Progress 09/01/23 to 08/31/24
Outputs
Target Audience:The project is meticulously crafted to deliver science-based extension support to members of the Pawnee Nation community, including younger members. The program's activities encompass educational instructions and hands-on training provided through Pawnee Nation College as one of the partners, which enrolls citizens from 11 different tribes across north-central and eastern Oklahoma. As a result, the proposal aims to reach not only Pawnee citizens but also tribal members from the surrounding communities. By leveraging the resources and expertise available at Oklahoma State University and Pawnee Nation College, the project intends to foster a broader understanding of scientific principles and practical applications among a diverse audience, thereby enhancing the overall impact on tribal communities in the region Changes/Problems:For the current reporting period, Dr. Patricia Rayas, the original project PI, retired and was replaced by Dr. Ravi Jadeja. Despite this change, the project activities were not impacted, as Dr. Jadeja has been involved with the project since its inception. Additionally, Dr. Rayas continues to support the project activities in a part-time professional capacity. What opportunities for training and professional development has the project provided?The project team led a comprehensive training program at Pawnee Nation College for Pawnee citizens and other tribal students enrolled at the college throughout the year. We organized training and workshops on topics such as soil fertility, tribal food from tribal chefs, the Pawnee Garden Program, food sovereignty, food safety, food processing, and food business startups. The participants received nationally and internationally recognized certificates in the area of Food Freedom Act, HACCP, Sanitation, and How to Start a Food Business programs. How have the results been disseminated to communities of interest?The project PI works closely with the Pawnee Nation and shares the project activities and outcomes through council announcements, social media, and email announcements from Pawnee Nation College and Oklahoma State University. What do you plan to do during the next reporting period to accomplish the goals?In the next project period, we plan to continue providing workshops on topics such as soil fertility, tribal food from tribal chefs, the Pawnee Garden Program, food sovereignty, food safety, food processing, and food business startups throughout the year. Additionally, the project team is working with the city of Pawnee and the Pawnee Nation to offer training and technical assistance to the Pawnee Farmers Market vendors, helping local producers get involved in the local food purchase assistance cooperative agreement program offered through the State of Oklahoma. The food business that started with the help of the project has secured additional funds from Southern SARE to develop and expand traditional Pawnee food offerings for tribal members. We plan to support the Pawnee Food Business with product development, process optimization, and market trend analysis.
Impacts
What was accomplished under these goals?
The project team led a comprehensive training program at Pawnee Nation College for Pawnee citizens and other tribal students enrolled at the college throughout the year. We organized training and workshops on topics such as soil fertility, tribal food from tribal chefs, the Pawnee Garden Program, food sovereignty, food safety, food processing, and food business startups. With the help of the project, Pawnee Nation College was able to start a fresh vegetable garden. Participants grew and harvested fresh produce, which was made available to the elderly and child programs of the tribe. Additionally, a small portion of the produce was sold at the Pawnee Farmers Market to provide entrepreneurial training to participants and sustain the garden activity for the following year. During our discussions with the Pawnee Nation, we learned that many citizens would like to incorporate traditional Pawnee foods, such as corn mush made from Pawnee corn. However, due to the complexity and time required for preparation, people were not purchasing these food products. After receiving comprehensive training in food production, safe processing, regulatory compliance, and business setup, the Pawnee Seed Preservation Society, a non-profit and our partner in the program started a food business producing freeze-dried (MRE style) traditional Pawnee products. The food business that started with the help of the project is now serving as a hub for hands-on food production and entrepreneurial training.
Publications
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Progress 09/01/22 to 08/31/23
Outputs
Target Audience:Community of Pawnee Nation of Oklahoma, students of Pawnee Nation College, and Tribal and non-tribal community from North Central Oklahoma. Changes/Problems:Nothing to report What opportunities for training and professional development has the project provided?Nothing to report How have the results been disseminated to communities of interest?The results have been disseminated via community communications in posters and social networks. What do you plan to do during the next reporting period to accomplish the goals?In the next reporting period, workshops with the same topics will expand in areas not covered during this year. Examples include a food demonstration by a second Native chef that will focus on de-colonized menus, a medicinal herb raise bed garden that will be expanded to include other selected herbs/plants, the soil fertility workshop will be expanded with advanced topics and hands-on demonstrations, etc.
Impacts
What was accomplished under these goals?
1. Food sovereignty and food safety, and 2. Food processing, Change in knowledge and action achieved with food sovereignty, safety, and processing were accomplished with the hands-on participation of volunteers and Pawnee Nation College students and staff in the summer and spring gardens, workshops in Cereal Grains in the fall, Pawnee Gardener Program, Hazard Analysis Critical Control Points Management System. 20 participants. 3. Entrepreneurial workshop training.Change in knowledge achieved by a 6-h training on leadership and entrepreneurial workshop delivered by professional experts in this area from Oklahoma State University. Participants 17, 6-h workshop 4. Change in knowledge was addressed by a 2-h workshop on Soil fertility as part of the Pawnee Gardener Program. Participants 10; 2-h workshop 5. Wellbeing, lessons learned from intertribal experiences. A change in knowledge from interactive 3-h workshop with the Native Inga People from South America. The workshop included an overall knowledge of Inga's traditional food systems, major changes in lifestyle, cosmogony, relations to other tribes, and the original lands they presently live in. Participants 16, 4-h workshop and lunch with Inga People-type dishes. 6. Tribal foods by tribal chefs. A change in knowledge from food demonstrations with Chef Ramona Horsechief to the community. The demonstrations are centered on recipes with Pawnee ancestral corn varieties. Pair teams of Parents or grandparents/youth will participate and follow up in a cooking showdown competition with creations on their own. 7. Annual one-day Summer Conference for Pawnee Nation College Scholars at Oklahoma State University. Change in knowledge with presentations and hands-on demonstrations and activities. 8. Leadership and communication skills. Change in knowledge and action with presentations of community members of community projects addressing and prioritizing needs. From the 13 topics proposed, there was consensus in starting raised bed gardens to grow medicinal herbs, vegetables, and pumpkin-patch for the community to encourage intergenerational activities. 9. Pawnee Community Garden. Change in action with participation in gardening in traditional gardens, two hoop houses, and a greenhouse
Publications
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