We Need Your Feedback to Strengthen Native Food Sovereignty and Health

Reliable access to culturally relevant, healthy and affordable food produced by Native peoples is critically important to increasing the health of Tribal communities and contributing to vibrant tribal economies. The challenges and opportunities in strengthening Native food sovereignty and improving the health of Native peoples, however, are not always readily understood by those organizations and agencies outside of Indian Country who determine the distribution of resources and develop policies that directly affect Native food systems, diet and health. Tribal communities are best equipped to raise awareness about existing challenges, and inform key partners about the innovation and positive work throughout Indian Country that will ultimately increase our ability to “feed ourselves” and create healthier futures for Native peoples.

In furtherance of providing a Native voice in the development and management of food systems in Indian Country, the generous support of the Robert Wood Johnson Foundation has enabled the Indigenous Food and Agriculture Initiative (IFAI), along with our partners Echo Hawk Consulting, Pipestem Law and Valerie Segrest, to explore the connections between Tribal governments, foods consumed in Tribal communities and the health of Native communities. We seek information to help map Tribes’ relationships—both past and present—with feeding programs, food policy assessments, community food assessments, and food policy activities.