Building Native Communities Curriculum/Financial Education related:

Q:  Who wrote the Building Native Communities (BNC) curriculum?
A:  The curriculum was a combined effort of staff and consultants from First Nations Development Institute, Oweesta and Fannie Mae.

Q:  Where can we order the Building Native Communities curriculum?
A:  The curriculum can be ordered by calling 1-800-665-0012 and will usually be sent in batches of 25 student workbooks and one instructor guide.  You can also order six- page colored brochures to share with your organization, board, tribal council, etc.  It should be noted that recommended instructor-training workshops are held throughout the country by Oweesta trainers, so that instructors are completely familiar with all aspects of the curriculum and the process of setting up their own trainings before they order workbooks.  Click here to download the curriculum workbooks, a resource guide and many other useful documents for research and planning.

Q:  Where and when do the instructor trainings take place for the Building Native Communities curriculum?
A:  Part of an organized schedule, instructor trainings take place throughout the year in various locations across the country.  Special instructor training workshops can also be arranged right in your local community.

Q:  Who conducts the trainings for the Building Native Communities curriculum?
A:  Oweesta has a cadre of highly experienced and professional trainers, some of whom were the first to pilot the curriculum years ago.  This group continues to add techniques, coursework and peer trainers as the workshops continue.

Q:  What do the instructor trainings for the Building Native Communities curriculum cover?
A:  The training workshops are normally two days in length.  The lead instructor takes the group through each module including the EITC addendum, emphasizing techniques for planning, organizing and teaching their financial education program using the Building Native Communities, EITC and/or other curriculum addendeums.  There are also workshops with a third day attached for grooming national or regional trainers.  This optional, but integral, day is filled with lessons on becoming an instructor for train-the-trainer workshops so that you can go to your home location and spread the word and/or be able to teach at regional or national sessions in the future.

Q:  Are there trainings for the Earned Income Tax Credit (EITC) workbook?
A:  There are trainings for the EITC workbook and in most cases the EITC trainings are combined with the instructor training for the Building Native Communities curriculum, although there will be occasions where just the EITC material is covered.  This will depend on the venue and goals of the particular session, wherever and whenever that might be.  Click here to download the EITC workbook.

Q:  Will the BNC curriculum be expanded beyond its present scope and topics?
A:  It is our intention at Oweesta and First Nations Development Institute to expand the BNC curriculum whenever possible to include more topic areas important to Native communities.