The U.S. Department of Agriculture's (USDA) National Institute of Food and Agriculture (NIFA) today announced grants to fund programs that promote learning, opportunity, and health within the American Indian community. The funding is made possible through two NIFA programs: the Federally-Recognized Tribes Extension Program and the Tribal Colleges Research Grants Program.
“1994 land-grant institutions are an important part of our educational and innovation system that underpins our nation’s food, agricultural, and natural resources enterprise,” said NIFA Director Sonny Ramaswamy. “These grants support educators and extension specialists who engage with tribal communities by providing education and research-based knowledge.”
The Federally-Recognized Tribes Extension Program (FRTEP) funds extension programs on American Indian reservations and tribal jurisdictions that address the unique needs and problems of American Indian tribal nations. The Tribal Colleges Research Grants Program (TCRGP) supports building institutional research capacity through projects that address student educational needs and meet community, reservation, or regional challenges.
Among the new FRTEP grants, a University of Connecticut project will conduct classroom training and in-field, hands-on training in sustainable fruit and vegetable production methods, tribal historical methods, and agricultural business management with tribal youth and adults. The TCRGP grants include an Aaniiih Nakoda College project to develop a community garden as an on-campus agricultural research plot. The garden will feature a sub irrigation system to reduce water consumption and allow students to study macronutrients in agricultural water and soils.
Among past projects, a University of Nevada Extension FRTEP project offered guided construction of 50 hoop houses throughout the state. These inexpensive, easy-to-install greenhouse structures empower local food production and combat rampant diabetes caused by unhealthy diets. A TCRGP grant helped Northwest Indian College and the University of Oregon pinpoint the causes of declines in the Manila clam, an important food source for the Lummi people.
In fiscal year 2017, NIFA awarded 50 grants totaling more than $5 million through the two programs.
Federally Recognized Tribes Extension Program
University of Alaska Fairbanks, Fairbanks, Alaska, $84,000
University of Alaska Fairbanks, Fairbanks, Alaska, $82,000
University of Arizona, Tucson, Arizona, $87,000
University of Arizona, Tucson, Arizona, $82,000
University of Arizona, Tucson, Arizona, $81,000
University of Arizona, Tucson, Arizona, $80,000
University of Arizona, Tucson, Arizona, $80,000
University of Arizona, Tucson, Arizona, $79,000
University of Arizona, Tucson, Arizona, $79,000
University of Connecticut, Storrs, Connecticut, $70,000
University of Florida, Gainesville, Florida, $87,000
University of Idaho, Moscow, Idaho, $87,000
University of Idaho, Moscow, Idaho, $82,000
University of Idaho, Moscow, Idaho, $71,679
Michigan State University, East Lansing, Michigan, $80,000
Regents of the University of Minnesota, St. Paul, Minnesota, $87,000
Mississippi State University, Mississippi State, Mississippi, $80,000
Montana State University, Bozeman, Montana, $88,000
Montana State University, Bozeman, Montana, $81,000
Montana State University, Bozeman, Montana, $80,000
Montana State University, Bozeman, Montana, $79,000
University of Nevada, Reno, Reno, Nevada, $82,000
University of Nevada, Reno, Reno, Nevada, $70,000
University of Nevada, Reno, Reno, Nevada, $70,000
New Mexico State University, Las Cruces, New Mexico, $79,000
North Carolina State University, Cherokee, North Carolina, $79,000
North Dakota State University, New Town, North Dakota, $83,000
Oklahoma State University, Stillwater, Oklahoma, $70,000
Oklahoma State University, Stillwater, Oklahoma, $70,000
Oklahoma State University, Stillwater, Oklahoma, $68,580
Oregon State University Extension Service, Corvallis, Oregon, $81,000
Virginia Cooperative Extension Polytech Inst., Blacksburg, Virginia, $70,000
Washington State University, Pullman, Washington, $89,490
Washington State University, Pullman, Washington, $84,000
University of Wisconsin, Madison, Wisconsin, $84,000
University of Wyoming, Fort Washakie, Wyoming, $88,000
Project details can be found at the NIFA website.
Tribal Colleges Research Grants Program
Tohono O’odham Community College, Sells, Arizona, $59,954
Dine’ College, Tsaile, Arizona, $220,000
Bay Mills Community College, Brimley, Michigan, $216,079
Aaniiih Nakoda College, Harlem, Montana, $200,000
Salish Kootenai College, Pablo, Montana, $200,000
Little Big Horn College, Crow Agency, Montana, $220,000
Little Priest Tribal College, Winnebago, Nebraska, $59,174
Navajo Technical University, Crownpoint, New Mexico, $220,000
Institute of American Indian Arts, Santa Fe, New Mexico, $60,000
Nueta Hidatsa Sahnish College, New Town, North Dakota, $95,000
College of the Muscogee Nation, Okmulgee, Oklahoma, $60,000
Northwest Indian College, Bellingham, Washington, $220,000
Northwest Indian College, Bellingham, Washington, $190,182
College of Menominee Nation, Keshena, Wisconsin, $219,689