Tribal commodity programs in 12 states to benefit from stimulus money


Jodi Rave Spotted Bear

Jodi Rave Spotted Bear

August 19, 2009

U.S. Agriculture Secretary Tom Vilsack announced today that Recovery Act funding is now available for tribal organizations and states operating commodity programs on reservations. Tribes in 12 states will receive money from the act for equipment and buildings. I see a lot of tribes missing from the list, which probably means they didn't submit a proposal or they simply don't need the money. Or perhaps there was so little money available to spread to 560 federally recognized tribes. Here is the release, including the 18 tribes that will dip into the funding pot:

WASHINGTON, August 19, 2009 - Agriculture Secretary Tom Vilsack todayannounced that Indian Tribal Organizations and States operating the FoodDistribution Program on Indian Reservations (FDPIR) will receiveapproximately $1 million from the American Recovery and Reinvestment Actto purchase equipment and improve facilities needed to provide foodassistance.

"It is imperative that people in the United States have access to safeand nutritious food, and through the Recovery Act, we're investingresources to enhance the availability of food on Indian Reservations andtribal lands," said Vilsack. "The Obama administration is committed toincreasing the health and nutrition of people throughout the country,and these Recovery Act investments will help further that goal."

Through FDPIR, USDA purchases food that is provided to low-incomehouseholds, including the elderly, living on Indian reservations, and toNative American families residing in designated areas near reservationsand in the State of Oklahoma. Currently, there are 271 tribes receivingbenefits under FDPIR through 98 Indian Tribal Organizations and 5 Stateagencies. Almost 100,000 individuals receive a monthly FDPIR foodpackage.

Today's announcement is the first in a series of FDPIR Recovery Actallocations; altogether $5 million in Recovery Act funding will beprovided.Indian Tribal Organizations and government agencies benefiting fromtoday's announcement include:

Arizona:Gila River Indian CommunityNavajo Nation

California:Riverside/San Bernadino County Indian Health Southern California TribalChairman's Association Yurok Tribe

Idaho:Nez Perce TribeShoshone-Bannock Tribes

Kansas:Kickapoo Tribe of KansasUnited Tribes of Kansas and Southeast Nebraska

Mississippi:Mississippi Band of Choctaw Indians

North Carolina:Cherokee Tribe of North Carolina

New Mexico:Pueblo of Acoma

Nevada:Yerington Paiute Tribe

Oklahoma:Muscogee Creek Nation

South Dakota:Lower Brule Sioux Tribe

Washington:Quileute Indian TribeQuinalt Indian NationSpokane Tribe of Indians

Wyoming:Shoshone Tribe

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USDA is an equal opportunity provider, employer and lender. To file acomplaint of discrimination, write: USDA, Director, Office of CivilRights, 1400 Independence Avenue, SW, Washington, DC 20250-9410 or call(800) 795-3272(voice), or (202) 720-6382 (TDD).USDA Newsoc.news@usda.gov202 720-4623

Jodi Rave

Jodi Rave Spotted Bear

(Mandan, Hidatsa and Arikara Nation)

Founder & Editor in Chief

Location: Twin Buttes, North Dakota

Spoken Languages: English

Topic Expertise: Federal trust relationship with American Indians; Indigenous issues ranging from spirituality and environment to education and land rights

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Jodi Rave Spotted Bear

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