Native Food Security Grant

The Native Food Security projects, supported by the First Nations Development Institute, are designed to ensure consistent access and availability of culturally relevant foods for Native communities. This initiative goes beyond conventional food security by encompassing the physical and spiritual nourishment of families, households, Tribes, clans, communities, lands, and the foods themselves, aligning with the Institute's mission to support the well-being and self-determination of Native peoples. The program aims to address the unique needs and preferences of American Indian, Alaska Native, and Native Hawaiian communities, ensuring reliable access to traditional foods that bolster both physical and spiritual health. The target beneficiaries for these grants are Tribal government programs, Tribal § 7871 entities, and Native-controlled nonprofit and community organizations. The impact goals are to strengthen Native food systems, enhance community capacity, and promote traditional ecological knowledge. Expected outcomes include increased access to healthy and culturally relevant foods, improved food distribution networks, enhanced resilience to climate change and natural disasters, and revitalized traditional hunting, fishing, and gathering practices. The measurable results will be evident in the establishment or upgrading of food storage facilities, procurement of traditional foods, organization of community food distribution events, and the development of culturally appropriate food assistance programs. The grant program prioritizes four key focus areas: Native Food Distribution, Food Life Cycle, Wild Food Harvesting, and Resilient Native Foodway. Native Food Distribution projects aim to increase access to healthy, culturally relevant foods by supporting distribution efforts and strengthening local food networks. Food Life Cycle projects focus on improving various stages of the food cycle—origin, tending, harvesting, processing, sharing, consumption, and enrichment—to create continuous and regenerative food systems. Wild Food Harvesting projects support traditional hunting, fishing, and gathering practices, reinforcing cultural foodways and responsible harvesting. Finally, Resilient Native Foodway projects specifically address food security in response to climate change and natural disasters. This includes supporting immediate relief efforts and long-term strategies for preparedness and recovery, habitat restoration, water security, climate adaptation and mitigation, and strengthening infrastructure and distribution networks. The foundation's strategic priorities and theory of change are rooted in empowering Native communities to control their own food systems, revitalizing Indigenous food knowledge and land stewardship through mentorship and intergenerational learning, and advocating for policies that protect Native lands and waters while upholding food sovereignty rights. Through these comprehensive initiatives, the First Nations Development Institute seeks to foster sustainable and culturally vibrant food systems for Native communities.