Ponca Tribe of Nebraska, Project Venture
The Ponca Tribe of Nebraska is a Native American tribe indigenous to Nebraska whose current enrollment numbers slightly over 2,800. They have offices located in Lincoln, Omaha, Niobrara, and Norfolk in Nebraska, and in South Sioux City, IA. Project Venture (PV) is an outdoor, experiential youth development program designed for 5th- to 8th-grade Native American youth. The curriculum, written by the founder of the Native Indian Youth Leadership Project with heavy input from Cherokee elders, encourages the strength-based approach to help enhance positive decision-making skills to help youth resist substance abuse. The Ponca Tribe of Nebraska’s Project Venture program in Lincoln, Nebraska, is run by Amy Kucera, who will be working with Media Fellow Princella Parker (Omaha), a local professional media maker, for the Meaning of Home Youth Media Curriculum.