Firebird Foundation for Anthropological Research

Firebird Research Grants for the Documentation of Oral Literature and Traditional Ecological Knowledge

The Firebird Foundation for Anthropological Research offers research grants to support the collection and documentation of rapidly disappearing oral literatures of indigenous peoples. This unique literature may consist of ritual texts, curative chants, epic poems, musical genres, folk tales, songs, myths, legends, historical accounts, life history narratives, word games, and related materials. The grants are designed to support anthropologists and linguists conducting fieldwork to record these endangered cultural traditions before they are lost through the death of traditional practitioners and the education of younger generations in modern schooling systems. Applicants are encouraged to foster the development of local teams of collectors to continue the work of recording these materials, and transcriptions of the recordings are strongly encouraged. The Foundation's Program for Oral Literature serves as a repository for collected materials, ensuring their preservation for future generations.