Strengthening Financial Wisdom in Native People and Communities

These are exciting times for Indian communities. The Native American population is growing, as are economic and educational opportunities. These materials are meant to help you make the best use of your gifts and abilities so when you look at what you’ve built with your life, you’ll feel pride. The topic is financial literacy, however, it’s about so much more than the dollars and loose change in your pocket. It’s about how using your money wisely can enhance your life—and the lives of those around you.

Strengthening Financial Wisdom in Native People and Communities is a joint project of the Native American Community Development Corporation (NACDC) and the National Endowment for Financial Education® (NEFE®). Its goal is to provide a basic understanding of personal financial planning and show how wise money-management decisions can help you build a better life for yourself, your tribe, and generations to come.

The information provided will guide you through the process of learning about personal finance and planning for your future. You will find information on how to open and maintain a bank account, the importance of saving and investing, how to manage your money, steps to take toward homeownership, and a variety of resources to help along the way.

Money can seem very important, especially if you’re struggling to pay bills each month. But money is simply a tool you can use to build a strong future that fulfills the needs of your family and tribe while honoring an obligation to yourself. Just like a hammer or other type of tool, the better you care for your money, the more you can build with it.