About Us
Meet Our Team
Colby Duren, J.D.
Director
cduren@uark.edu
Erin Parker, J.D., LL.M.
Research Director and Staff Attorney
(479) 575-6572
esparker@uark.edu
Carly Hotvedt, J.D., M.P.A.
Director of Tribal Enterprise
hotvedt@uark.edu
Cherokee Nation
G. Blake Jackson, J.D
Policy Officer and Staff Attorney
(479) 575-7659
gbjackso@uark.edu
Choctaw Nation
Josiah Griffin
Program and Policy Specialist
(479) 575-5662
jwg012@uark.edu
Native Hawaiian
Brenton Jones
Budget and Grant Specialist
(479) 575-3227
baj005@uark.edu
Whitney Sawney
Communications Manager
and Program Specialist
(479) 575-5128
wsawney@uark.edu
Cherokee Nation
Nikki Young
Administrative Assistant
(479) 575-5666
any007@uark.edu
AmeriCorps VISTA
AmeriCorps VISTA Leader
What We Do
The Indigenous Food and Agriculture Initiative (IFAI) focuses on putting tribal sovereignty in food sovereignty, promoting tribally driven solutions to revitalize and advance traditional food systems and diversified economic development throughout Indian Country. IFAI provides Tribal governments, producers, and food businesses with educational resources, policy research, and strategic legal analysis as a foundation for building robust food economies.
Our work depends on the generous support we receive from the partners listed below.
