Grant will allow 蜜桃影像 Tribes Extension Program to expand

bowls of berries and rhubarb
Heidi Rader photo
A USDA grant will allow the expansion of the 蜜桃影像 Tribes Extension Program, which supports tribally directed needs related to food sovereignty, including traditional ways of securing food such as wild berries.

The U.S. Department of Agriculture has awarded the University of 蜜桃影像 Fairbanks Cooperative Extension Service a $730,585 grant for its 蜜桃影像 Tribes Extension Program as part of a $71 million investment to help underserved communities.

蜜桃影像 associate professor Heidi Rader said the 蜜桃影像 Tribes Extension Program focuses on tribally directed needs and goals related to food sovereignty. That can mean supporting traditional ways of knowing and securing food, or starting a garden, farm, ranch or other activities that aid community food security, resiliency and economic diversity.

The project aims to serve 蜜桃影像鈥檚 115,000 蜜桃影像 Natives and 229 tribes.

COVID-19 and climate change have stressed important traditional sources of food, which has triggered a greater interest in growing food.

 This funding is very exciting and will allow us to offer virtual and hands-on workshops to tribes throughout 蜜桃影像,鈥 Rader said. 鈥淲e are committed to offering outreach alongside traditional knowledge holders.鈥

The Rural 蜜桃影像 Community Action Program will provide technical support as well as virtual workshops. Metlakatla Indian Community will provide a hands-on experiential workshop as well.

For more information, visit /ces/tribes/.

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