Page 5 - NAAF 2019 Annual Report

Feeding our people. Mission Focus Areas

Growing our Since time immemorial, Native people have been feeding

economies. Building Keepseagle v. Vilsack their communities. Native agricultural practices have
sustained native communities and the land they steward.
our future. class action lawsuit NAAF’s mission areas – business assistance, agricultural

education, technical support and advocacy services – are
vital to support the continued engagement and passion
for Native agriculture that Tribes have been cultivating.
The Native American Agriculture Fund (NAAF) is a In 1999, the Keepseagle v. Vilsack class action lawsuit was filed
private, charitable trust created by the 2010 settlement of the alleging that the United States Department of Agriculture
Understanding how agriculture truly works is critical
Keepseagle v. Vilsack class action lawsuit, which alleged that (USDA) had engaged in discrimination against Native
for sustaining life. You plan for them long before you
the United States Department of Agriculture (USDA) had American farmers and ranchers in loan programs and loan
ever touch the soil and care for them like they are your
been discriminating against Native American farmers and servicing of loans dating back to 1981.
own children. When the time comes, you harvest them
ranchers in loan programs and loan servicing since 1981.
with the good intention of feeding your family and
In 2010, after more than a decade of litigation, the federal
communities.
The final settlement agreement called for NAAF’s creation to government and the parties agreed to a settlement. The
manage and distribute grants to four eligible organizations: original settlement resulted in the creation of a $680 million
We cannot be truly sovereign until we can feed ourselves.
501(c)(3) organizations, educational organizations, CDFIs compensation fund, another $80 million in debt relief, and
Agricultural education has forever been the heart of
and Native CDFIs, and Tribal governments. These grants tax relief in addition to other forms of programmatic relief to
survival for many tribes. This way of knowing is an
support business assistance, agricultural education, technical be instituted by USDA. A six-month claims process resulted
essential aspect of feeding oneself. We recognize that not
support, and advocacy services for Native farmers and in approved claims for more than 3,600 Native farmers and
everyone has the resources or knowledge to start from
ranchers across the country. ranchers.
scratch, and even those who have been actively producing
food for generations could always use guidance or help
With approximately $266 million in funding, NAAF is As a part of the settlement agreement, a cy pres fund was
to make life easier. Business assistance and technical
the single largest philanthropic organization devoted solely created. After a significant period of further negotiation, a
support work together for Native agriculturalists seeking
to serving the Native American farming and ranching second compensation payment and additional tax relief to
aid. For NAAF, it is essential that we do whatever we can
community. successful claimants was approved, and an additional $38
to help Native people succeed, as tribal communities have
million in “fast track” grants to nonprofit and other eligible
always done.
organizations that support Native farmers and ranchers was
also authorized.
Lastly, we acknowledge the crucial need for advocacy
services that protect tribal sovereignty and our natural
In 2018, the court directed that the remaining funds be
resources while helping us keep our nations fed.
distributed through a newly created Native American
Agriculture Fund. The organization, which is a private
charitable trust, must distribute its funds within a period of
20 years.
“It is so rewarding to see the number of efforts across
the country and the breadth and depth of the work. And

this is just the beginning.”

– Sherry Salway Black (Oglala Lakota),

Chair of the NAAF Program Committee

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