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
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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