The Department of the Interior has launched a series of initiatives aimed at strengthening partnerships with Native communities. These include an oral history project to create a permanent record of survivors from federal Indian boarding schools and an initiative with AmeriCorps for the Indian Youth Service Corps.

According to a news release from the Department of the Interior, these initiatives were discussed during a meeting with funding partners, philanthropic leaders, non-profits focused on Native communities’ success, Native Americans in Philanthropy and others. The meeting was held ahead of the 2023 White House Tribal Nation Summit. Assistant Secretary for Indian Affairs Bryan Newland noted that December 5 marks the one-year anniversary of the creation of the Office of Strategic Partnerships, which played a significant role in developing these programs.

The oral history project was first announced in September 2023 as part of the Federal Indian Boarding School Initiative. Funding was provided to the National Native American Boarding School Healing Coalition to develop this project, which includes video interviews documenting the experiences at federal Indian boarding schools.

In addition to preserving history, efforts are being made to support future generations through an initiative aimed at expanding access to the Segal AmeriCorps Education Award for members of the Indian Youth Service Corps. According to information available on AmeriCorps' website about this award, it provides financial assistance that can be applied towards qualified student loans and other educational expenses at eligible institutions. These include universities, colleges, technical schools and foreign educational institutions participating in Title IV student aid programs from the U.S. Department of Education.

The third initiative focuses on indigenous youth engagement through a partnership with Aspen Institute’s Forum for Community Solutions' Fresh Tracks Program. This partnership also involves support for the Native Youth Climate Adaptation Congress - a collaboration between Aspen Program, Bureau of Indian Affairs and U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service as per details shared by U.S. Department of Interior's news release.