The tuolumne band of me-WUK indians is a federally recognized tribe located on the tuolumne rancheria in tuolumne, california

The tribe is a small federally recognized tribe with 485 members in which 200 members reside on the rancheria and the remaining live in surrounding communities and adjacent counties. Food sovereignty is the tribes greatest food security issue by procuring commodity. The tribal food distribution program activities connect tribal members and tribal communities to fresh local foods and to the farmers, ranchers and fishers that produce them. This is a new term for an ancient concept that embraces indigenous knowledge and values in harmony with traditional native lifeways, and has proven positive results on health, EDUCATION, and hunger. The term �tribal food distribution program� covers a wide range of efforts, which focuses on areas that encourage the purchase of local foods for the tribal food distribution program (PROCUREMENT); teach the next generation about our food heritage, health, and NUTRITION (EDUCATION). Tribal food distribution program empowers tribal members and tribal families to make informed food choices (NUTRITION) while supporting economic development, food sovereignty and cultural revitalization. The tuolumne me-WUK food distribution program will provide food distribution and food sovereignty throughout the life cycle of the cooperative agreement to tribal members within the underserved counties listed above. The tuolumne mewuk tribal food distribution program will provide 3,500-4,000 boxes a month to tribal members in tuolumne, calaveras, mariposa, stanislaus, and amador counties throughout the life cycle of the cooperative agreement. The tuolumne me-WUK tribal food distribution program will enhance food sovereignty for tribal members and the community. Farms to tribe provide S all tribal members access to nutritious, high quality, and local food. Farm to tribe activities enhance EDUCATION through hands on learning related to food, health, agriculture, and NUTRITION. Activities can create new sales opportunities for socially disadvantaged farmers, fishers, ranchers, food processors and food manufacturers by opening the doors to large food buyers. Tribal communities win with this farm to tribes, and IT benefits everyone from tribal members, tribal families, tribal communities, and farmers, providing opportunities to build family and community engagement. Buying from local producers and processors creates new jobs and strengthens the local economy. In fiscal year 2024, agreement was amended with local food purchase assistance plus funding to increase the budget with funds authorized by the commodity credit corporation, and to increase the duration of the period of performance. As a result of the additional funding and extended period of performance, the recipient intends to develop a food distribution program to purchase food from socially disadvantaged farmers and producers. The tuolumne band of me-WUK indians is a federally recognized tribe located on the tuolumne rancheria in tuolumne, california with 485 members of which 200 reside on the rancheria and the remaining live in surrounding communities and the adjacent counties of tuolumne, calaveras, mariposa, amador, stanislaus, and SAN joaquin. The tribe will provide food bags throughout the life cycle of the cooperative agreement to all tribal members within the underserved counties and to all tuolumne band of me-WUK indians employees at all entities. This program is helping to create food sovereignty by securing local food and building relationships with local socially disadvantaged farmers and ranchers by providing consistent PROCUREMENT and a strong business relationship.