Expanding Tribal Self-Determination Policies at USDA
The Alaska Federation of Natives (AFN) would like to share the following consultation sessions aimed at the expansion of Tribal self-determination policies within the United States Department of Agriculture (USDA). These consultation sessions provide an opportunity for you to engage in meaningful dialogue and explore avenues for enhancing self-determination within the USDA.
The sessions will be hybrid, hosted in person at the National Congress of American Indians (NCAI) Mid-Year Conference in Cherokee, N.C., and virtually. The links to RSVP and for more information are below.
Click HERE for the Invitation Letter
Forestry Consultation
Date: Monday, June 3
Time: 1:00 PM – 4:00 PM EDT
Location: NCAI Mid-Year Conference, Cherokee, N.C. (Hybrid: In-person and virtual)
Registration: Register here for Forestry Consultation
Click HERE to review the USDA Forestry Framing Paper. Topics include:
- Expand authority for a wide range of Forest Service programs and activities.
- Extend eligibility to Alaska Native Corporations and Villages.
- Change from adjacency to a nexus requirement for projects based on historical, cultural, or geographic significance.
- Integrate Indigenous knowledge into Forest Service land management.
- Promote non-competitive Tribal contracting.
Meat Inspections Consultation
Date: Monday, June 3
Time: 4:30 PM – 7:30 PM EDT
Location: National Congress of American Indians Mid-Year Conference, Cherokee, N.C. (Hybrid: In-person and virtual)
Registration: Register Here for Meat Inspections Consultation
Click HERE to review the USDA Meat Inspections Framing Paper. Topics include:
- Propose new authority for Tribal governments to enter into cooperative agreements with USDA’s Food Safety and Inspection Service (FSIS) for Meat and Poultry Inspection (MPI) programs.
- Incorporate traditional animal processing methods and indigenous knowledge into humane handling rules and inspection processes.
- Explore opportunities for inter-Tribal trade and international export markets for Tribal meat products.
Food Sovereignty and Nutrition Programs Consultation
Date: Wednesday, June 5
Time: 1:00 PM – 4:00 PM EDT
Location: National Congress of American Indians Mid-Year Conference, Cherokee, N.C. (Hybrid: In-person and virtual)
Registration: Register Here for Food Sovereignty and Nutrition Consultation
Click HERE to review the USDA Food Framing Paper. Topics include:
- Propose expansion of self-determination contracts for Tribal organizations to directly purchase foods for FDPIR.
- Explore opportunities for Tribes to operate Child Nutrition Programs as State agencies through pilot projects.
- Integrate local and traditional foods into federal nutrition programs.
- Consider implementing a “Buy Indian” preference for USDA food purchases to empower Tribal producers.
- Allow Tribes to substitute and supplement FDPIR foods with locally sourced items.
- Promote non-competitive Tribal contracting and ensure sufficient appropriations and resources for Tribal programs.
- Address the logistical challenges and funding requirements for Tribes to administer SNAP and other federal nutrition programs.
- Address barriers such as the lack of federal tax incentives for food donations to Tribal governments.
RSVP: All attendees, including those attending in-person, must register/RSVP above. The Zoom link will allow you to choose “Virtual” or “In-Person.
For more information click HERE or email [email protected].
