Native Farm Bill Coalition

The Farm Bill is one of the single largest pieces of domestic legislation in the United States. Enacted by Congress approximately every five years, it addresses everything from nutrition programs, agricultural policies, and food production to natural resource conservation, rural development, and insurance programs.

Why is the Native Farm Bill Coalition needed? Indian Country has been largely relegated to the margins of Farm Bill discussions for decades – which means that Native Americans and tribes are missing out on major opportunities to protect and advance their interests. The Native Farm Bill Coalition is an effort to give Native Americans a strong, united voice to advance a common Farm Bill agenda benefiting Indian Country.

It is a joint project of the Shakopee Mdewakanton Sioux Community’s Seeds of Native Health campaign to improve Native dietary health and food access; the Intertribal Agriculture Council; the National Congress of American Indians; and the Indigenous Food and Agriculture Initiative. The Coalition is co-chaired by Keith B. Anderson, Vice-Chairman of the Shakopee Mdewakanton Sioux Community, and Ross Racine, Executive Director of the Intertribal Agriculture Council.

The Coalition represents the largest-ever coordinated effort in Indian Country around federal food, agriculture and nutrition policy.

The Native Farm Bill Coalition advocates for Native American interests in the 2018 Farm Bill. The Coalition is an outgrowth of the Regaining Our Future report, which assessed the risks to and opportunities for Native communities in the next Farm Bill.

All tribes, Native organizations, and non-Native allied groups which support the dietary health, agricultural, conservation, food sovereignty, and economic development interests of Native Americans are encouraged to join the coalition, shape its agenda, and benefit from its advocacy efforts.

If you represent a tribal government, intertribal organization, or other group that is interested in joining the Coalition, download a draft resolution of support for your consideration. For more information, or if you are an organization interested in joining the Native Farm Bill Coalition, please contact us.

The Shakopee Mdewakanton Sioux Community (SMSC), the Intertribal Agriculture Council (IAC), the National Congress of American Indians (NCAI), and the Indigenous Food and Agriculture Initiative(IFAI) have initiated at the Native Farm Bill Coalition. A steering committee is presently being formed. All tribes, Native organizations, and non-Native allies are welcome to become members.