The Native American Agriculture Fund
Joins Coalition for Natural Climate Solutions
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"Many of today’s climate solutions are derived from tribal ancestral knowledge. For many Indigenous people and communities, this is a time of reclaiming our land stewardship and the intimate harmonious knowledge we have possessed and practiced for thousands of years." - Toni Stanger-McLaughlin (Coleville) CEO of the Native American Agriculture Fund (NAAF)
The Native American Agriculture Fund (NAAF) joins the U.S. Nature4Climate coalition of conservation, environmental, and sustainable business organizations collaborating on Natural Climate Solutions. NAAF is among the first Indigenous-led entities to join the coalition. US Nature4Climate strategizes on solutions to combat climate change through restoration and management of forests, grasslands, wetlands, farms, and ranches.
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Virtual Listening Session on Hunger, Nutrition and Health in Indian Country
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The Native American Agriculture Fund (NAAF) in partnership with the Native Farm Bill Coalition (NFBC) will host a virtual convening to gather input for a report about food and nutrition disparities in Indian Country that will inform the White House Conference on Hunger, Nutrition, and Health.
The upcoming listening session will be available via Zoom and streamed live on NAAF's Facebook, Twitter, and LinkedIn on Wednesday, June 29, 2022 at 2 PM CT.
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NAAF Welcomes Lucas Sherrill, Investment Associate
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Lucas Sherrill
Choctaw Nation
Prior to this role, he served as a Real Estate Land Specialist. While working in the land acquisition space, Luke also founded Sherrill Services LLC, a land reclamation and contracting business, where he assisted clients with the management of successional timber and brush overgrowth as well as construction projects.
In his spare time, Luke enjoys golfing, volunteering at his local Men’s shelter, and spending time with family and friends at the ranch.
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June 30, 2022 is the last day to sign up for the 2022 Ag Census
The Ag Census data is a valuable educational tool that evaluates the impact of Native American farmers and ranchers. This data can help support the initiatives of NAAF through understanding the current needs for business assistance, agricultural education, technical support, and advocacy services.
If you have never received a census and are new to National Agricultural Statistics Service (NASS) surveys, sign up to be counted today. You do not need to sign up if you already receive NASS surveys.
Key Dates:
- June 30, 2022 – sign up to be included in the survey ends
- November 2022 – ag census mails out and data collection begins
- February 6, 2023 – final response deadline
From the Intertribal Agriculture Council & Indigenous Food and Agriculture Council:
The Ag Census is completely anonymous and confidential and happens every five
years. The data collected influences national ag policy and helps determine funding
levels as well as compile production estimates. If we, as a community, do not
respond, then the data does not reflect our numbers and Indian Country's needs.
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What are the needs of Native Veterans involved in food and agriculture production?
American Indian and Alaska Native people serve in the US Armed Services at a higher rate than any other group. According to the 2010 Census, it is estimated that over 150,000 veterans identified as American Indian and Alaska Native alone. In recognition of this fact, NAAF aims to uplift more Native veterans in agriculture, and we need your input on the current needs of beginning and experienced Indigenous veteran farmers and ranchers.
This Native Veterans survey will foster roundtable discussions to evaluate and address the needs of Native veterans working in agriculture so that they can be involved in every aspect of developing agricultural infrastructure and thriving food economies in Native communities.
“When our Native veterans return, we want them to find healing and opportunity in the land. That is why the Native American Agriculture Fund is committed to assisting Native American Veterans, our first step in assistance is this survey.” -Toni Stanger-McLaughlin, J.D, (Colville), CEO of NAAF
The first 200 respondents will be eligible to receive a veteran challenge coin which will be sent to them by the Farmer Veteran Coalition.
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Other Agriculture Opportunities
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Native Farm Bill Coalition Roundtables
Friday July 1, 3:00 - 4:00 pm ET
Don’t miss out on the Native Farm Bill Coalition’s bi-weekly webinar series. Our twelfth webinar in the series is about Title XI of the Farm Bill: Crop Insurance.
Sign up for the reminder here: https://bit.ly/NFBC128. The webinar will be live-streamed across our social media platforms; there is no Zoom link. Just log onto Facebook or Twitter, find our page, and join us!
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Do you want to be featured like the grantee's below?
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Tag us, @nativeagfund, in your social media posts and we'll reach out to you to highlight in our next newsletter!
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Crownpoint, NM
It’s time for 2022 Innoventure Native Youth Ag Camp!
4 days of fun, and a lifetime of learning. Join us at Navajo Technical University for the Ranch Management Youth Camp. This camp is being offered free of charge to Native Youth of NM and surrounding areas, 14-17 years of age.
Email them at aibe@nmsu.edu or follow them on social media for updates on the event:
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Located: 504 Chartin Road, Blue Lake CA
They will have all kinds of fresh produce, including zucchini, artichokes, sugar snap peas, beets, and chard. It's picked weekly by staff on demand to ensure freshness and reduce waste.
Additionally, fresh quail eggs from the tribe’s flock of quail will be available, as well as chicken eggs from local farmer Julie Crowell, homemade jam made by Wilder Witch Farms, and plant starts for gardening.
If you're interested in this project, community members can join the garden staff as they harvest to learn about different growing methods being practiced in the high tunnels, such as lower and lean trellising, which offers support for climbing plants such as tomatoes and cucumbers.
The farm stand is part of the tribe’s food sovereignty educational programming, where community members will be able to sell their produce and learn about agricultural marketing, distribution, and sales, after the tribe secured a $50,000 grant from the Native American Agriculture Fund.
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Three Sisters Gardens
West Sacramento, California
Located: 700 Cummins Way, West Sacramento CA
Open every Tuesday from
June 21 - October 15, 2022.
Three Sisters Gardens will be starting their Free Farm Stand between 10 - 2 pm every Tuesday for the next four months.
This program is intended to serve food insecure homes in Broderick & Bryte in West Sacramento, California.
For more information contact Info@3sistersgardens.com or to donate to their community giving programs, https://3sistersgardens.com/donate/
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