Source: AMERICAN INDIAN HIGHER EDUCATION CONSORTIUM submitted to NRP
BUILDING CAPACITY FOR 1994 EXTENSION AND NATIVE AGRICULTURE
Sponsoring Institution
National Institute of Food and Agriculture
Project Status
ACTIVE
Funding Source
OTHER GRANTS
Reporting Frequency
Annual
Accession No.
1031054
Grant No.
2023-70417-40455
Cumulative Award Amt.
$1,875,000.00
Proposal No.
2023-05523
Multistate No.
(N/A)
Project Start Date
Apr 1, 2023
Project End Date
Mar 31, 2028
Grant Year
2023
Program Code
[ARP]- ARP Technical Assistance Investment Program
Recipient Organization
AMERICAN INDIAN HIGHER EDUCATION CONSORTIUM
121 ORONOCO ST
ALEXANDRIA,VA 22314
Performing Department
(N/A)
Non Technical Summary
The "Building Capacity for 1994 Extension and Native Agriculture" project will build the capacity of 1994 Land Grant Institutions Extension programs (1994 Extension) to provide socially disadvantaged and underserved Native American farmers, ranchers and community food producers increased knowledge and access to USDA programs and services; and best practices that promote sound financial/agribusiness management, food production, and land management and conservation. The project will provide training and technical assistance (TTA) services to 1994 Extension and directly to Native producers that will lead to increased success and sustainability of agricultural operations; and increased capacity of 1994 Extension to provide TTA. The American Indian Higher Education Consortium (AIHEC), First Americans Land-Grant Consortium (FALCON), 1994 Extension, USDA, and other partners will deliver TTA using local, trusted, community-based and culturally grounded relationships by deploying Program Specialists that would be dedicated solely to providing TTA and building 1994 Extension capacity. Program Specialists will provide TTA to 1994 Extension and Native American farmers, ranchers and community food producers as subject matter experts with deep knowledge and experience, each specializing in a particular disciplinary areas of: a) agribusiness finance/credit/business planning; b) local food production/food sovereignty; and c) land management/conservation.
Animal Health Component
(N/A)
Research Effort Categories
Basic
(N/A)
Applied
(N/A)
Developmental
(N/A)
Classification

Knowledge Area (KA)Subject of Investigation (SOI)Field of Science (FOS)Percent
90200010001100%
Knowledge Area
902 - Administration of Projects and Programs;

Subject Of Investigation
0001 - Administration;

Field Of Science
0001 - Administration;
Goals / Objectives
The "Building Capacity for 1994 Extension and Native Agriculture" project will build the capacity of 1994 Land Grant Institutions[1] Extension programs (1994 Extension) to provide socially disadvantaged and underserved Native American farmers, ranchers and community food producers increased knowledge and access to USDA programs and services; and best practices that promote sound financial/agribusiness management, food production, and land management and conservation. The project will provide training and technical assistance (TTA) services to 1994 Extension and directly to Native producers that will lead to increased success and sustainability of agricultural operations; and increased capacity of 1994 Extension to provide TTA. Throughout the five-year project period, the American Indian Higher Education Consortium (AIHEC), First Americans Land-Grant Consortium (FALCON), 1994 Extension, USDA[2] and other partners will deliver TTA using local, trusted, community-based and culturally grounded relationships.[1] 1994 land grant institutions are the Tribal Colleges and Universities that gained land grant status through a Congressional Act in 1994.[2] Includes USDA's Office of Tribal Relations, as well as all relevant Mission Areas and Agencies.
Project Methods
Program Specialists would conduct workshops, provide individualized TTA with 1994 Extension and Native American producers, serve as experts in the field, and connect stakeholders with USDA resources, programs and services. Their overarching goal would be to build capacity at 1994 Extension to provide sustainable TTA support to Native American producers. They would also serve as facilitators to 1994 student pipelines to USDA jobs and internships.AIHEC will recruit, hire and deploy three Program Specialists with tribal/cultural experience and subject matter expertise in the disciplinary areas described above. They will be supervised, mentored and supported as AIHEC full-time employees. Each Program Specialist will develop a work plan that will guide them throughout the period of performance. Using survey and evaluation data, they will identify TTA needs and interests among 1994 Extension and Native producers and will then engage on developing strategies, activities and resources that help address TTA needs and interests. Program Specialists will conduct a minimum of five individual engagements (e.g., email, phone, Zoom) with 1994 Extension and/or Native producers per month on TTA needs and interests; develop and deliver at least one training workshop per quarter (in-person, hybrid or virtual); facilitate a minimum of three new connections[1] between 1994s and resource-providing organizations per quarter; and identify a minimum of five resources and/or tools per quarter that address needs and interests.[1] New connections will be defined as a direct interpersonal interaction between two organizations that can potentially lead to future collaboration, resource and/or information sharing.

Progress 04/01/24 to 03/31/25

Outputs
Target Audience:The target audience reached during this reporting period consisted of 1994 land grant extension directors, faculty and staff, as well as upper administrators (presidents, deans, VP, etc.). Collaborting USDA partners targeted included USDA Office of Tribal Relations (OTR), NIFA, FSA, NRCS, and RD. Other partners contacted included InterTribal Ag Council, Oweesta Corp, NSF, BIA, Ho Chunk Enterprises, Montana State University, for example. We met with community members and food producers at the Musckogee Creek Tribalcommunity (hosted by the College of Muskogee Nation), and also conducted site visits to United Tribes Technical College (Bismarck, ND), Nuetsa Hidatsa Sanish College (Ft. Berthold, ND), Saginaw Chippewa Tribal College (Mt. Pleasant, MI) and Bay Mills Community College (Bay Mills, MI). Changes/Problems:Currently, with no explanation. our Federal funding is frozen. What opportunities for training and professional development has the project provided?? First Americans Land Grant Consortium Conference (FALCON), Minneapolis Oct. 11- 13th , 2024--1994 Specialists attended convening of 320 participants including representation from 28 TCUs, 37 NIFA staff, partners from Office of Tribal Relations and other external TCU partners.1994 Program Specialists hosted an informational table, Indigenous foods raffle and engaged 1:1 with an estimated 50+LG personnel over 2 days. ?Train The Trainer at FALCON Conference-- (60 participants) included strategic planning activity/training, and distributed Food Sovereignty resource guides for TCUs.Attended the "Growing Power Food Sovereignty Summit" workshop at the College of Muscogee Nation November 7-8th, 2024 sponsored by AIHEC & the CMN Land Grant Dept. ? Met with land-grant staff, community members/producers, USDA Great Plains TCU Liaison, US Forest Service staff, Native ag orgs including Indigenous Food and Agriculture Network, Akiptan and Intertribal Agriculture Council. Approximately 150 participants attended over two days. ? 1994 Specialists attended the Intertribal Agriculture Council Meeting December 10-12, 2024. They networked with TCU staff in attendance, IAC staff, USDA officials, and received updates on new IAC initiatives for 2025, new federal programs and funding opportunities, and engaged 1:1 with agricultural producers such as Yakama Nation Farms. They learned about continued development of the National Intertribal Regional Food Business Center--confirmed applicability for 1994 programs with director Johanna Herron. They facilitated between the Morongo Tribe and Flower Hill Institute on Ag. business resources. How have the results been disseminated to communities of interest?We have followed up with 1994 stakeholders with information and resources requested on an indivual, as-requested basis. In some cases, we have shared this information through our FALCON and AIHEC listservs and other communication channels. What do you plan to do during the next reporting period to accomplish the goals?Currently the program is paused due to the unavailability of Federal funding.

Impacts
What was accomplished under these goals? In this reporting period, the two 1994 program specialists focused on providing training and technical assistance, while also building and expanding their networks and trusting relationships with Tribal College & University (TCU) land-grant faculty, extension educators and researchers. Some of their major activities included: ? First Americans Land Grant Consortium Conference (FALCON), Minneapolis Oct. 11- 13th , 2024--1994 Specialists attended convening of 320 participants including representation from 28 TCUs, 37 NIFA staff, partners from Office of Tribal Relations and other external TCU partners.1994 Program Specialists hosted an informational table, Indigenous foods raffle and engaged 1:1 with an estimated 50+LG personnel over 2 days. ? Train The Trainer at FALCON Conference-- (60 participants) included strategic planning activity/training, and distributed Food Sovereignty resource guides for TCUs. ? Facilitated NIFA NextGen TCU grantee lunch hosted by Leech Lake Tribal College. 15 USDA representatives were in attendance, Next Gen TCU attendees were from Fond du Lac Tribal and Community College, College of Menominee Nation, and Leech Lake Tribal College. Grantees shared challenges and successes of NextGen programs at respective institutions. ? Food Sovereignty Specialist attended USDA Leadership Group Meeting at the College of Muscogee Nation on Nov. 8, 2024. She met and spent the day with members of the USDA leadership group, TCU Presidents and representatives. She provided follow-up resources for TCU staff in attendance. ? Attended the "Growing Power Food Sovereignty Summit" workshop at the College of Muscogee Nation November 7-8th, 2024 sponsored by AIHEC & the CMN Land Grant Dept. Met with land-grant staff, community members/producers, USDA Great Plains TCU Liaison, US Forest Service staff, Native ag orgs including Indigenous Food and Agriculture Network, Akiptan and Intertribal Agriculture Council. Approximately 150 participants attended over two days. ? 1994 Specialists attended the Intertribal Agriculture Council Meeting December 10-12, 2024. They networked with TCU staff in attendance, IAC staff, USDA officials, and received updates on new IAC initiatives for 2025, new federal programs and funding opportunities, and engaged 1:1 with agricultural producers such as Yakama Nation Farms. They learned about continued development of the National Intertribal Regional Food Business Center--confirmed applicability for 1994 programs with director Johanna Herron. They facilitated between the Morongo Tribe and Flower Hill Institute on Ag. business resources. ? The Land Management Specialist joined Extension Disaster Education Network Board of Directors with 1994 Land Grant focus. Additionally, the following partnerships were developed and/or strengthened: ? North American Food Systems Network ? SARE Regional Directors, NIFA Program lead for SARE ? Exploring partnership with Yakima Nation Farms as a potential internship site ? Organic Seed Alliance ? Navajo Tribal Council (Nathan Notah) ? University of Wisconsin-Madison, Dan Cornelius ? Robert Gomez-Environmental Dept of New Mexico ? Calvin Fischer-Spokane Tribe ? Sheldon Fletcher--Lower Brule Sioux Tribe 1994 Specialists met with at least 15 USDA officials in this reporting period, including USDA 1994 administrators and liaisons Lawrence Shorty, Ryhal Rowland, Kellen Palmer, Lisa Yellow Luger, Ray Benally, and Director Betsy Rakola, Erin Riley (NIFA), SARE regional Directors (4), Vance Owens (NIFA SARE Program Leader), Pedro Torres (National NRCS Tribal Liason), Andres Ciblis (ARS), and Janice Woodard (NIFA). The specialists also conducted technical assistance efforts for USDA Programs, Services and Grants, including: ? Provided feedback and guidance for SARE mini-grant proposal for United Tribes Technical College Land Grant staff. ? Provided funding information (Community Forestry funding from USDA) for Community Orchard project at Chief Dull Knife College (Henri Thompson) ? Provided information on Regional Food Business Centers to Southwestern Indian Polytechnic Institute ? Provided information to the Morongo Band of Mission Indians and Flower Hill on Ag business assessment.

Publications


    Progress 04/01/23 to 03/31/24

    Outputs
    Target Audience:The target audience reached during this reporting period consisted of 1994 land grant extension directors, faculty and staff, as well as upper administrators (presidents, deans, VP, etc.). Collaborting USDA partners targeted included USDA Office of Tribal Relations (OTR), NIFA, FSA, NRCS, and RD. Other partners contacted included InterTribal Ag Council, Oweesta Corp, NSF, BIA, Ho Chunk Enterprises, Montana State University, for example. We met with community members and food producers at the Nebraska Winnebago Indian community (hosted by Little Priest Tribal College), and also conducted site visits to United Tribes Technical College (Bismarck, ND), Nuetsa Hidatsa Sanish College (Ft. Berthold, ND), and Little Big Horn College (Crow Agency, MT). Changes/Problems:The major challenges with this project has been with the hiring of our three program specialists. The hiring process took longer than expected because of the high standards for qualifications and experiences we set. Nonetheless, we are thrilled to have hired our specialist in Feb-April, 2024, and all three are fully engaged in the work. We expect Year 2 to be a very productive and successful year. The other challenge as been that the PI, John Phillips, was unexpectedly appointed interim President & CEO of AIHEC in September, 2023 and is continuing in that role until June 30, 2024. This has limited his capacity at times to help manage the program, but starting in July 1, 2024, he will return to his previous Land Grant Director role. What opportunities for training and professional development has the project provided?We have conducted one community workshop and are planning another one in the fall. Additionally, we are planning a series of site visits and webinars. We are also preparing for a Train-the-Trainer workshop to be held at the FALCON annual conference in Minneapolis, MN, on Oct. 11-13. How have the results been disseminated to communities of interest?We have followed up with 1994 stakeholders with information and resources requested on an indivual, as-requested basis. In some cases, we have shared this information through our FALCON and AIHEC listservs and other communication channels. What do you plan to do during the next reporting period to accomplish the goals?We have a community workshop planned for College of Muscogee Nation in fall 2024. We have a Train-the-Trainer workshop planned for the FALCON annual conference in Oct. We are planning additional 1994 site visits, as well as webinars and 1:1 technical assistance engagements. We will likely conduct another community workshop in spring 2025.

    Impacts
    What was accomplished under these goals? The three Program specialists have been busy contacting 1994 administrators, extension directors, faculty and staff through 1:1 interviews and via Zoom meetings. They are asking what the priority and needs are, and offering a menu of TTA services. We have conducted one community workshop and are planning a second one in the fall at College of Muscogee Nation. We have developed a shared contact list to coordinate these efforts, for example see below: Aaniiih Nakoda College high Dan Kinsey Bay Mills Community College high Steve Yanni College of Menominee Nation high Brian Kowalkowski, Frank Kutka Nueta Hidatsa Sahnish College high Lori Nelson, Ruth Plenty Sweetgrass She Kills, Jessica Uran Salish Kootenai College high Virgil Dupuis, Josh Russeau (instructor NR/Forestry) Tohono O'odham Community College high Adrian Quijada; Clifford Pablo (ext. farm lead) + Joyce Miguel (farm mgr). United Tribes Technical College high Edwin Kitzes, Scott G Hill, Sonya Ciararella, PT cultural wellness (Hokchila?) Haskell Indian Nations University low Dan Wildcat, Dean of Business (Mackie Moore) Lac Courte Oreilles Ojibwe University low Leech Lake Tribal College low Melinda Neville Navajo Technical University low Germaine Daye Nebraska Indian Community College low Michael Oltrogge Northwest Indian College low Oglala Lakota College low Karla Witt Sinte Gleska University low Shawn Bordeaux? Sisseton Wahpeton College low Scott Morgan (VP everything); John Christopherson (Ext.), Erica Fischer (Ext.) Stone Child College low Dawn Gamble, Ursula Russette, Tyler Courchane White Earth Tribal and Community College low Diane McArthur Fort Peck Community College low Craig Smith (New President); Terrance Gourneau-Ag Dept., Samantha Azure-Food Sov Chief Dull Knife College low/medium Yvonneda (Henry) Thompson, Jim Hafer Little Big Horn College low/medium Latonna Old Elk, Kirt LaForge (Ag. Pgm) Blackfeet Community College medium Felix Nez, Melissa Weatherwax Cankdeska Cikana Community College medium Jessica Fish College of the Muscogee Nation medium Chris Azbell (extension), Cynthia Wood (instructor) Diné College medium Benita Litson Fond du Lac Tribal and Community College medium Phillip Savage; Courtney Kowazski? Ilisagvik College medium Hal H. Haynes, Jr Institute of American Indian Arts medium Teresa Quintana, Melanie Kirby Keweenaw Bay Ojibwa Community College medium Kit Laux Little Priest Tribal College medium Marjorie Nussbaum, Stuart Fischer Red Lake Nation College medium Wendy Greenberg Saginaw Chippewa Tribal College medium Christopher Bundy, Kathleen Hart (extension) Sitting Bull College medium Joe Dunn Southwestern Indian Polytechnic Institute medium Dennis G. Dye (Extension Dir.) Turtle Mountain Community College medium Michelle Short-Azure, Mark Hamley

    Publications