First Nations Development Institute

BUILDING TRIBAL NATIONS CAPACITY TO ENGAGE IN EMERGING PRIVATE MARKETS FOR CLIMATE MITIGATION OR FOREST RESILIENCE

COMMUNITY NAVIGATORS PROJECT

REVITALIZATION OF NATIVE AMERICAN LANGUAGES

INDIGENOUS PARTNERSHIP TO ADVANCE NATIVE AMERICAN COMMUNITIES AND PRODUCERS

ARRA - STRENGTHENING COMMUNITIES FUND - NON-PROFIT CAPACITY BUILDING PROGRAM

ADVANCING AGRIBUSINESS AND ECOLOGICAL STEWARDSHIP IN THE SOUTHWEST

THE GOAL OF THIS 36-MONTH STANDARD GRANT PROJECT, NATIVE FARMER AND RANCHER APPRENTICESHIP NETWORK, IS TO PROVIDE TRAINING AND TECHNICAL ASSISTANCE (TA) AS WELL AS NETWORKING OPPORTUNITIES TO TWO GROUPS OF NATIVE AMERICAN BEGINNING FARMERS AND RANCHERS (BFRS) IN TWO REGIONS TO EXPAND THEIR BUSINESS CAPACITY AND IMPROVE THE MANAGEMENT OF THEIR AGRICULTURAL OPERATIONS TO STRENGTHEN THE LOCAL AND REGIONAL FOOD SUPPLY CHAIN IN INDIAN COUNTRY. THE FOLLOWING PRIORITY TOPICS WILL BE ADDRESSED: BASIC LIVESTOCK, LAND MANAGEMENT, AND CROP FARMING PRACTICES; ENTREPRENEURSHIP AND BUSINESS TRAINING; NATURAL RESOURCE MANAGEMENT AND PLANNING; DIVERSIFICATION AND MARKETING STRATEGIES; MENTORING, APPRENTICESHIPS, AND INTERNSHIPS; RESOURCES AND REFERRAL; BASIC FOOD SAFETY; AND OTHER SIMILAR SUBJECT AREAS OF USE TO BFRS. THE PROJECT'S TWO TARGETED REGIONS ARE FOUR STATES IN THE GREAT PLAINS (MINNESOTA, NORTH DAKOTA, SOUTH DAKOTA, AND WISCONSIN) AND TWO STATES IN THE SOUTHWEST (ARIZONA AND NEW MEXICO). THESE TWO REGIONS IN SOME WAYS GREATLY DIFFER IN TERMS OF THEIR POPULATION OF NATIVE FARMERS.NATIVE AMERICANS HAVE SUSTAINABLY MANAGED AND CULTIVATED LAND UTILIZING TRADITIONAL KNOWLEDGE FOR THOUSANDS OF YEARS. STRONG LINKS TO CULTURE, INDIGENOUS FARMING PRACTICES, AND STEWARDSHIP TRADITIONS, COUPLED WITH COMPLEX OWNERSHIP AND TRUST STATUS OF TRIBAL LANDS, MEAN THAT SPECIALIZED TRAINING FOR NATIVE BFRS WILL BEST MEET THEIR NEEDS.TO DESIGN THIS PROJECT, FIRST NATIONS CONDUCTED A MARCH 2021 ONLINE SURVEY OF 31 NATIVE PRODUCERS REPRESENTING 19 TRIBES IN NRCS' NORTH CENTRAL (16 PRODUCERS) AND WESTERN REGIONS (15 PRODUCERS). TWENTY-SEVEN PRODUCERS REPLIED (A RESPONSE RATE OF 87%). THIS PROJECT'S ACTIVITIES RESPOND DIRECTLY TO OUR CONSTITUENTS' RECOMMENDATIONS TO MEET THE FOLLOWING NEEDS FOR PRODUCERS: BUSINESS PLANNING; TRAINING (INCLUDING INDIGENOUS-TO-INDIGENOUS AND IN-PERSON) FOR NEW FARMERS; HELP TO GROW BUSINESS; SUPPORT FOR 1) MARKETING, 2) OUTREACH TO NEW OUTLETS, 3) DEVELOPING PARTNERSHIPS/NETWORKING, 4), BOOKKEEPING/TAX PREPARATION, AND 5) PLANNING. IN BASIC STRENGTHS (S), WEAKNESSES (W), OPPORTUNITIES (O), AND THREATS (T) ANALYSES (IN CONJUNCTION WITH THE COVID-19 PANDEMIC), THE SURVEY IDENTIFIED: (S) PRODUCERS APPROXIMATELY EQUALLY SELL PRODUCTS INSIDE (78%) AND OUTSIDE (80%) THEIR OWN COMMUNITY; (W; DUE TO COVID-19 PANDEMIC) FOOD PRODUCTION REDUCED DUE TO STAFFING SHORTAGES/CUTS, OR NOT ENOUGH WORKERS AVAILABLE TO HARVEST, OPERATIONS REDUCED DUE TO UNCERTAINTY OF MARKETS; AND REDUCED HOURS TO MAINTAIN SAFETY PROTOCOLS; (O) NEED TO MAINTAIN FOOD ACCESSIBILITY FOR LOW INCOME FAMILIES, NEED FOR STRONG REGIONAL ECONOMIES AND HOME-GROWN FOODS, NEED FOR BUILT INFRASTRUCTURE, AND FOOD SOVEREIGNTY SUSTAINED GROWN THROUGH FAMILY NETWORKS (NOT GOVERNMENT), REVIVAL OF INTEREST IN COMMUNITY GARDENING DUE TO FOOD SHORTAGES AND INTEREST IN SELF-RELIANCE, AND SMALL BUSINESSES/INDIVIDUAL PRODUCERS BEING OVERLOOKED; AND (T) SCHOOL AND RESTAURANT CLOSURE LIMITEDMARKETS AND PRICES, AND PRICES FOR CATTLE AND PRODUCE DROPPED (IN SOME CASES BY 50%). A COMPLETE SUMMARY OF THE SURVEY'S FINDINGS IS AVAILABLE UPON REQUEST.IN ADDITION, WHILE DESIGNING THIS PROJECT, FIRST NATIONS CONSULTED WITH OUR THREE COMMUNITY-BASED, NATIVE-CONTROLLED PARTNERS TO DETERMINE HOW THEIR AREAS OF EXPERTISE WILL SUPPORT THE PROJECT GOAL AS WELL AS THE VEHICLES THROUGH WHICH THEY MAY BEST PROVIDE TECHNICAL ASSISTANCE, TRAINING, AND NETWORKING. THE PARTNERS ARE: CHEYENNE RIVER SIOUX BUFFALO AUTHORITY (EAGLE BUTTE, SD), ONEIDA MARKET (GREEN BAY, WI), AND TRILOGY BEEF (MORIARTY, NM). ASSISTING NATIVE BFRS (AND BY ASSOCIATION THE LOCAL FOOD SYSTEM) HAS SIGNIFICANT IMPLICATIONS FOR ELIMINATING NATIVE FOOD INSECURITY, BUILDING THE HEALTH OF COMMUNITIES AND COMMUNITY MEMBERS, AND AS A MECHANISM FOR ENTREPRENEURSHIP AND ECONOMIC DEVELOPMENT.

ADVANCING NATIVE ECOLOGICAL STEWARDSHIP

TO DEVELOP THE CONSERVATION LEADERSHIP SKILLS OF 15 NATIVE NATURAL RESOURCE PROFESSIONALS IN THE NORTHERN GREAT PLAINS.

FIRST NATIONS DEVELOPMENT INSTITUTE (FIRST NATIONS), A NATIONAL, NONPROFIT NATIVE AMERICAN ORGANIZATION, WILL SUPPORT 13 GRASSROOTS NATIVE FOOD SOVEREIGNTY COLLABORATORS IN GROWING THEIR FARMING AND RANCHING OPERATIONS TO INCREASE NATIVE FOOD SECURITY IN THEIR TRIBAL COMMUNITIES AND EXPAND LOCAL AND REGIONAL ACCESS TO TRADITIONAL FOODS. TWO VIRTUAL CONVENINGS AND AN IN-PERSON CONVENING WILL BUILD A PEER SUPPORT NETWORK AMONG PARTICIPANTS, WHILE FINANCIAL SUPPORT TOTALING 24,000 PER GROUP AND CAPACITY BUILDING CONSULTANT EXPERTISE WILL HELP THEM TO DEVELOP AND EXPAND MARKETING NETWORKS, IMPROVE FOOD SAFETY HANDLING TRANSPORTATION. THE IN-PERSON CONVENING WILL OCCUR AT FIRST NATIONS 2024 NATIVE FOOD SOVEREIGNTY SUMMIT WHICH TRAINS NATIVE FOOD SYSTEMS GROUPS TO INCREASE ACCESS TO HEALTHY FOODS, PROMOTE NUTRITION, AND CREATE FOOD SYSTEMS-BASED JOBS AND INCOME OPPORTUNITIES. THE 13 PRODUCER COLLABORATORS ARE LOCATED IN RURAL, LOW INCOME NATIVE COMMUNITIES IN ARIZONA, MICHIGAN, MINNESOTA, NEW MEXICO, NORTH DAKOTA, SOUTH DAKOTA, TEXAS, AND WISCONSIN, WITH OPERATIONS THAT INCLUDE MEAT, EGGS, HONEY, MAPLE PRODUCTS, WILD RICE, JUNEBERRIES, AND PRODUCE. ULTIMATELY, COMMUNITY AND REGIONAL ACCESSIBILITY TO TRADITIONAL NATIVE FOODS WILL INCREASE, REVITALIZING CULTURAL FOODWAYS, OVERCOMING INEQUITY, AND IMPROVING THE HEALTH AND WELL-BEING OF NATIVE PEOPLE AND COMMUNITIES. RESEARCH DOCUMENTS THE POSITIVE EFFECTS ON HEALTH AND WELL-BEING THAT HAPPENS WHEN NATIVE COMMUNITIES MOVE AWAY FROM WESTERN FOODS TO A DIET THAT EMPHASIZES TRADITIONAL FOODS. A FINAL EVALUATION REPORT ON THE PROJECTS PROCESSES, OUTPUTS, OUTCOMES, AND LESSONS LEARNED WILL ENCOURAGE WIDER ADAPTATION OF PROJECT LEARNING.

CN FARM TO SCHOOL GRANT

TAILORED CAPACITY BUILDING FOR TARGETED TRIBAL DOMESTIC VIOLENCE/SEXUAL ASSAULT COALITIONS

ECONOMIC EMPOWERMENT FOR TRIBAL VICTIMS OF DOMESTIC VIOLENCE

NATIVE AMERICAN COALITION DEVELOPMENT

NATIVE AMERICAN FOOD SYSTEMS - TRAINING AND CAPACITY BUILDING

BUILDING SIOUX COMMUNITY FOOD SYSTEMS

NAVAJO-HOPI TECHNICAL ASSISTANCE PROJECT

TIME FOR THE HARVEST: RENEWING NATIVE AMERICAN FOOD SYSTEMS

BUSINESS DEVELOPMENT WITH NATIVE AMERICAN BEGINNING FARMERS AND RANCHERS IN ARIZONA

INVESTNATIVE: BUILDING NATIVE COMMUNITIES ONE INVESTMENT AT A TIME

NATIVE AMERICAN HSNG BLOCK GRA

TRAINING/TECHNICAL ASSISTANCE TO TRIBAL DOMESTIC VIOLENCE AND SEXUAL ASSAULT COALITIONS

INDIAN HOUSING BLOCK GRANTS

THE BUSINESS OF INDIAN AGRICULTURE: A TRIBAL COLLEGE PARTNERSHIP

COMMUNITY FOREST AND LANDSCAPE SCALE RESTORATION PROGRAMS TRIBAL OUTREACH

TRAINING/TECHNICAL ASSISTANCE TO TRIBAL DOMESTIC VIOLENCE AND SEXUAL ASSAULT COALITIONS

INCREASING NATIVE PRODUCER AND COMMUNITY ACCESS TO QUALITY WATER RESOURCES. USDA-NRCS-NHQ-CIG-20-GEN0010808

TAILORED CAPACITY BUILDING FOR TARGETED TRIBAL DOMESTIC VIOLENCE/SEXUAL ASSAULT COALITIONS

COALITION CAPACITY BUILDING

RURAL COOPERATIVE DEVELOPMENT INITIATIVE GRANTS

ADVANCING NATIVE PRODUCERS

BUILDING THE CAPACIT

RBOG - NATIVE AMERICAN TRIBES GRANTS

THIS AWARD SUPPORTS PROJECTS TO DESIGN, DEMONSTRATE, AND/OR DISSEMINATE PRACTICES, METHODS, OR TECHNIQUES RELATED TO ENVIRONMENTAL EDUCATION AND TEACHER TRAINING. THE ACTIVITIES WILL INCREASE PUBLIC AWARENESS AND KNOWLEDGE ABOUT ENVIRONMENTAL ISSUES AND PROVIDE THE SKILLS THAT PARTICIPANTS NEED TO MAKE INFORMED ENVIRONMENTAL DECISIONS AND TAKE RESPONSIBLE ACTIONS TOWARD THE ENVIRONMENT. THIS PROJECT'S GOAL IS TO BUILD THE CAPACITY OF FARM-TO-SCHOOL PROGRAMS IN NEW MEXICO THAT SERVE PRIMARILY NATIVE AMERICAN STUDENTS TO PROVIDE QUALITY EXPERIENTIAL AND/OR CLASSROOM-BASED ENVIRONMENTAL AND AGRICULTURAL EDUCATION AND TO ENGAGE THE COMMUNITY IN THEIR PROGRAM.

FARM TO SCHOOL GRANT PROGRAM

COMMUNITY FOREST TRIBAL OUTREACH

RURAL COOPERATIVE DEVELOPMENT INITIATIVE GRANTS

FARM TO SCHOOL GRANT PROGRAM

CPD'S TRANSFORMATION INTITIATIVE TECHNICIAL ASSISTANCE

FARM TO SCHOOL GRANT PROGRAM

BUILDING NATIVE AMERICAN CAPACITY FOR CONSERVATION OF GRAZING LANDS. AMENDMENT FOR COVID RELATED NO COST EXTENSION, AND TO ADJUST DELIVERABLES.

ASSETS FOR THE FUTURE: BUILDING NATIVE INDIVIDUAL DEVELOPMENT ACCOUNTS

TARGETED TECHNICAL ASSISTANCE FOR TRIBAL DOMESTIC VIOLENCE/SEXUAL ASSAULT COALITIONS