Project Grant 23LFPPCO1202

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.