Putting Tribal Sovereignty
in Food Sovereignty
In July 2025, the U.S. Department of Agriculture (USDA) announced a sweeping reorganization plan that could significantly affect Tribal governments, producers, and service delivery across Indian Country. The Indigenous Food and Agriculture Initiative (IFAI) has...
In the summer of 2024, the Chickasaw and Cherokee Nations led impactful implementations of the Summer Electronic Benefit Transfer (Summer EBT) Program, a federal nutrition program designed to reduce food insecurity among children during the summer months when school...
As IFAI enters its 13th year of serving Indian Country our Executive Director, Carly Griffith Hotvedt (Cherokee Nation) has a message for all of our stakeholders. When you think of the next generation of Native agriculturalists, who comes to mind? While we work to...
The Indigenous Food and Agriculture Initiative (IFAI) is hosting the 11th Annual Youth in Agriculture Leadership Summit. The summit brings together Native American, Alaska Native, and Native Hawaiian youth, ages 18-24, from across Indian Country to the University of...
A vital participation opportunity for Indian Country agriculture producers is coming up soon. Beginning June 16, 2025, nominations open for local elections to U.S. Department of Agriculture (USDA) Farm Service Agency (FSA) County Committees. The FSA plays an...
USDA’s Food and Nutrition Service is proposing to rescind a final rule issued on December 14, 2023 that removed “visual observation” as an example of how State agencies might collect race and ethnicity data when SNAP participants do not voluntarily provide this...
The U.S. Department of Agriculture (USDA) Agricultural Marketing Service (AMS) is taking applications until June 27 for their Farmers Market Promotion Program (FMPP) and their Local Food Promotion Program(LFPP). They are funded through the Local Agriculture Market...
The Indigenous Food and Agriculture Initiative's Tribal Leader Briefing Materials help Tribal leaders, citizens, and producers prepare for the BIA's Tribal Consultations scheduled throughout the months of May and June. For those unable to attend the Consultations,...
On May 5, 2025, the United States Department of Agriculture (USDA) issued Secretary's Memorandum 1078-010, which clarifies how certain executive orders apply to federally recognized Indian Tribes, their citizens, Alaska Natives, and Native Hawaiian Communities. “The...
Since its founding more than a decade ago, the Indigenous Food and Agriculture Initiative (IFAI) has been a cornerstone in supporting Tribal Nations, producers, and organizations engaged in the development of their food systems. IFAI’s Tribal Enterprise Team recently...