of $132,249.25 to support the implementation of a new and impactful curriculum, as well as to facilitate the transition of the school’s mascot from the “Indians” to the “Huskies”.
• A sum of $87,500 will be granted to the Lansing School District in order to support their rebranding efforts, specifically towards the creation of a new mascot.
• The College Completion Corps program will receive a funding of $55,000 from Michigan’s College Access Network. This funding will enable the program to continue its operations and support the placement of three completion coaches at three tribal colleges for the upcoming school year. These colleges include Saginaw Chippewa Tribal College, Keweenaw Bay Ojibwa Community College, and Bay Mills Community College. The primary objective of the completion coaches is to assist first-generation, low-income, and/or students of color in achieving success and maintaining their college enrollment.
• The Western Michigan Native American Affairs Council has been granted $12,295 in funding to host an event called “A Conversation with Dallas Goldtooth,” featuring the Mdewakanton Dakota and Dine speaker, in collaboration with Native News Online.
• A total of $139,318.90 was awarded to Saranac Community Schools for the purpose of transitioning to their new mascot, the “Red Hawks”.

Nixing racist mascot imagery a priority

Grant funding primarily supports various projects, however, schools seeking to alter racist mascot imagery were given higher priority. The expenses associated with these changes, including the costs of modifying uniforms, logos, buildings, and other related aspects, can quickly accumulate.

According to a statement released by NAHF Chairperson Jamie Stuck, investing in the removal of racist mascot imagery will lead to increased funding for proactive program and curriculum development in the future.

Positive changes in professional sports often take a considerable amount of time to materialize. Two teams that have made noteworthy strides in this regard are the Washington Commanders in the NFL and the Cleveland Guardians in MLB.

In the process of selecting new mascots, the NAHF urges schools to involve local Tribes, alongside students and the community, for consultation.

Native American Heritage Fund established in 2016

The Native American Heritage Fund was established in 2016 through a second amendment to the Tribal-State Gaming Compact between Michigan and the Nottawaseppi Huron Band of the Potawatomi (NHBP), a federally recognized tribal government.

The amendment enables the NAHF to receive an annual deposit from state gaming revenue. It all began with a $500,000 deposit at the start of the 2016 fiscal period.

Moving forward, a deposit will be made at the end of each fiscal period to restore the fund’s balance to $500K. To illustrate, if the fund’s expenditure in a fiscal period is only $200,000, the subsequent period’s deposit would amount to $300,000.

The purpose of the funds is to foster improved connections between schools, local governments, and federally recognized Native American Tribes in the state. The allocated funds are utilized for educational resources, programming, and other initiatives aimed at enhancing comprehension of Michigan Indian history. This includes the replacement of offensive mascots, as well as various programs.

The allocation of funds is determined by the board members of NAHF. The board consists of two members chosen by the governor, two members selected by the NHBP Tribal Council, and the director of Michigan’s Civil Rights department, or a representative appointed by the director.

The current board members for this year consist of Stuck, who serves as the NHBP Tribal Council Chairperson. The vice chairperson is Dorie Rios, also a member of the NHBP Tribal Council. Elizabeth Kinnart, a citizen of the Sault Ste. Marie Tribe of Chippewa Indians, holds the position of secretary. Melissa Kiesewetter, the Tribal Liaison/Native American Specialist for the Michigan Department of Civil Rights, serves as the treasurer. Lastly, Kimberly Vargo, a member of the Grand Traverse Band of Ottawa and Chippewa Indians, is a board member.

Please rewrite your original statement so I can help you.