Feeding America Will Host Native American Leaders to Raise Awareness of the Ways Tribal Citizens Have Worked to Overcome the Unique Challenges in Their Communities Through Food Sovereignty Initiatives
In recognition of National Native American Heritage Month, Feeding America today announced educational presentations featuring Native leaders, chefs and actors. These presentations represent an opportunity to raise awareness about the unique challenges Native American communities have faced concerning hunger and food insecurity. Each presentation will share collective learning on the ways in which tribal citizens have developed food sovereignty initiatives to overcome those challenges.
A long history of harmful federal policies has led Native American communities to experience high rates of poverty and some of the highest rates of food insecurity in the United States. The U.S. Department of Agriculture (USDA) reports that only 26% of Native communities are within one mile of a supermarket, compared to 59% of all people living in the United States, making it difficult for people living in Native American communities to benefit from federal food programs like the Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program.
“To overcome these inequities, the Native American Sovereignty movement advocates for a return to the Native foodways that existed prior to colonization,” said Mark Ford, Feeding America Director of Native/Tribal Partnerships. “It supports the self-determination of tribes to access healthy and culturally meaningful foods that are produced by Native Americans.”
According to the U.S. Food Sovereignty Alliance, “food sovereignty goes well beyond ensuring that people have enough food to meet their physical needs. It asserts that people must reclaim their power in the food system by rebuilding the relationships between people and the land, and between food providers and those who eat."
“Tribal leaders, elders, Native chefs and healers have endorsed this movement to promote the return to healthy and thriving communities, and preserve culture and traditions for future generations,” continued Ford. “The speakers we have scheduled for Native American Heritage Month are all leading advocates for Native American food sovereignty. These featured presenters will help us understand the importance and need for us to support this initiative."
- Toni Stanger-McLaughlin is a citizen of the Colville Confederated Tribes, currently serves as the CEO of the Native American Agriculture Fund (NAAF) and is a member of the Feeding America board. Stanger-McLaughlin has compassionately worked in agriculture law and policy for many years. Before being named the CEO of NAAF, she served as the first NAAF Director of Programs where she assisted the development and delivery of millions of dollars of NAAF philanthropic investment in Tribal food systems. Stanger-McLaughlin started her agricultural career working in the USDA headquarters in Washington D.C., within the Office of Civil Rights. She was engaged in the settlement of civil rights and access to credit claims on behalf of American Indian farmers and ranchers in the Keepseagle national class action litigation; the settlement of those claims ultimately led to the creation of NAAF. She will present on the Native Farm Bill (included in the larger Farm Bill) and share what Native and Tribal Nations are asking for. She will also share Native American food sovereignty initiatives that are happening in Indian Country.
- Wes Studi is a Cherokee actor, veteran, activist, musician, storyteller, and elder. Wes Studi credits his passion and multi-faceted background for his powerful character portrayals that forever changed a Hollywood stereotype. Within a few years of his arrival in Hollywood, Studi caught the attention of the public in Dances with Wolves in 1990. In 1992, his powerful performance as "Magua" in The Last of the Mohicans established him as one of the most compelling actors in the business. Studi has since appeared in more than 80 film and television productions. In 2019, he received an Academy Award for lifetime achievement, making him the first Native American to win an Oscar. Studi will present on what celebrating Native American Heritage Month means to him.
The month will also feature a food sovereignty panel discussion led by Ford and will include: Angela Ferguson (Onondaga), manager of the Onondaga Nation’s farm and food sovereignty program, Chef Nico Williams (Cherokee), founder/executive director at Burning Cedar Sovereign Wellness, Dr. Mae Hey (Anishinaabe) a chef, food sovereignty practitioner and member of Virginia Tech faculty, and Casey Camp-Horinek (Ponca) a long-time Native rights activist, environmentalist, actress and drumkeeper.
Feeding America is committed to working alongside and learning from Native and tribal communities facing hunger to ensure everyone has access to the food and resources they need to thrive. Feeding America has provided over $100 million in grants to network member food banks to support communities of color, including Native and tribal communities, as well as rural communities disproportionately impacted by food insecurity. For more information on Feeding America’s work with Native American communities please visit https://www.feedingamerica.org/hunger-in-america/native-american.
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About Feeding America
Feeding America® is the largest hunger-relief organization in the United States. Through a network of more than 200 food banks, 21 statewide food bank associations, and over 60,000 partner agencies, food pantries and meal programs, we helped provide 5.3 billion meals to tens of millions of people in need last year. Feeding America also supports programs that prevent food waste and improve food security among the people we serve; brings attention to the social and systemic barriers that contribute to food insecurity in our nation; and advocates for legislation that protects people from going hungry. Visit www.feedingamerica.org, find us on Facebook or follow us on X.com.