Deadline Approaching

Request for Applications due next week, Thursday, June 1, 2023

Watch the first two 2023 RFA webinars. All webinar recordings are currently posted and archived on the NAAF website. The dates for each webinar are found below and registration is required to participate. The webinars offer technical assistance to applicants and provide clarification concerning applicant eligibility or focus areas for applications during this grant cycle.

Today's webinar will focus solely on a live RFA question and answer period.

General Webinars

• Thursday, May 25, 2023, at 2 pm - 4 pm Central

All the details about the RFA and webinar registration can be found on the NAAF website. Contact grants@NativeAmericanAgricultureFund with questions.

NAAF Partners with FRAC to Connect Families to WIC in Tribal Communities

USDA Funds 36 Projects Aimed at Connecting Families to WIC Through Partnership with FRAC as Part of Investing in America Agenda

The U.S. Department of Agriculture (USDA), through a cooperative agreement with USDA’s Food and Nutrition Service (FNS) and the Food Research & Action Center (FRAC), has awarded $16 million in subgrants funding from the American Rescue Plan Act of 2021 to 36 projects aimed at testing innovative outreach strategies to increase participation and equity in the Special Supplemental Nutrition Program for Women, Infants, and Children, known as WIC. The WIC Community Innovation and Outreach Project, or WIC CIAO, subgrantees include WIC state and local agencies and community-based organizations, including four subgrants led by tribal nations or entities.

“The Biden-Harris Administration is making a difference in the lives of pregnant women, moms, babies and young children by providing proven health interventions through the WIC program,” said Agriculture Secretary Tom Vilsack. “We’re pleased to work with such a strong and diverse group of subgrant partners across the nation to ensure everyone eligible for WIC can tap into its incredible benefits."

476,000 AI/AN individuals participated in WIC in 2020, 6.8% of all WIC participants identified as AI/AN, and another important piece to this program is addressing unique challenges and barriers that we face in Indian Country to ensure equal access to the benefits of this program and increase participation. NAAF knows that our community members turn to their tribes for support during times of food insecurity, and that is why it is important for increased capacity within tribal communities to administer WIC programs.

This is why we at NAAF are proud to partner with FRAC and FNS to foster partnerships in Indian Country to address the specific needs and cultural preferences of tribal communities.

Cherokee Nation

Cherokee Nation will develop an application process to create a hub and spoke approach to WIC services across 10 tribal health facilities, and will also expand their partnerships with nine stand-alone Head Start programs to train parents as WIC advocates and expand partnerships with other community organizations and local grocers. 

Learn more about Cherokee Nation's project here: https://www.hellowic.org/project/cherokee-nation/

Inter-Tribal Council of Arizona, Inc.

The Inter-Tribal Council of Arizona's (ITCA) project aims to strengthen WIC by coordinating with the State Department of Economic Security and Arizona WIC to gather data on currently unenrolled WIC-eligible SNAP participants and conduct outreach through both tailored personal and general social media messaging campaigns. 

Learn more about ITCA's project here: https://www.hellowic.org/project/inter-tribal-council-of-arizona/

Southcentral Foundation

Southcentral Foundation's (SCF) project will produce culturally appropriate outreach materials, out-station WIC staff in new Tribal locations, and integrate WIC outreach into multiple existing programs, including the Nutoqsiivik visiting nurse program, the Parent Partner Program, and addiction services.

Learn more about Southcentral Foundation's project here: https://live-frac-wic-ciao.pantheonsite.io/project/southcentral-foundation/

The Confederated Tribes of Warm Springs WIC Program

The Confederated Tribes of Warm Springs WIC Program's project will strengthen knowledge about the WIC program through a social media, radio, billboards, and newspaper messaging campaign. 

Learn more about Warm Springs project here: https://live-frac-wic-ciao.pantheonsite.io/project/confederated-tribes-of-warm-springs-wic-program/

NAAF Now Hiring a Vice President of Grants and Compliance 

Location: Remote

Status: Full-time 

Application Period: May 19, 2023, to June 19, 2023

We are excited to announce an excellent career opportunity for a motivated and experienced professional to join the Native American Agriculture Fund (NAAF). NAAF is currently seeking a driven and accomplished professional to join our organization as the Vice President of Grants and Compliance.

As an integral part of the NAAF management team, this individual will be pivotal in overseeing the annual grants and program objectives, ensuring that the organization and its grantees adhere to best practices and guidelines while supporting Indian Country Agriculture and traditional food systems.

Native Food Access Survey - Open Now Until June 30th

Help us identify the barriers to food access in your household and tribal community to better inform stakeholders on how to address those challenges and invest in solutions to reduce and eliminate hunger. 49% of American Indian and Alaska Natives experienced food insecurity during COVID-19, share more about the food sovereignty initiatives in your community that are working to address these disparities. 

Complete the Food Access Survey by June 30, 2023: www.surveymonkey.com/r/NAAF2023

Contact media@nativeamericanagriculturefund.org with questions.

Take the #NativeFoodAccess Survey today! It’s confidential and takes less than 15 minutes.

Cultural Foodways RFA Deadline Extended to July 1

RFA Deadline - Extended to July 1

The Cultural Foodways Fund is accepting proposals through July 1, 2023, and seeks to fund TCUs to conduct projects that focus on learning about, sharing, and safeguarding the cultural and humanities aspects of work that addresses the traditions, ceremonies, language, art, storytelling, cosmologies, belief systems, customs, and ways of being intertwined with Indigenous foodways.

Final RFA webinar

• June 5, 2 pm - 3 pm Central.

Watch Cultural Foodways RFA Webinar on May 23

Global Indigenous Youth Forum

The 2023 session of the Global Indigenous Youth Forum will be held in Rome at FAO Headquarters from October 18 - 24, 2023.

Details of the focus of the Forum can be found here: https://www.fao.org/indigenous-peoples/youth/en/

The Biannual UN Global Indigenous Youth Forum hosted by the Food & Agriculture Organization of the United Nations (FAO) and organized by the Global Indigenous Youth will take place in October 2023 in Rome, Italy. The Forum will provide a space of dialogue between Indigenous Youth and Countries, UN Agencies, Universities, Research centres and other stakeholders to: Discuss policies affecting the future of Indigenous Peoples’ food and knowledge systems in the context of climate action.  

Applications are now open for Indigenous Youth who are actively working for the future of Indigenous Peoples’ food and knowledge systems in the face of climate change, and want to engage in policy spaces related to the five topics listed above.

Applications for participation are now being welcomed. To apply write to: Indigenous-Peoples@fao.org

Deadline for applications is 30^th June 2023.

NAAF on the Move

Native Farm Bill Coalition Fly-In

The Native American Agriculture Fund proudly sponsored three Native producers to partake in the Native Farm Bill Coalition's influential fly-ins. These scholarship recipients were granted the invaluable opportunity to engage with policymakers and industry leaders, amplifying their voices and perspectives.

They joined other tribal producers and tribal leaders of the Native Farm Bill Coalition to meet with USDA Farm Service Agency Administrator Zach Ducheneaux and congressional staff to discuss Farm Bill priorities. Their presence added an essential dimension to the discussions, ensuring that the experiences and needs of Native producers were heard and considered in policies impacting Indian Country agriculture.

Akiptan Feature

Melissa Swan

Cheyenne River Lakota

IAC Great Plains Regional Summit 

JUNE 6 - 7, 2023 

Attendees will participate in 2 days of learning sessions that focus on providing information to them as Native American producers and Tribal entities in the Great Plains Region. A few of the topics to be discussed are the various USDA programs available to tribal entities and Native American farmers and ranchers.  Akiptan (CDIF) provides loans and technical assistance to those in Indian Agriculture. USDA Rural Development Program MPPEP (Meat and Poultry Processing Expansion Program). An understanding of IAC and partners from UVE are collecting data by monitoring and assessing Tribal Lands placed in CRP/CREP.

• June 6, starting at 10 am central - Lunch will be provided
• June 7, starting at 9 am central- Breakfast & lunch, plus beverages through the day are provided

Lodging Information

Ramkota Hotel - Room block under (Group Rate) IAC Great Plains Summit, 605-224-6877, available until rooms are sold out 

 Governors Inn - Room block under (Group Rate) IAC Great Plains Summit, 605-224-4200, extended to May 28

If you have any questions, contact Fanny Brewer, Technical Assistance Specialist of the Great Plains Region. Call Fanny Brewer at (605) 200-0236 or email at fanny@indianag.org.

Visit IAC's Webpage to learn more information.

Indigenous Animals Harvesting and Meat Processing Grant Program

Do you run a small meat and poultry processor or business? Apply for two new grant opportunities from the U.S. Department of Agriculture.

The Indigenous Animals Harvesting and Meat Processing Grant (IAG) and the Local Meat Capacity Grant (Local MCap) are open for applications through July 19th.

The IAG program is designed to support the priorities of Tribal Nations in meeting the needs of traditional harvesting methods and Indigenous animals.

The Local MCap program supports independently owned meat and poultry processing businesses with funds to provide more and better processing options for local livestock producers.

Visit the links below to find out more about these programs, upcoming webinar information, and more!

Internship

Black Feet Nation Agriculture Development

Kaunakakai, HI

Applicants must submit an application and unofficial transcript by May 31st.

• It only takes 20 minutes to apply,
• Multiple awards are available from $1,500 to $4,000 each,
• Must be enrolled in full-time study at a college or university, studying any field related to agriculture,
• Including but not limited to: Biological Science, Hydrology, GIS, Horticulture, Entomology, Soil Sciences, Animal Husbandry/Veterinary, Food Science, Policy,
• Current college students must have a cumulative 2.75 GPA or higher,
• Highschoolers must have a 3.0 GPA or higher and have been accepted to a college or university,
• Preference will be given to students of Blackfeet Tribal Members and Blackfeet descent,

Applications can be submitted online here: https://forms.gle/UpA7Y6fyv1hZGydn8 or visit their website at Blackfeet Ag.

Website