The total amount of 50 million has been made accessible to tribes across the nation to help harvest and processing Indigenous meats, such as caribou, moose, and salmon in Alaska. It is dubbed”The Indigenous Animals Harvesting and Meat Processing Grant. The deadline for applications is July 19th.
The U.S. Department of Agriculture has worked with tribes during the past two years to identify ways to promote Indigenous traditional ways of gathering food According to Julia Hnilicka, the Alaska director of the Department of Agriculture’s Rural Development program.
“It was the result of this meeting, specifically in the process of getting rid of the pandemic and also observing the fears that tribes face regarding the security of their food and for food sovereignty which prompted this program,” she added.
The grant is part of USDA’s Indigenous Food Sovereignty Initiative, which was launched in 2021. It works with organizations serving tribes to gather Indigenous views regarding how to improve the USDA’s food programs.
The grant doesn’t put limitations on the amount of the money that tribes can apply for, however there are some restrictions The projects must include Indigenous animals as well as meat processing, and cannot be used to purchase land, animals or even meat.
Find an FAQ about the grant site
This Indigenous Animals Grant is the latest in a string of efforts by both the government and the community to help Native Food sovereignty throughout the United States and even Alaska. In a number of areas the issue was made more urgent after the outbreak of the outbreak. For example, the leaders of Kake’s Organized village of Kake created an immediate subsistence hunt to combat the threat of a food shortage in 2020. In other areas, for instance Western Alaska, families struggled with record low salmon runs and were also able to receive contributions from areas such as Bristol Bay.
The projects funded by The Indigenous Animals Grant can help to increase the capacity of a tribe in engaging with wildlife. Examples include creating or upgrading facilities, as well as purchasing and installing traditional or different equipment such as mixers grinders, smokers, or freezers.
“There is a lot of potential for flexibility in this money, it could be anything such as a four-wheeler to transport animals to an entire distribution center” she explained. “It really does depend on what the tribal needs are.”
The grant program doesn’t make grants based on place of residence or size. However, Hnilicka suggested that the USDA could prioritize projects with specific goals like increasing access to tribal food or utilizing Indigenous-informed design principles instead of projects that are focused on gaining financial benefits.
Grants are available to tribes across the nation, and Hnilicka believes there’s a high chance that tribes located in Alaska could benefit from a large portion of what’s offered.
“I am aware that they’re searching for networks that could extend across the nation and also across tribes as well,” she said. “So there’s an opportunity through these funds for tribal governments to come together and submit joint applications.”
The assistance program for applicants will help tribes determine whether they want jointly submit an application in regions, according to Hnilicka.
The mid-July deadline falls at the middle of summer harvesting and fishing, already a hectic season in Alaska.
“It’s regrettable that this window is in this period of time from now through July 19th,” Hnilicka said. “But there’s a chance that this is the last chance to apply, and I strongly encourage everyone who is able to apply to apply.”
Additional information about grants and the application process can be found on the website of USDA.
