Indigenous food sovereignty encompasses the foods and medicines grown on farms and harvested from the land and water. In an effort to support Tribal Nations in their pursuit of protecting and revitalizing food sovereignty, USET established the Food Sovereignty Program (formerly the Agriculture Program) within the Office of Environmental and Resource Management. The farms among the USET membership are as diverse as the Tribal Nations themselves, ranging from massive maple syrup operations to small buffalo herds, native plant nurseries, and community gardens.
We provide direct technical assistance to Tribal Nation departments and programs that touch natural resources, agriculture, cultural revitalization, and youth outreach. Our current and past projects are featured in the photos below, including rivercane restoration and basket weaving, sweetgrass propagation, drip irrigation installation, elevated raised bed gardens, and a bee keeping club.
Visit USET’s YouTube Food Sovereignty playlist to see videos of our projects.
Please use this link to contact the Food Sovereignty Program Manager.
Projects at a glance:
- Native Plant Nurseries: Gathering plant materials and seeds to propagate rivercane, sweetgrass, and other culturally significant plants for reintroduction to ecosystems. Projects also increase community access to cultural plants and practices.
- Community Gardens: Building raised beds for community food production and hosting workshops, field days, and farmers markets to distribute produce.
- Tribal Conservation Advisory Councils: USET organizes quarterly meetings with Tribal Nation and USDA state staff to facilitate relationships, projects, and improvements to USDA programs.
- Youth Projects: Engaging youth in food sovereignty and conservation with Traditional Ecological Knowledge and Western science approaches.
Past Webinars
- Cover Crops and Indigenous Corn Discussion (March 2021)
- Grant Overview: Food Safety Outreach Program (February 2021)
- Small Equipment on Tribal Farms Discussion (February 2021)
Federal Resource Partners: A quick overview of USDA Agencies
- U.S. Department of Agriculture
- Natural Resources Conservation Service: For farms – Conservation plans and cost-share programs for conservation practices
- Rural Development: For Tribal Nations, Cooperatives, and Non-profits – Grants and loans supporting rural business development
- Animal and Plant Health Inspection Service (APHIS): For Tribal Nations and farms – Invasive species and pest management assistance
- Farm Service Agency: For Tribal Nations and farms – Large and small loans for capital and operating costs
- National Institute of Food and Agriculture: For Tribal Nations, farms, and cooperatives – Grants for sustainable agriculture projects through Sustainable Agriculture Research and Education
Organization Resource Partners
- Indigenous Food and Agriculture Initiative: Food law and policy allies
- Intertribal Agriculture Council: Technical assistance for Tribal farms and farmers
- Akiptan: Innovative loans for Tribal farms and farmers
- Native American Food Sovereignty Alliance: Source for webinars, workshops, resources