The metlakatla indian community plans to develop a program that will increase economic security, improve healthy food options, improve access to culturally significant foods and facilitate the…

The metlakatla indian community plans to develop a program that will increase economic security, improve healthy food options, improve access to culturally significant foods and facilitate the fostering the next generation of traditional food cultivators, harvesters, gatherers, and preservers. The purpose of this agreement is to purchase and distribute local food targeting purchases from socially disadvantaged farmers and ranchers. Activities to be performed include purchasing locally produced and harvested foods and distributing them equitably in the community. The expected outcome will be more locally produced and harvested foods available to elders, and others who may have difficulty accessing these foods. Quarterly performance reports will be submitted to capture the number of producers, socially disadvantaged farmers and ranchers, distribution sites, and underserved locations as well as funds expended for each category. Annual reports will provide percentages of new marketing opportunities and purchases distributed beyond current food distribution networks. The producers expected to provide goods would be existing traditional harvesters and others who become motivated once the demand is raised from consumers. This would be commercial fishermen, local gardeners, and local subsistence harvesters. There are over 80 commercial fisher-people on annette islands reserve, IT is anticipated that as many 10 or 15 would participate in the program. The local senior care program provides meals to over 80 elders in its networks, and the local food distribution programs have between 100-150 consumers. These would be the immediate recipients of benefits from locally produced foods. The metlakatla indian community would also like to incorporate the schools, to foster greater awareness and desire for traditional foods, there are over 250 youth in the annette islands reserve school system. The youth could be involved in the harvesting as well as recipients of the gathered produce. The recipient does not intend to subaward funds.