Progress 09/01/23 to 08/31/24
Outputs
Target Audience:• Historically Underserved Tribal growers, producers, and traditional harvesters • Tribal Extension Agents from 1994 Tribal Colleges • Federally Recognized Tribal Extension Program Agents (FRTEP Extension Agents) These stakeholders play a critical role in advancing Tribal food safety education and implementing best practices in traditional and commercial food production.? Changes/Problems:· WTCAC has not replaced the position of the Outreach Coordinator and Community Conservationist, who left in 2023 due to the uncertainty of future funding. · To address this, WTCAC restructured responsibilities, with the Executive Director assuming leadership over project management and deliverables. Additionally, shifts in partner organizations have led to a stronger reliance on GLIFWC to maintain project continuity. What opportunities for training and professional development has the project provided?· WTCAC, GLIFWC, and LCOOU actively participated in a Grow the Grower workshop facilitated by Oregon State University, which provided foundational training on PSA implementation. WTCAC leveraged its membership in the Tribal Produce Safety Alliance to coordinate training delivery, secure expert trainers, and support Tribal producers in meeting FSMA standards. · Additionally, WTCAC expanded engagement through agriculture subcommittee meetings, recruiting new members to strengthen food safety initiatives. The organization collaborated with Will Seeley (IFAI Tribal Enterprise Coordinator) to update training guidelines and enhance outreach strategies.? How have the results been disseminated to communities of interest?· WTCAC executed a various outreach strategy, including stakeholder meetings, Tribal gatherings, and community events. The TPST series was promoted via Tribal colleges, newsletters, and partner organizations to maximize awareness and participation. · GLIFWC's Tribal Model Food Code has been instrumental in educating producers on food safety regulations relevant to wild-harvested and foraged foods, ensuring culturally appropriate compliance. These outreach efforts have helped strengthen food safety networks within Tribal communities.? What do you plan to do during the next reporting period to accomplish the goals?WTCAC will complete the 2025 TPST schedule, executing the final series of training events. Continued collaboration with partners will ensure training quality, engagement, and accessibility. The final project year will also incorporate field studies and practical demonstrations as allowable, offering hands-on experience in produce safety, risk mitigation, and compliance adaptation for Tribal food systems.?
Impacts
What was accomplished under these goals?
The Wisconsin Tribal Conservation Advisory Council (WTCAC), in collaboration with the Great Lakes Indian Fish & Wildlife Commission (GLIFWC) and Lac Courte Oreilles Ojibwe University (LCOOU), has made significant progress in planning and delivering the Tribal Produce Safety Training (TPST) series. These efforts, supported by the Indigenous Food and Agriculture Initiative (IFAI) and the Tribal Food Safety Alliance Group, aim to expand food safety education and compliance with the Food Safety Modernization Act (FSMA) Produce Safety Rule among Tribal producers. Key achievements include the execution of three TPST sessions across different Tribal communities: · June 5-7, 2024 - Hosted by the St. Croix Chippewa Indians of Wisconsin at The Lodge at Crooked Lake, 24271 State Road 35 North, Siren, WI 54872. o Trainers: Lead Trainer William Seeley (IFAI) and Shawn Bartholomew (Wisconsin Farmers Union). o Attendees: Six individuals from Wisconsin (St. Croix Chippewa Indians, Bad River Band of Lake Superior Chippewa) and Minnesota (Grand Portage Band of Lake Superior Chippewa). o Topics: Produce safety, worker health and hygiene, soil amendments, agricultural water, postharvest handling, and wholesale readiness. · September 25-27, 2024 - Hosted by the Fond du Lac Band of Lake Superior Chippewa at Fond du Lac Tribal and Community College, 2101 14th Street, Cloquet, MN 55720. o Trainers: Lead Trainer Kristin Krokowski (UW-Madison Extension), Laura Strawn (Virginia Tech), and Scott Monroe (Purdue University). o Attendees: 13 individuals from the Lac du Flambeau Band, Grand Portage Band, and Fond du Lac Band. o Topics: FSMA compliance, risk assessment, and sanitation strategies. · December 4-6, 2024 - Hosted by the Lac Courte Oreilles Band of Lake Superior Chippewa at Lac Courte Oreilles Ojibwe University, 13466 W Trepania Rd, Hayward, WI 54843. o Trainers: Lead Trainer Krystal Martin (WI Department of Agriculture, Trade and Consumer Protection) and Joey Tallier (Sokaogon Chippewa, Intertribal Agriculture Council). o Attendees: 14 participants from Lac du Flambeau, Red Cliff, Lac Courte Oreilles, and Bad River Bands. o Topics: Model Food Code integration, farm food safety plan development, and Tribal Elder Food Box program. Each training session was structured to provide culturally relevant food safety education tailored to the unique needs of Tribal producers, aligning with FSMA compliance while incorporating traditional food systems and practices. Tribal Organizations, Colleges, and Partners Tribal Organizations: · Wisconsin Tribal Conservation Advisory Council (WTCAC) · Great Lakes Indian Fish & Wildlife Commission (GLIFWC) · Intertribal Agriculture Council · Indigenous Food and Agriculture Initiative Tribal Colleges: · Fond du Lac Tribal and Community College · Lac Courte Oreilles Ojibwe University Partners: · Wisconsin Department of Agriculture, Trade and Consumer Protection · UW-Madison Extension?
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Progress 09/01/22 to 08/31/23
Outputs
Target Audience:• Historically Underserved Tribal growers, producers, and traditional harvesters • Tribal Extension Agents from 1994 Tribal Colleges • Federally Recognized Tribal Extension Program Agents (FRTEP Extension Agents) Changes/Problems:During this reporting period, WTCAC did have some significant challenges. Key positions of the Outreach Coordinator and Community Conservationist that contributed to this project left in 2023. WTCAC has been advertising for those positions since June 2023 with no success in filling the positions. Therefore, WTCAC re-evaluated and distributed takes for this project to other staff ,including the Executive Director who completes and manages this project. Lastly, many of the previous partners that were in the initial project are no longer with their organizations. WTCAC works mostly with GLIFWC to continue this project and complete goals and objectives, despite theses challenges. What opportunities for training and professional development has the project provided?WTCAC, GLIFWC, and LCOOU attended a free Grow the Grower workshop sponsored by Oregon University to learn more about PSA training because many of us are new to our organizations and the project. WTCAC is a member of the Tribal Produce Safety Alliance, which has PSA-trained trained trainers, tribal producers, tribal organizations, and other resource-related folks to help with organizing trainers to assist organizations putting on training. WTCAC works with Will Seely, the IFAI Tribal Enterprise coordinator, training with new guidelines and reaching out to agents to reach out to agents to begin the PSA food Safety training series. WTCAC hosts agricultural subcommittee meetings and recruited new members to assist with training guidance and building interest in the food safety initiative. How have the results been disseminated to communities of interest?WTCAC completes outreach activities and distributes information to stakeholders at various events and meetings to generate interest among tribal producers and other people interested in the TPST series, which is culturally appropriate and provides food safety for wild harvested and foraged traditional tribal foods, and we have been using the GLIFWC Tribal Model Food code to help deliver those results. WTCAC has worked closely with GLIFWC to plan and execute the training and workshops detailed above. The 2024 schedule is currently be addressed, as we are in the last year of the project. What do you plan to do during the next reporting period to accomplish the goals?WTCAC will complete the 2024 schedule and the last of the TPST series for tribal producers by the next reporting period. WTCAC will continue to work with partners in the planning and execution phases of the training and workshop series. WTCAC also works with tribal colleges as locations to host training and workshops. The last year will also include field studies and demonstrations.
Impacts
What was accomplished under these goals?
Great Lakes Indian Fish & Wildlife Commission, Lac Courte Oreilles Ojibwe University, formerly Lac Courte Oreilles Ojibwe Community College, and WTCAC and Partners (GLIFWC and LCOOU) have been meeting frequently and have started planning Training series with the aid of the external partners on the grant. We have been working with the Indigenous Food and Agriculture Initiative (IFAI) and the Tribal Food Safety Alliance Group to coordinate schedules so that we can offer a PSA Food Safety Train-the-Trainer series so that we may have Tribal Produce Safety Training (TPST) series. The objectives are currently in progress. PSA Trainings: November 7- 9, 2023 (Menominee) - 28 people (registered) - Included Model Food Code (James Rasmuson and Laurie White) Planning meetings were held during reporting period: 6.27.23 (Model Food Code) - go training to be held 6.29.23, but the training was cancelled due to no registrants. 9.14.23, 9.22.23 (Meeting with Menominee) 11.29.23 - 2022/2023 report (WTCAC and GLIFWC) April 11 - 13, 2023 (LCOOU) - Included Model Food Code - 13 registered June 13 - 14, 2023 (Black River Falls - Ho Chunk) - Planned a Model Food Code Training but no one signed up Finalized the TEK specialist and presenter for future training - Wayne Labine - field dressing presentation for 2024 - supplementing the model food code Dates for 2024 training are TBD
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Progress 09/01/21 to 08/31/22
Outputs
Target Audience:• Historically Underserved Tribal growers, producers, and traditional harvesters • Tribal Extension Agents from 1994 Tribal Colleges • Federally Recognized Tribal Extension Program Agents (FRTEP Extension Agents) Changes/Problems:Due to the global COVID-19 pandemic, this project was delayed by a year. Furthermore, the project was delayed due to staff retiring and leaving positions across our partnerships including personnel from GLIFWC, LCOOU, DATCP, IFAI, and WTCAC. In addition, the Outreach Specialist, Jerry Thompson, retired during the first year of this project (December 2021). Gregory Gauthier was hired as the Outreach Coordinator in May 2022 and is now completing project tasks. What opportunities for training and professional development has the project provided?WTCAC, GLIFWC, and LCOOU attended a free Grow the Grower workshop sponsored by Oregon University to learn more about PSA training because many of us are new to our organizations and the project. Additionally, we have joined the Tribal Produce Safety Alliance, which was currently on hiatus due to pandemic and staffing shortages, which has PSA-trained trained trainers, tribal producers, tribal organizations, and other resource-related folks to help with organizing trainers to assist organizations putting on training. In addition, we have begun to focus on the group should include IFAI and NCR FSMA in needed to begin planning for the FRTEP agents and tribal extension agents with the PSA Food Safety Train the Trainer series, along with Grow-the-grower training. We have also connected with Will Seely, the newly hired IFAI Tribal Enterprise coordinator, training with new guidelines and reaching out to agents to reach out to agents to begin the PSA food Safety training series. WTCAC has resumed agricultural subcommittee meetings and recruited new members to assist with training guidance and building interest in the food safety initiative. How have the results been disseminated to communities of interest?We have been doing outreach at various events and meetings to generate interest among tribal producers and other people interested in the TPST series, which is culturally appropriate and provides food safety for wild harvested and foraged traditional tribal foods, and we have been using the GLIFWC Tribal Model Food code to help deliver those results. Based on those meetings, there is a lot of enthusiasm for delivering this training in the spring. What do you plan to do during the next reporting period to accomplish the goals?We are working toward completing at least three TPST series for tribal producers by the next reporting period. We intend to include more resource people in planning calls and to reach out to the resources we've created over the last year. We've also contacted tribal colleges about hosting the training; they're aware of the project and will help with outreach. We are developing a procedure and rough agenda to work from for the first TPST series, which we will change based on what we learn from the first series for future TPST series.
Impacts
What was accomplished under these goals?
Great Lakes Indian Fish & Wildlife Commission, Lac Courte Oreilles Ojibwe University, formerly Lac Courte Oreilles Ojibwe Community College, and WTCAC and Partners (GLIFWC and LCOOU) have been meeting frequently and have started planning Training series with the aid of the external partners on the grant. We have been working with the Indigenous Food and Agriculture Initiative (IFAI) and the Tribal Food Safety Alliance Group to coordinate schedules so that we can offer a PSA Food Safety Train-the-Trainer series so that we may have Tribal Produce Safety Training (TPST) series. The objectives are currently in progress.
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