Grants of $5,000-$20,000 will be awarded by the First Nations Development Institute under its 2007 Native Youth and Culture Fund.

Letters of intent are due Feb. 14 for the grant program, which seeks youth-oriented projects that incorporate native culture and traditions to address issues like drug and alcohol abuse, teen pregnancy, and mental health.

Funding priority areas include preserving, strengthening, and renewing cultural and/or spiritual practices, beliefs, and values; engaging youth and elders in documenting traditional knowledge, practices, and beliefs; increasing youth leadership through integrated educational and mentoring programs; and increasing access to cultural customs and beliefs to revive and preserve tribal language, arts, history, and other topics.

About 20 grants will be awarded. Tribal programs and nonprofits located in or near Native American communities may apply. For more information, see the First Nations website.