Senior Director, Native Agriculture and Food Systems Investments, Grantmaking, and Research and Advocacy for Native Economic Justice
Yadira Rivera is the Director of the Native Agriculture and Food Systems Investments program at First Nations Development Institute. Of Mexican heritage, she comes from a multi-generational farming and ranching background. Her family immigrated to the United States in the 1990s, instilling in her a deep understanding of the challenges and opportunities faced by agricultural communities and the need to preserve traditional food practices and increase community food access.
With nearly a decade of experience advancing Native food systems, Yadira has led grantmaking initiatives focused on small business planning, USDA-funded projects, and culturally grounded food sovereignty programs. She started with First Nations as an Intern in 2015 and worked with the NAFSI team since then.
Yadira took on a consultant role in 2020 in order to pursue her J.D. Her legal and tax expertise complements her leadership in agribusiness development. She earned her J.D. from South Texas College of Law Houston, where she served as President of the Tax Law Society, Student Editor of the Texas Tax Lawyer Journal, and legal researcher for the tax program. She also holds an LL.M. in Taxation from the University of Denver Sturm College of Law and is a member of the Colorado and Texas Bar. Her background enables her to provide strategic guidance on tax, regulatory compliance, and legal frameworks that impact food systems, Native-owned agricultural enterprises, and sustainable agribusiness ventures.
Passionate about equity and education, Yadira has represented clients through the Low-Income Taxpayer Clinic, externed with the IRS Office of Chief Counsel, and volunteered extensively with Volunteer Income Tax Assistance clinics and other community legal services.
