Claire Allsion - Indigenous Food and Agriculture Initiative

Putting Tribal Sovereignty
in Food Sovereignty

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Brenton Jones

Claire Allsion

Strategic Programs Manager
cja008@uark.edu

534 W. Research Center Blvd,
Suite 219
Fayetteville, AR 72701

ifai@uark.edu
(479) 575-5666
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Press Kit
Policy Updates Archive

Catch up on what is happening in Indian Country in

Catch up on what is happening in Indian Country in the latest RoundUp of News from the Indigenous Food and Agriculture Initiative. This week is packed with a ton of great info!

Check out the link in our bio!

⬇️ Weekly Policy Brief Highlights⬇️ 🔶 The markup

⬇️ Weekly Policy Brief Highlights⬇️

🔶 The markup of the recently released Farm Bill language has been postponed to March 3, 2026.

🔶 Federal Register notices to highlight this week include proposed rules from FSIS regarding Maximum Line Speed Rates for Chicken and Turkey Establishments and Maximum Line Speed Under the New Swine Slaughter Inspection System.

🔶The Commodity Credit Corporation issued a notice about the Farmer Bridge Assistance Program.

🔶 Check out our new General Policy Updates section! Updates will be posted for two consecutive Policy Briefs.

🔶 Find out about IFAI’s recent collaboration with the National Congress of American Indians (NCAI) on the Tribal Food Sovereignty Innovation Lab.
#policyupdates #farmbill #indianag

⬇️ Weekly Policy Brief Highlights⬇️ 🔸Check out ou

⬇️ Weekly Policy Brief Highlights⬇️

🔸Check out our new General Policy Updates section! This week there are updates about the FDPIR Food Package Review Group and the Farm Bill.

🔶The Senate and the House of Representatives are out of session, and no Congressional hearings related to Tribal food and agriculture are scheduled this week. A partial government shutdown began Saturday as lawmakers failed to reach an agreement on funding for the Department of Homeland Security.

🔸 IFAI’s Executive Director, Carly Griffith Hotvedt, will be one of the panelists discussing the rapidly growing interest in Tribal Departments of Agriculture on Thursday, Feb. 19. The panel will be broadcast on the Native American Agriculture Fund’s Facebook, LinkedIn, and YouTube channels. Register HERE

🔸Press Release! Find out about IFAI’s recent collaboration with the National Congress of American Indians on the Tribal Food Sovereignty Innovation Lab.

🔸IFAI is hiring a Communications Manager! Submit your applications by Feb. 24, 2026.

The Indigenous Food and Agriculture Initiative (IF

The Indigenous Food and Agriculture Initiative (IFAI) and the National Congress of American Indians (NCAI) today announced the launch of a new collaborative digital resource hub designed to empower Tribal Nations in exercising their sovereignty through agricultural development and food system regulation.

The release of the Tribal Food Sovereignty Innovation Lab comes at a critical time as more Tribal Nations seek to build their own regulatory capacity, move toward food independence, and protect their lands from external regulatory encroachment. The resources highlight successful case studies of Tribes currently operating their own agricultural departments and provide a roadmap for others to follow.

Read the full statement in our linktree.

We’re excited to welcome an incredible lineup of l

We’re excited to welcome an incredible lineup of leaders for our Tribal Departments of Agriculture Live Panel 🌱

Join Indian Country food and agriculture leaders and policy experts as they explore the growing national momentum behind Tribal Departments of Agriculture and what it means for food sovereignty, governance, and future generations.

🎙 Moderated by:
Mark Trahant (Shoshone-Bannock Tribes), Independent Journalist and Founding Editor of Indian Country Today

👥 Panelists:
• Principal Chief Geoffrey Standing Bear, J.D. (Osage Nation)

• Toni Stanger-McLaughlin, J.D. (Colville Confederated Tribes), CEO, Native American Agriculture Fund

• Carly Griffith Hotvedt, J.D., M.P.A. (Cherokee Nation), Executive Director, Indigenous Food and Agriculture Initiative

• Kiera McCabe (Fort Lewis College), Owner & Operator, Skoden Farms; recipient of the Growing the Future Award

📅 February 19 | 2 PM CT
Broadcasted on The Native American Agriculture Fund’s Facebook, LinkedIn, and YouTube. Registration is not required but you can sign up here to receive emails about Tribal Departments of Agriculture: https://tr.ee/htR1m3aEYS

⬇️ Weekly Policy Brief Highlights⬇️ 🔸The Senate C

⬇️ Weekly Policy Brief Highlights⬇️

🔸The Senate Committee on Indian Affairs is having a hearing examining Native 8(a) Programs on Feb. 10, 2026

🔸 The National Urban and Community Forestry Advisory Council is open for nominations until Feb. 17, 2026

🔸The USDA’s Food and Nutrition Service has published the 2026 Reimbursement Rates in the Summer Food Service Program.

🔸 Final reminder for the USDA Forest Tribal Forum being held virtually on Wednesday, Feb. 11 at 2:00pm EST.

🔸Be sure to check out that funding opportunity for USDA’s Value-Added Producer Grant.

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