2022 Grantees

www.akiptan.org 

Akiptan is a South Dakota Community Development Financial Institution (CDFI) located on the Cheyenne River Sioux Reservation. With NAAF funding Akiptan will continue to serve Tribal borrowers all over Indian country, to meet the agriculture needs of producers. Upon receiving a loan, those granted will be provided one on one technical assistance, business planning, and risk management tools. NAAF funds will also help beginning farmers and ranchers receive equity grants along with their loan proceeds to assist with the purchase of specific assets.  

Albuquerque, NM 

https://www.nativeforward.org/ 

The American Indian Graduate Center seeks to provide scholarships to Native students pursuing post-secondary degrees related to agriculture; thereby increasing access to critical training, diversifying the professional agriculture sector, and reducing the burden of student loan debt which can hinder future farmers in setting up operations. 

The University of Nevada, Reno (UNR) will work to provide workshops that address access to capital, financial management training, and an understanding of land usage and ownership throughout Indian Country. This project will also aid in providing agriculture education for Native students joining the UNR College of Agriculture, Biotechnology and Natural Resources.

NAAF funding will also be used to assist in providing access to capital workshops, risk management training and technical sessions to tribes in Nevada and South Dakota. These trainings will specifically address how to mitigate risk with climatic events including, extreme weather, and climate adaptation methods. Trainings will also aim to introduce regenerative agriculture practices for producers.  

The Catawba Indian Nation’s Yawakče Yabsigre Land Expansion and Yawakče Yabsigre Aquaponics Greenhouse projects will purchase agricultural lands to expand the Nation’s ability to produce food and graze livestock, as well as construct an aquaponics greenhouse to grow and sell produce year-round, while also providing fish to Catawba households. These combined projects will improve access to and support local tribal food production. 

The Center of Southwest Culture, Inc.’s Indigenous Cultivators of Conservation Project aims to build upon their 2020 NAAF project by developing and enhancing the economic viability of Indigenous farms, the ecological health and sustainability of Tribal farmland, and the equitable market participation of Indigenous Pueblo farmers and their communities within their local food value chain. 

Chinle, AZ 

https://dinecdc.org/ 

The Diné Agribusiness Technical & Financial Assistance Program will provide quality business management, financial training, and technical assistance to established and emerging Navajo agri-preneurs, farmers, and ranchers.  The program will provide agricultural and business workshops throughout the Navajo Nation.  

https://fdltcc.edu/ 

The Fond du Lac Tribal and Community College’s Bimaaji’idiwin Food Sovereignty program will expand efforts to improve the food systems of the Fond du Lac Tribal community by increasing credit knowledge, access to capital, and improving marketing opportunities for harvesters and producers. With NAAF funding, Bimaaji’idiwin Food Sovereignty program will provide workshops, agricultural supplies, and financial support.  

https://ftbelknap.org/

The Fort Belknap Indian Community (FBIC) will develop climate and drought summaries to help address the current and future climate impacts on Native livestock producers, to better inform Tribal council decision-making on drought declarations, and lay the foundation for real-time climate and drought monitoring systems through their partnership with Aaniiih Nakoda College (ANC). They will also provide producers with emergency water solutions and technical assistance.  

Four Bands Community Fund, a Native CDFI provides enhanced loan opportunities to Native famers and ranchers on the Cheyenne River Sioux Reservation. Utilizing NAAF funds they will provide a combination of products and services including loan capital, equity bundles, and offer business coaching to multiple Native owned Agriculture operations. They also will have a Building Equity for Beginning Farmers & Ranchers program to assist in  purchasing assets to strengthen operations. 

The Grand Traverse Band’s (GTB) Miijim Project will support and encourage tribal members and their families to reconnect to the land through gardening and farming, financial education workshops, and hosting a farm market to sell produce.

Grey Snow Management Solutions will hire a consultant to develop a supply chain management program for the Ioway Seed Company. This program will provide the necessary best practices and standard operating procedures necessary to ensure an efficient and cost-effective plan to source and supply seed from Tribal and Native producers. 

The Hawaiian Lending and Investment’s (HLI) Food Producer Resource Program (FPRP) is a unique lending approach, that addresses the surveys and input from producers that incorporate potential milestones and financial impact. With NAAF funding, FPRP will deliver opportunity for access to capital to Native Hawaiian producers through a blended debt and equity investment to strengthen successful food production on Hawaiian Homelands in the State of Hawaii.

With NAAF funding, IFAI will provide outreach to Native producers and Tribes as they host policy roundtables across Indian Country in unison with the Native Farm Bill Coalition to identify the needs of Producers and Tribes. As needs are identified, IFAI will work diligently to have this information represented in the upcoming Farm Bill.   

Island Mountain Community Development Financial Institution addresses Agri-business needs by utilizing strategies to deal with sustainable developmental issues. With NAAF funding, Island Mountain Community Development Financial Institution will provide growth capital and development services to build and sustain the operations of Native ranchers and producers. They will also provide emergency load funds, educational conservation activities related to climate-related disasters and focus on responsive action for tribal farmers and ranchers facing climate impacts.

The Kalispel Agricultural Enterprises Enhancement Project will ensure the efficient management of ongoing agricultural initiatives; expand training opportunities for Tribal and community members in food processing and agricultural production; and provide agribusiness workshops for existing community producers and those interested in the industry. 

The Hoopa Value-Added Producers Program will support tribal beginning farmers and ranchers in furthering their agricultural businesses on and off the Hoopa Reservation through technical assistance, equipment purchases, food safety workshops, and tribal food code certifications.  

https://www.lumbeetribe.com/  

The Lumbee Land Development project seeks to advance Lumbee agriculture by facilitating advocacy, networking, business assistance, educational opportunities, and training for our Native producers.  They seek to better understand their Native producers, collective resources, and the needs within the Lumbee tribal food system, ultimately strengthening tribal food sovereignty.  We estimate a total of at least 150 Native producers will be served over the two-year grant period.  

The Lummi CDFI provides lending opportunities to diverse Native businesses. NAAF funds will be used to focus on Native fisherman, divers and harvesters who will receive technical assistance on how to utilize their direct lending, access to capital, and financial tools. 

https://www.hanabuild.org/ 

Na ‘Oihana ‘Aina (Trades of the Lands) aligns Native Hawaiian trainees and community producers to overcome established obstacles to agriculture and to harness the full potential of East Maui’s abundance through intergenerational knowledge and use of modern techniques.  With NAF funds, Ma Ka Hana Ka Ike Building Program will restore pathways for participants’ success in lucrative, in-demand agricultural trades. 

The Mvskoke Loan Fund (MLN) is a Native CDFI with a mission to promote entrepreneurial growth to Native farmers and ranchers within Oklahoma. With NAAF funding they will provide access to credit for Native farmers and ranchers to successfully grow or maintain their agriculture business. 

The Nakoda~Aaniiih Credit Agency (NACA-INC) project will create a long-term positive impact for agricultural producers on the Fort Belknap Reservation. With NAAF funding the NACA-INC project will provide loan products, credit services, increased knowledge and economic growth.

Native 360 Loan Fund is a certified Native CDFI providing credit, loan capital and technical assistance to Native American businesses. NAAF funding will help Native 360 Loan Fund become a regional hub for ag lending, expanding lending operations for food production among the tribes. 

The Native CDFI Network (NCN) unifies Native CDFI’s and provides lending services to Native Agriculture businesses. With NAAF funding NCN will provide long term low interest loans to applicants seeking capital in Indian Country.  

https://www.natwanicoalition.org/ 

The Natwani Coalition will support community coalition building, long term planning, data collection, infrastructure development, agricultural training, and micro-granting to small scale producers so that the Hopi community can achieve their goal of 50% food sovereignty by the year 2032.  The Natwani Coalition plans to build on emerging datasets from their previous community food assessments that have allowed them to identify an accurate number of Hopi food practitioners on their Reservation. 

Albuquerque, NM 

https://nmccap.org/ 

New Mexico Community Capital proposes version 3.0 of the Native Farmer in Residence program that has directly invested $110,000 in Native-owned farms and will increase expertise in Native communities to adapt agriculture practices for drought, fire-induced soil erosion, and other threats posed by climate change.  The members of the Farmer Steering Committee will each share their knowledge with at least 10 other Native farmers through their community engagement activities. 

Las Cruces, NM

https://www.nmsu.edu/

With NAAF funding, NMSU will conduct a project entitled Tribal Resilience-by-Design in Agriculture. This project will combat climate change and food insecurity by working with Native producers to grow a value-added product. The chosen product will later be freeze-dried, packaged, and labeled as a shelf-stable food.  

NiiJii Capital Partners (NiiCaP) provides loans and related development services including technical support, business assistance and training to underserved persons within economically distressed communities. With NAAF funding NiiCaP will focus on Indigenous Food Sovereignty and Economic Empowerment to provide business technical support and access to credit to the Menominee Food System.

Minneapolis, MN 

https://www.natifs.org/ 

North American Traditional Indigenous Food Systems will increase food sovereignty in Tribal communities by Increasing the number of Native farmers and ranchers producing Indigenous food by providing training, financial assistance, and increasing markets for these goods.  NATIFS will pilot new projects to increase the distribution and marketing of Indigenous food products through training and support of Indigenous chefs and entrepreneurs, tribal culinary programs, and food support programs.  

Leupp, AZ 

The North Leupp Family Farms is a Diné operated, non-profit community-based farm serving rural communities in Western Navajo Nation.  The proposed program will encourage continued capacity building at the farm while expanding an ongoing program of technical assistance to small Native farmers with the support of several partners across the Southwest.  Some of the greatest impacts imparted through this program will be through the direct technical assistance to producers. 

The Northwest Native Development Fund (NNDF) is a CDFI providing financing to Native producers. NAAF funding will assist in financing more Native owned cattle operations, assistance to impacted wood harvest clients, and access to business training opportunities.   

The Owens Valley Indian Water Commission (OVIWC) is Tribally chartered and consists of three member tribes: Bishop, Big Pine, and Lone Pine Paiute Tribes. With NAAF funding, OVIWC will set up the Nüümü Newe Protecting Our Future Project which will improve Native American farmers and ranchers’ ability to access credit through loans and grants. It will also expand tribal members’ involvement in agriculture and strengthen their economic opportunities through regrants, training, education, resources, and technical assistance. 

Wabanaki Unagi will establish a Tribal aquaculture enterprise that grows American eel. The project will support over 700 Native harvesters, increasing the price per pound, stabilizing the market, and creating agriculture-based employment on the reservation. 

The Mino Bimaadiziiwin Tribal Farm will construct a new pole barn which will allow the Farm to strengthen and expand food production, house critical program equipment, and enhance food sovereignty efforts of the Red Cliff community. 

Mission, SD

https://www.sicangucorp.com/ 

The Rosebud Economic Development Corporation’s (REDCO) “Investing in Sicangu Farmers and Ranchers” project will expand capacity and support entrepreneurship and Native food producers in and around the Sicangu Macoke.  

The Seminole Tribe of Florida, Inc. will develop a cattle program accounting system to provide tribal producers access to accounting information on a timely basis. This proposed system will provide comprehensive financial data on operational expenses such as pharmaceuticals, feed, mineral supplementation, labor, veterinary services, etc. that will provide tribal cattle owners the opportunity to mitigate risk and make informed business decisions.  

The Lakota Fund Inc. promotes economic sustainability and increases access to capital for Native Agriculture producers. With NAAF funding, the Lakota Fund Inc. will assist ranchers in effectively stewarding their environmental resources with a unique loan/equity investment product supported by technical assistance and training. 

With NAAF funding, the United Tribes Technical College (UTTC) will design, plan, and construct a 5,000 square foot greenhouse for the Sustainable Agriculture and Food Systems (SAFS) program. This greenhouse will be used as an essential part of the agriculture program and will provide the opportunity for food sovereignty in the UTCC student and tribal community.  

UTCC will also provide students with an opportunity to obtain stipends, proper tools/equipment, and clothing for the Sustainable Agriculture and Food Systems (SAFS) Associates Degree program. Students will also work with UTCC Faculty and Staff to access travel opportunities to various agriculture farms and operations, conferences, and business education/assistance trainings.  

Additionally, UTCC will utilize NAAF funding to integrate solar-panels/photovoltaic systems onto the newly constructed greenhouse. Solar panels are a means of utilizing climate smart agriculture and will provide students an opportunity to learn from hands on experience. Students will also be provided direct training on solar-panel systems in their programs curriculum.  

The University of Nebraska Tribal Extension Program will utilize this grant to provide garden to table market training, accessing capital, financial literacy workshops, internships/job training, and academic/career advising. The program will increase the amount of Native Producers by teaching high school students to grow food for their families and for profit.              

Ft. Collins, CO

https://villageearth.org/ 

Village Earth will continue to build out our pilot climate data portal on our online Native Land Information System (NLIS) to make data, critical for building resilience to climate change, more accessible to tribal planners, tribal support organizations, and tribal agriculturalists.  Because we are developing an informational resource tool, we imagine will have very broad reach to aid Tribes in their quest to obtain accurate research data.  

White Earth Investment Initiative (WEII) is experienced with lending to Native-controlled and Reservation-based businesses in Minnesota. WEII will use NAAF funding to provide loans to eligible borrowers, and increase capital among Native Farmers and Ranchers primarily within the State of Minnesota.

Wind River Development Fund (WRDF) a CDFI providing loans, re-grants, business assistance and training, work with Native producers representing diverse agricultural models. With NAAF funding WRDF will facilitate capital access to Native agricultural producers, provide technical assistance and re-granting programs, while supporting economic and workforce development opportunities. 

Ventura, CA

https://www.wishtoyo.org/ 

Wishtoyo will build expertise among beginning Native farmers and ranchers by engaging experts on wild tending, farming, harvesting and permaculture design.  Wishtoyo will recruit and train members of the Chumash and California Native communities to participate in wild tending, harvesting and native farming.  Participants will be recruited from the Syuxtun Plant Mentorship Collective and the Coastal Band of the Chumash Nation. 

From the Ground Up: Development of the Yurok Food Villages will fund land surveys that are needed to determine the location of three centralized Food Villages throughout the Yurok Indian Reservation. With NAAF funding, the project will build infrastructure focused on improving access to capital, creating a hub for community-centric economic development, and providing technical assistance to Yurok food producers.