Source: UNIVERSITY OF ARIZONA submitted to NRP
AZ INDIAN COUNTRY EXTENSION PROGRAM: HUALAPAI NATION
Sponsoring Institution
National Institute of Food and Agriculture
Project Status
ACTIVE
Funding Source
Reporting Frequency
Annual
Accession No.
1029008
Grant No.
2022-41580-37949
Cumulative Award Amt.
$304,325.00
Proposal No.
2022-03189
Multistate No.
(N/A)
Project Start Date
Sep 1, 2022
Project End Date
Aug 31, 2025
Grant Year
2024
Program Code
[LP]- EIRP Indian Reservation Program
Recipient Organization
UNIVERSITY OF ARIZONA
888 N EUCLID AVE
TUCSON,AZ 85719-4824
Performing Department
Tribal Extension
Non Technical Summary
The Hualapai Federally Recognized Tribal Extension Program (FRTEP) builds community capacity by working in close collaboration with Tribal Departments, stakeholders, individual tribal members, and youth of all ages. During the last thirteen years, the Hualapai FRTEP agent has contributed to Tribal events by volunteering, serving on committees, assisting with community building events, taking a lead in the community garden, holding livestock clinics, cooking healthy, nourishing meals, and making everyone feel welcome during events. By assisting the Tribe in meeting their priority needs, FRTEP has become well known and accepted. Community members of all ages are comfortable attending programs and exploring new opportunities to learn. The commitment from the Tribe has likewise grown. At its inception in 2001, FRTEP operated with a desk and file cabinet. It now occupies a 2 ½ acre complex with a new building with a large meeting room, a commercial kitchen, rodeo arena, space for storage sheds, and two dozen 4-H Youth livestock project pens. Space is also provided for a garden shed at the Cultural Center. Future activities for Hualapai FRTEP will address the evolving needs of the Hualapai Nation and include a summer camp with natural resource field trips, early childhood education, equine immunization clinics, community gardening classes, and wellness programs. The Hualapai FRTEP project draws on networks of experts for program support including University specialists and county agents, Native American serving organizations such as the Intertribal Agricultural Council, the National FRTEP team, and other USDA programs in Indian Country.
Animal Health Component
100%
Research Effort Categories
Basic
0%
Applied
100%
Developmental
0%
Classification

Knowledge Area (KA)Subject of Investigation (SOI)Field of Science (FOS)Percent
90360993020100%
Goals / Objectives
The goal of Hualapai FRTEP program is to meet the needs of the Hualapai Tribe with science-based research, which might otherwise not be available to them, while integrating traditional understanding, knowledge, language, and culture.Objectives that support this goal are:Help livestock producers improve profitability in their operations by offering education in forage, nutritional values, heard health, marketing, business planning and disease prevention.Help stakeholders better understand ecological process' and management options to enhance the capacity and productivity of the land, control soil and water erosion and minimize disturbances such as wildfire catastrophes and invasive weed explosions.Engage tribal youth and expand their skills and knowledge and abilities so the Hualapai Tribe will have knowledgeable tribal members, educated in both traditional knowledge and science-based research.Encourage gardening and local food production along with proper and safe preservation of the harvest as the Hualapai Tribe moves ahead with securing their food sovereignty through growing traditional and local food harvests and promoting healthy lifestyles and encouraging physical fitness.Ensure tribal youth have financial literacy training required for them to access their share of the Grand Canyon West Royalties Fund.The goals of this project focus on three priority areas:Priority 1: 4-H Youth Development Programs (40%) Regular programming engages Hualapai Juvenile Detention & Rehabilitation Center, the Peach Springs Unified School District serving grades K-8, and the recent addition of 9-12. Early Childhood Education programs occur regularly at the Hualapai Day Care Center and at the Hualapai Head Start. Partnerships with the Boys & Girls Club and homeschool families resulted in many programs in STEM, arts & crafts, cooking, entomology, and gardening (both indoor and outside). We have partnered with departments and joined in tribal equine programs and trainings. We also work directly with the Buck-N-Doe 4-H Club that has been active on the Hualapai reservation for over 30 years, providing youth programs on raising livestock and developing life skills. The HDNR holds an annual week-long Natural Resource Camping opportunities for youth, and FRTEP is an integral part of that event teaching camping skills, cooking, cleaning, enjoying the outdoors, and engaging in hands on environmental learning activities. The Hualapai Dept of Natural Resources and FRTEP were recognized by the Hualapai Tribe for the dedication to teamwork in 2017. School gardening classes have been successful, and teachers and youth appreciate the chance to get involved in hands-on activities.Priority 2: Ag & Naturral Resources (30%) Hualapai FRTEP is directly involved with Native Rancher Productivity and Management, in partnership with HDNR who oversees all tribal rangelands and forests. FRTEP serves as the education component for HDNR, hosting annual education events and outdoor field trips that teach ranchers about rangeland monitoring and using recording tools. We also host programs on forage utilization, forage nutritional quality, trichomoniasis, threatened and endangered species (black footed ferrets were introduced next door to the reservation), and other topics to educate ranchers and the land management staff on how to keep the land and cattle herds healthy and productive. Recently, we developed equine immunization and horse health events with a local Veterinarian and the Equine Specialist from U. Arizona to test and immunize horses against Coggins and other equine diseases. Youth get to examine horse skulls and teeth, observe the process of floating teeth, and immunize animals in squeeze chutes. FRTEP agents and youth participants created posters to assist ranchers in locating and reporting invasive plant species of concern to mitigate the risk of major outbreaks. Regular Beef Quality Assurance trainings keep ranchers up to date with their certifications, and education to raise healthy products for markets. We partner with APHIS tribal programs, local and university veterinarians and livestock, equine, climate, economics specialists, to give timely presentations to our program participants. The Hualapai Tribe operates valuable rangelands, tall stands of ponderosa pine forests, and profitable cattle businesses. FRTEP is an active participant in assisting ranchers and the departments they work with, to stay informed, trained, and certified.Priority 3: Hoticulture (30%) A. Economic and Workforce Development: Hualapai FRTEP holds regular Recordkeeping workshops to help cattle ranchers manage their finances. We host master gardener workshops and train Public Works employees in proper techniques to prune fruit and ornamental trees. Training garden volunteers gives people experience and understanding for what landscaping and gardening jobs entail. We conduct cooking classes, emphasizing food safety for youth and adults that prepare them for positions in the local Hualapai Market kitchen, and/or to begin their own home food preparation business. 4-H Livestock projects help prepare youth to become future livestock producers. B. Food Systems, Farm and Community Markets, and Food Sovereignty: Hualapai FRTEP contributed to tribal department programs on improving health through dietary changes, encouraging people to grow gardens, plant fruit trees, and promoting the gathering and preparation of traditional foods. C. Natural Resource Conservation and Adaptation to Environmental Change: FRTEP partners and works NRCS to promote soil and water conservation, cover crop use and erosion control, and provide drought mitigation information to ranchers. D. Human Nutrition and Reduction of Childhood and Adolescent Obesity: FRTEP is a partner to the Health & Wellness Department in executing their Healthy Community grant that includes diabetes prevention programs and promoting healthy local and traditional foods. E. Native Language and Cultural Preservation: FRTEP encourages Hualapai language speakers to lead and contribute to our programs. The FRTEP agent works with native language speakers to translate program materials and relies on their wisdom, insight, and advice. F. Traditional Ecological Knowledge: sharing and learning Ranchers have shared their Traditional Ecological Knowledge, during meetings and on rangeland and forestry field trip events. Hualapai Instructors at HDNR summer camping programs instruct youth about both traditional and western land management and operations.
Project Methods
The Hualapai FRTEP project approach is to work closely with our tribal partners to identify priority needs and design programs that are informative, educational and fun for community members. Due to COVID closures some of these programs have been delayed or conducted virtually. As COVID impacts subside in 2022, we will focus on the following activities:FRTEP will be working with HDNR to schedule livestock and range management training workshops for Beef Quality Assurance, USDA Program descriptions, Equine Immunization and Horse Health.FRTEP has developed and plans to host a new, first ever 4-H Livestock educational program "Choosing Your Livestock Project" in 2022. Intertribal Ag Council (IAC) staff from Shiprock and the Gila River Indian Community will travel to Peach Springs and to teach livestock raising to Hualapai 4-H Club youth and families. These fun and educational events are designed to increase youth participation in 4-H. The IAC team will make two additional trips to Peach Springs before the County Fair in September to provide livestock judging experience and showmanship activities and encouragement. Hualapai FRTEP will use this new initiative to reach out to youth that have not been engaged in 4-H in the past and to expand our partnership network, educational expertise, and community awareness.During the next couple of years, Hualapai FRTEP will also be focused on its "home" environment - maintaining and improving the 2.5-acre 4-H Agriculture Facility and making it a welcoming environment for hosting education programs and attracting new members to learn and grow. General maintenance actions include managing weeds, establishing rainwater collecting barrels, reorganizing fences, transforming the abandoned cattle feedlot section into a culturally significant botanical garden area, installing raised beds, a hoop house, a pavilion, outdoor seating, and walkways with handicapped access. These facility and environment improvements benefit the Hualapai Tribe and will help the FRTEP project more to a new level of engagement. FRTEP will be working directly with the HDNR and Hualapai Public Works on this facility improvement project. Securing additional funding, in partnership with HDNR, will accelerate this work.Hualapai FRTEP is committed to expanding outreach to organizations including the Mohave Co. Extension AZ Health Zone, Mohave Co. FCS, and the two local elementary schools to plan field trip programs to the 4-H Agricultural building. FRTEP will host workshops with FCS agent teaching food safety in the kitchen, AZ Health Zone teaching nutrition in the meeting space, and FRTEP leading gardening sessions outside. This three-way partnership will help us leverage resources and can serve as a model program for other FRTEP projects in Arizona and around Indian Country.FRETP plans to capitalize on the strong community interest in food sovereignty by adding new content to our workshops and experiential learning sessions in gardening, ethnobotany projects, food preservation, food safety, growing seedlings. We will also expand our growing method education to include plant cultivation in soil, grow towers, under lights, hydroponics and aquaponics. All educational events will be based on hands-on, do it yourself activities (DIY) teaching methods for youth and adults.Programmatic outputs will include educational products produced by Hualapai FRTEP and partners.• Culturally aware educational handouts developed (must also be based in science)• Peer-reviewed publications• Survey instruments developed to measure changes in the audience.• Presentations developed for specific topics that fit the audience and topics• Live demonstrations of practicesOutcomes can be slow to measure due to the effects of culture on attitudes. Hualapai culture has very specific roles that Extension needs to respect. Building of capacity within communities should show impact in all programs. Sometimes in small communities not all of the skills needed to produce positive outcomes are present. Improvements in community health and vitality are impacts that matter the most.Tools to measure changes will include:Evaluations done at the times of the practice or presentation.Interviews with clientele.Discussions with partners to understand how they see changes in attitudes and practices among their clientele.Meeting with producers to see if they are implementing changes.Adoption by clientele of programs is one way to know that programs and education are having an effect. Additionally, a continuous demand for more information/programs on the same or similar topics can be a measure of success in its self.Evaluation: The extension program coordinator will collect the sign in sheets from youth activities, gardening session, trainingsand workshops to enhance the evaluation process. In 2016, Arizona Cooperative Extension hired an Evaluation Specialistexperienced in working with Arizona tribes (Dr. Michele Walsh). The evaluation team that she oversees includes an additionalresearch scientist dedicated to community- based evaluation work in partnership with Arizona tribes (Ms. Violeta Dominguez).Their team are currently engaged in conducting community assessments with 15 Arizona tribes, including the (Hualapai, NavajoNation, San Carlos Apache, CRIT, Hopi, as appropriate--we work with them all). Both the Evaluation Specialist and researchscientist will provide support around evaluation activities throughout the 4 years of the program. The evaluation team will provideconsultation and professional development to assist the FRTEP agent in developing appropriate tools and systems, based on the CYFAR and 4H Common Measures where appropriate, to track program processes and outcomes. During the first quarterof the award, they will work with the FRTEP agent, relevant staff and Tribal stakeholders to finalize a logic model andcomprehensive plan for the four-year program assessment, using the measurement framework specified in this RFA.

Progress 09/01/23 to 08/31/24

Outputs
Target Audience:Hualapai Tribal community; including Department of Natural Resource program managers and staff, Hualapai Livestock Districts Presidents and members. Hualapai Cultural Department staff, Game & Fish department staff, Hualapai Nation Soil & Water Conservation District members; Hualapai Daycare Center staff and students, Hualapai Boys & Girls Club, teachers and parents; Hualapai Health Department staff, Indian Health Services, Hualapai Juvenile Detention & Rehabilitation Center staff and detainees; Buck-n-Doe 4-H Club members, volunteer leaders and extended families, Hualapai Youth Council and Youth Partner members; homeschool youth, all staff and students and family members at the Peach Springs Unified School District (K-12) and the Valentine School District (K-8); Boys & Girls Club members and staff, Peach Springs Chapter of the AZ Native Plant Society, Hualapai Tribal Council members and other interested people. Changes/Problems: Nothing Reported What opportunities for training and professional development has the project provided?Professional development and training opportunities are robust. With the connection to the University, there are regular opportunities to become engaged with working groups and take advantage of furthering knowledge. Connections with the National FRTEP group offer additional, targeted chances for professional growth, and the networks the different groups offer result in expanding network systems and growing in knowledge and understanding of the positive momentum in Indian Country and across the nation. How have the results been disseminated to communities of interest?Results of annual programs are disseminated to UA facility and staff through APR, and to the County Extension office. The Hualapai Advisory Board also is notified of activities and numbers attending each program. Monthly/quarterly results are passed along to the Hualapai Department of Natural Resources Director. A newsletter is planned to highlight activities and to promote interest in future programs. What do you plan to do during the next reporting period to accomplish the goals?Goal 1-Continue to develop and deliver programs inclusive of all ages of Hualapai youth-from toddlers/early childhood development, to elementary, middle and high school programs and the juvenile detention center. Keep communication flowing with the schools, principals, staff and teachers. Support schools when they ask for help and participate in as many activities with them as possible. Help to get youth out in nature, provide hands on learning opportunities, and connect science education with the local environment. Offer field trip opportunities. Promote literacy, financial literacy, and Hualapai language development skills. Continue to include all youth serving organizations (Boys & Girls Club, local schools) in our programs. Support the local 4-H Club and the members and families by doing promote the Club and the opportunities it provides. Survey families and youth to determine future educational directions. Goal 2-The Soil & Water Conservation District encompasses many topics, with discussion and active providing positive movement ahead. We are partnered with this community organization and will continue to promote our mutual projects. Monthly cattle district meetings are held in the 4-H Agriculture Building, and this is an opportunity to provide educational materials on topics of concern, especially invasive weeds and erosion issues. Collaborations with the Forestry and Wildlife Departments to promote conservation and ecological topics, local wildlife concerns and utilize wood products when possible. Rancher survey results from the annual meeting will help us target their desires for continuing education to help them improve their livestock operations. Use survey results to help improve programming opportunities. Goal 3-Continue to network, engage and actively participate in community formed committees and support their direction to implement changes. Support the creation of areas for planting, assist with the growing concerns. Provide healthy food options, discourage providing poor food choices. Continue to encourage recycling, reducing and reusing mindset and model this behavior at the building and with each meal that is provided there. Offer classes, family nights, engagement opportunities. Listen to community members when they talk to you about their hopes for the future. Provide programming to support their interests. They are the ones who best understand their community needs and will be here in the future to maintain success, so active engagement is vital for success.

Impacts
What was accomplished under these goals? Goal 1 - 4-H Youth Development: * Surveys at the end of each program are taken, with suggestions for improvement and direction noted. 4-H Events and activities held 2023-2024: Peach Springs Unified School District (PSUSD) K-2 Field Trip, 6/11/24; PSUSD 3-5 Field Trip, 6/12/24; Introduction to Entomology, 6/12/24; Daycare Field Trip to Diamond Creek, 6/13/24; PSUSD SPED Field Trip, 6/18/24; PSUSD Field Day Event, 5/21/24; Reading Frog & Toads book -vocab development, 6/12/24; Spider Webs, 10/25/23; PSUSD Grade 5 STEM Field Trip, 11/30/23; Pie Making Event, 11/3/23; Pie Making, 11/9/23; Pies for Mohave CO event, 11/9/23; Bulb Planting Grades 4,5 and 6, 12/6/23; PSUSD STEM Field Trip Grade 4 and 6, 11/15/23; Worms grades 2 and 3, 10/12/23; Entomology, 10/18/23; Worms Kindergarten 10/17/23; Cooking Class, 10/13/23; Posters-preparing for County Fair, 9/8/23; Ladybugs and Seeds-processing, 9/13/23; 4-H Club monthly meeting, 9/10/23; Worms, 9/8/23; Welding (2); 4-H Club arts & Crafts, 8/15/23; Welding III, 10/6/23; Butterflies, 10/4/23; Grasshoppers, 9/27/23; Thistles-invasive weed, 9/20/23; 4-H livestock project weigh in, 8/5/23; 4-H Livestock weigh in, 8/18/23. Goal 2 - Agriculture & Natural Resources: * Two programs were held for ranchers to assist them in their livestock business. The support given to the Hualapai Nation Soil & Water Conservation District (HNSWCD) has enabled this community based and represented group to develop capacity in the community to further support the work of FRTEP and other entities. This came to light recently with the AZ Livestock Inspections. The State of AZ is no longer inspecting livestock before they leave Tribal lands, so Hualapai community had to spring into action to create a plan for livestock to be able to be moved off reservation for market. The HNSWCD and the Department of Natural Resources were able to immediately get ranchers together to better understand the implications, and to get a new method into place. Tribal members regularly attending larger regional, state and national events, and these engaged individuals bring back their knowledge and participate with FRTEP programming, both in physical support, along with financial, to help us improve our educational abilities. GOAL 3 Horticulture/plant science/foods/nutrition/healthy living: * The Hualapai Food Security Committee involves a wide group of community members in different departments that focus on exploring, supporting, surveying and getting plans of action in place for improving the community food system, and increasing local food production. There are additional groups who are focused on increasing traditional foods to the diets of Hualapai people. FRTEP is active with these groups, and promotes gardening, growing, gathering, collecting and storing seeds. Our meals we provide to participants have fresh food, and many with locally produced ingredients. We support indigenous producers. The past couple years, the numbers of gardens in the community has not expanded, however, FRTEP has had gardening areas, and container grown plants which are highly visible to passerby's on the main road out of town. People had stopped to ask for a tour and to talk about the plants. * Two tours have been taken to Colton Community Gardens in Flagstaff, AZ, where many examples of how to build a community gardening and educational area have been noted. * FRTEP participates with the Hualapai Cultural Department staff with Ethnobotany programs, and often preparations of the harvested cultural foods are done in our kitchen. This food is served at community events, along with the produce coming out of the FRTEP gardens. * Juvenile Detention Center's garden was planted with seedlings and seeds from FRTEP. These plants, despite a very hot summer, are growing and producing. * Fitness programs were held and will continue to be offered. * The new Peach Springs Chapter of the Arizona Native Plant Society is a popular monthly event, and the meetings are held at the FRTEP location. This group will be instrumental in promoting local foods, saving seeds, indigenous plants, and will help assist in becoming first responders to invasive weeds breakouts, there by adding to the ability to reduce new invasive weed infestations. * All goals are furthered by the cultivation of, communication with, and maintenance of valuable partnerships. Networks fostered by the Hualapai FRTEP program are widespread and numerous, and include: Intertribal Agricultural Council, National FRTEP group, Arid Waters on Native Lands, NRCS, Indian Nations Conservation Alliance, AZ Food Bank, First Nations Development, Northern AZ University School of Forestry, Ecological Restoration Institute and Colton Garden in Flagstaff, AZ. * Maintain on-going collaborations with these University of Arizona Specialists and Departments for expert knowledge: Animal and Biomedical Comparative Sciences faculty for Livestock and Equine expertise, Norton School of Family and Consumer Sciences faculty and evaluation team, State 4-H Office and staff, Entomology and Integrated Pest Management, and County Extension offices and staff. * Local Tribal collaborators and partnerships include: Hualapai Cultural Center, Dept. of Natural Resources, Forestry, Game & Fish, Health Department, Peach Springs Unified School District K-12, Valentine School District, Daycare Center, Juvenile Detention & Rehabilitation Center, Head start, Hualapai Boys & Girls Club, Police Department, Soil & Water Conservation District, Hualapai Ranching Districts 1-5, Public Works

Publications


    Progress 09/01/22 to 08/31/23

    Outputs
    Target Audience:Hualapai Tribal community members; including Department of Natural Resource program managers and staff, Hualapai Livestock Districts Presidents and members. Hualapai Cultural Department staff, Game & Fish department staff, Hualapai Nation Soil & Water Conservation District members; Hualapai Daycare Center staff and students, Hualapai Boys & Girls Club, teachers and parents; Hualapai Health Department staff, Indian Health Services, Hualapai Juvenile Detention & Rehabilitation Center staff and detainees; Buck-n-Doe 4-H Club members, volunteer leaders and extended families, Hualapai Youth Council and Youth Partner members; homeschool youth, all staff and students and family members at the Peach Springs Unified School District (K-12) and the Valentine School District (K-8); Boys & Girls Club members and staff, Peach Springs Chapter of the AZ Native Plant Society, Hualapai Tribal Council members and any other interested people. ? Changes/Problems: Nothing Reported What opportunities for training and professional development has the project provided?*Professional development and training opportunities are robust. With the connection to the University, there are regular opportunities to become engaged with working groups and take advantage of furthering knowledge. Connections with the National FRTEP group offer additional, targeted chances for professional growth, and the networks the different groups offer result in expanding network systems and growing in knowledge and understanding of the positive momentum in Indian Country and across the nation. Networking opportunities frequently arise from the partnerships fostered by the FRTEP project. Theyare widespread and numerous and include the Intertribal Agricultural Council (IAC), the National FRTEP group, Arid Waters on Native Lands, Natural Resource Conservation Service (NRCS), Indian Nations Conservation Alliance, AZ Food Bank, First Nations Development, Northern AZ University School of Forestry, Ecological Restoration Institute and Colton Garden in Flagstaff, AZ, the Desert Research Institute, Western SARE. Specialists and Departments of University of AZ include-Livestock, Equine, Evaluation, Economics, Family Consumer Sciences, 4-H, Agriculture, Entomology and Integrated Pest Management, and County Extension offices and staff. Local Tribal collaborators and partnerships include: Hualapai Cultural Center, Dept. of Natural Resources, Forestry, Health Department, Peach Springs Unified School District k-12, Valentine School District, Daycare Center, Juvenile Detention & Rehabilitation Center, Head Start, Hualapai Boys & Girls Club, Hualapai Police Department, Hualapai Animal Control, Soil & Water Conservation District, Hualapai Ranching Districts 1-5, Public Works, Wildlife Department, Hualapai Animal Control. How have the results been disseminated to communities of interest?Information is mostly dissemnated to the Hualapi community via in-person workshops, meetings and contacts.A newsletter is planned to highlight activities and to promote interest in future programs.Monthly/quarterly results are passed along to the Hualapai Department of Natural Resources Director.The Hualapai Advisory Boardis also notified of activities and numbers attending each program.Results of annual programs are disseminated to UA facility and staff through APR, and to the Mohave County Extension office. What do you plan to do during the next reporting period to accomplish the goals?Goal 1-Continue to develop and deliver programs inclusive of all ages of Hualapai youth-from toddlers/early childhood development, to elementary, middle and high school programs and the juvenile detention center. Help to get youth out in nature, provide hands on learning opportunities, and connect science education with the local environment. Promote literacy, financial literacy, and Hualapai language development skills. Continue to include all youth serving organizations (Boys & Girls Club, local schools) in our programs. Support the local 4-H Club and the members and families by doing what is possible to promote the Club and the opportunities it provides. Survey families and youth to determine future educational directions. Goal 2-The Soil & Water Conservation District encompasses many topics, and positive movement ahead. We are partnered with this community organization and will continue to promote our mutual projects. Monthly cattle district meetings are held in the 4-H Agriculture Building, and this is an opportunity to provide educational materials on topics of concern, especially invasive weeds and erosion issues. Collaborations with the Forestry Department to promote conservation and ecological topics while utilizing local wood products. Rancher survey results will help us target their desires for continuing education to help them improve their livestock operations. Use survey results to help improve programming opportunities. Goal 3-Continue to engage and actively participate in community member formed committees and support their direction to implement changes. Build areas for planting, assist with growing concerns. Provide healthy food options, discourage poor food choices. Continue to encourage recycling, reducing and reusing mindset. Offer classes, family nights, engagement opportunities. Listen to community members when they talk to you about their wishes. They are the ones who best understand their community needs and will be here in the future to maintain success.

    Impacts
    What was accomplished under these goals? Goal 1 - 4-H Youth Development: * Two programs held for 4-H Club members, the presenter being a young, Native American (Navajo) man who was raised attending 4-H livestock shows, and his family is very knowledgeable. Helped our Club with grooming and showmanship skills. Great attendance, participation and enthusiasm shown by 4-H livestock families. We need more of these activities. Programs at the AG Facility and at the Juvenile Detention Center focus on insects, arachnids, planting, learning about plants, caring for houseplants, soils and life sciences. * We had one new program on Drones, and one Youth Soil Science Event. Three programs held for Early Childhood Education at the Daycare. The daycare programs are rich with Hualapai vocabulary words to supplement FRTEP lessons in planting and entomology. The entire K-8 student and teacher population of a nearby school attended a field day event at our building, and we plan to continue that program thanks to the evaluations and recommendations. Juvenile detention Center program focuses on similar goals, but to a smaller audience. * Surveys at the end of each program are taken, with suggestions for improvement and direction noted. Goal 2 - Agriculture & Natural Resources: * Two programs were held for ranchers to assist them in their livestock business. The support given to the Hualapai Nation Soil & Water Conservation District (HNSWCD) has enabled this community based and represented group to develop capacity in the community to further support the work of FRTEP and other entities. This came to light recently with the AZ Livestock Inspections. The State of AZ is no longer inspecting livestock before they leave Tribal lands, so Hualapai community had to spring into action to create a plan for livestock to be able to be moved off reservation for market. The HNSWCD and the Department of Natural Resources were able to immediately get ranchers together to better understand the implications, and to get a new method into place. Tribal members regularly attending larger regional, state and national events, and these engaged individuals bring back their knowledge and participate with FRTEP programming, both in physical support, along with financial, to help us improve our educational abilities. Goal3:Horticulture/plant science/foods/nutrition/healthy living: * The Hualapai Food Security Committee involves a wide group of community members in different departments that focus on exploring, supporting, surveying and getting plans of action in place for improving the community food system, and increasing local food production. There are additional groups who are focused on increasing traditional foods to the diets of Hualapai people. FRTEP is active with these groups, and promotes gardening, growing, gathering, collecting and storing seeds. Our meals we provide to participants have fresh food, and many with locally produced ingredients. We support indigenous producers. The past couple years, the numbers of gardens in the community has not expanded, however, FRTEP has had gardening areas, and container grown plants which are highly visible to passerby's on the main road out of town. People had stopped to ask for a tour and to talk about the plants. * Two tours have been taken to Colton Community Gardens in Flagstaff, AZ, where many examples of how to build a community gardening and educational area have been noted. * FRTEP participates with the Hualapai Cultural Department staff with Ethnobotany programs, and often preparations of the harvested cultural foods are done in our kitchen. This food is served at community events, along with the produce coming out of the FRTEP gardens. * Juvenile Detention Center's garden was planted with seedlings and seeds from FRTEP. These plants, despite a very hot summer, are growing and producing. * Fitness programs were held and will continue to be offered. * The new Peach Springs Chapter of the Arizona Native Plant Society is a popular monthly event, and the meetings are held at the FRTEP location. This group will be instrumental in promoting local foods, saving seeds, indigenous plants, and will help assist in becoming first responders to invasive weeds breakouts, there by adding to the ability to reduce new invasive weed infestations. * All goals are furthered by the cultivation of, communication with, and maintenance of valuable partnerships. Networks fostered by the Hualapai FRTEP program are widespread and numerous, and include: Intertribal Agricultural Council, National FRTEP group, Arid Waters on Native Lands, NRCS, Indian Nations Conservation Alliance, AZ Food Bank, First Nations Development, Northern AZ University School of Forestry, Ecological Restoration Institute and Colton Garden in Flagstaff, AZ. * Maintain on-going collaborations with these University of Arizona Specialists and Departments for expert knowledge: Animal and Biomedical Comparative Sciences faculty for Livestock and Equine expertise, Norton School of Family and Consumer Sciences faculty and evaluation team, State 4-H Office and staff, Entomology and Integrated Pest Management, and County Extension offices and staff. * Local Tribal collaborators and partnerships include: Hualapai Cultural Center, Dept. of Natural Resources, Forestry, Game & Fish, Health Department, Peach Springs Unified School District K-12, Valentine School District, Daycare Center, Juvenile Detention & Rehabilitation Center, Head start, Hualapai Boys & Girls Club, Police Department, Soil & Water Conservation District, Hualapai Ranching Districts 1-5, Public Works

    Publications