As part of First Nations’ efforts to strengthen Native food economies, the Native Food Producers Serving Indian Country project supports grassroots Native food sovereignty collaborators in growing their farming and ranching operations. This project helps Native food producers increase Native food security in their tribal communities and expand local and regional access to traditional foods.
The project is made possible through a three-year grant from the USDA- Agricultural Marketing Service – Local Food Promotion Program.
Starting in 2023, 13 producer collaborators in Native communities in Arizona, Michigan, Minnesota, New Mexico, North Dakota, South Dakota, Texas and Wisconsin have received financial and technical assistance to bolster their operations producing meat, eggs, honey, maple products, wild rice, juneberries, and fresh produce.
Navajo farmer Ed Miles Harvey, of Chinle, Arizona, is one of the 13 community partners receiving financial and technical assistance through the project. His work planting fruit and cottonwood trees is advancing business relationships and food safety for his tribe. See the full list of partners below.
This project will enable Texas Tribal Buffalo Project to increase their capacity to support a Meat Manager to increase the accessibility of a traditional food source, the Buffalo, for Indigenous Lineal Descendants across Texas.