Our Work

First One Hundred Institute seeks to develop literacy for the 21st Century that goes beyond reading and writing, and builds upon the languages, values, customs, and history of Indigenous communities.

The Institute works in partnership with tribes, schools, non-profit organizations, and federal programs to provide Indigenous families with a home library filled with linguistically and culturally relevant books.

Holistic Literacy Education

We know that meaningful, sustainable progress requires an intentional, long-term effort by the whole community to create a culture of literacy that leads to scholastic and economic opportunities for their children.

Our solution is to empower parents and community members as partners in holistic literacy education. In this way, families–the heart of every community–can be supported in taking a proactive role in guiding their children along the path of life long learning.

What We Focus On

  • We work with Indigenous communities to create, translate, and narrate culturally appropriate early childhood books through the Indigenous Library Project.

  • We administer grant funding to provide printed books to schools and homes that lack resources for their young children through the FACE Growing Readers program.

  • We develop family engagement tools that support parents and caregivers to develop their own literacy skills, academic self-confidence, and knowledge of how to interact with children in a reading experience.

  • We consult with Indigenous communities as they work to overcome obstacles to developing a culture of literacy and develop capacity for local book creation.