The Center for Integrated Agricultural Systems (CIAS), in collaboration with Tribal partners, has launched a significant initiative aimed at supporting Native American food traditions and sovereignty in the Great Lakes region. Funded by a $10 million Sustainable Agricultural Systems-Coordinated Agricultural Projects (SAS-CAP) program grant from the U.S. Department of Agriculture’s National Institute of Food and Agriculture (USDA-NIFA), this project focuses on expanding sustainable, climate-smart food production practices that have been integral to Tribal communities for generations.

Led by Bill Tracy, a professor within the department of Plant and Agroecosystem Sciences at UW–Madison, and a majority Tribal leadership team, the project seeks to scale up traditional Tribal food systems by enhancing production, processing, storage, and distribution capabilities. It emphasizes a partnership-driven, transdisciplinary approach that prioritizes the needs and expertise of Tribal Nations involved, including Tribal scientists and community leaders. Key collaborators include the Menominee Indian Tribe of Wisconsin and the Wisconsin Tribal Conservation Advisory Council (WTCAC). Gary Besaw, Director of the Menominee Tribal Department of Agriculture and Food Systems, and Jeff Mears, Executive Director for WTCAC, serve as representatives, respectively.

A central component of the initiative is the expansion of the Great Lakes Intertribal Food Coalition’s (GLIFC) Tribal Elder Food Box Program (TEFBP), which provides nutritious, culturally important foods to Tribal elders. From 10,800 boxes distributed to seven Wisconsin and Michigan Tribes in its pilot stages in 2021, the program has expanded significantly and within the 2023 distribution season was able to provide 31,800 food boxes to elder Tribal members of all 11 Federally recognized Wisconsin Tribes. The effort also aims to integrate Tribal-grown foods into broader distribution networks such as schools and casinos across Wisconsin.

In addition to practical advancements in food production, the project allocates resources to train the next generation of food systems leaders, supporting both UW–Madison graduate students and Native students across campus. It includes funding for an agricultural apprenticeship program to bolster workforce development within Tribal agriculture departments.

Further activities under the initiative include mapping existing Indigenous food system assets in the region, researching sustainable crop-livestock systems, and promoting nutrition education among Tribal members with a focus on the concept that “Food is Medicine.”

Project team members include CIAS Director Erin Silva, who leads the teams focused on production strategies for climate-smart Indigenous agriculture as well as culturally-appropriate mechanization. Involved in the aforementioned objectives is Research Program Manager Dan Cornelius who will also work to map assets and resources in regional Indigenous food systems and develop learning and mentoring programs for Indigenous farmers, students, and researchers. Senior Researcher and Practicing Economic Anthropologist Michelle Miller heads the team working to ensure safe and resilient supply chains. Research Scientists Erin Lowe and Hanna McIntosh are both project managers for this grant and Administrative Specialist Frankie Anderson plays a supporting role in these efforts.

Overall, the project aligns with broader USDA goals of fostering resilient, climate-smart agricultural systems while enhancing food security and economic development in rural communities. It represents a significant step toward reclaiming and revitalizing Native American foodways and promoting health and well-being within Tribal Nations.

Read even more about this exciting project as featured in: Wisconsin State Journal, Milwaukee Journal Sentinel, Wisconsin Public Radio, and UW News.