The U.S. Department of the Interior (DOI) recently announced advancements in health and nutrition efforts in Indian Country.
According to a Sept. 27 news release, during a White House Conference on Hunger, Nutrition, and Health, the DOI announced plans for the Bureau of Indian Affairs (BIA) and Bureau of Indian Education (BIE) to create Indigenous Food Hubs for BIE-operated schools and BIA-operated detention centers to help source Indigenous foods, enhance culturally based healthy nutrition education and boost training for healthy and culturally appropriate food preparation.
“Food is an integral cornerstone of Indigenous communities – it represents our connection to the Earth and the customs that have been passed down through generations," Secretary of the Interior Deb Haaland said, according to the news release. “Yet Indigenous communities face historically high rates of food insecurity and often lack access to affordable and healthy foods. The Biden-Harris administration is committed to improving food access and affordability across Indian Country, while also relying on Indigenous knowledge to ensure Native communities receive culturally appropriate healthy nutrition education.”
“Indigenous food is about more than just nutrition. Food is an important part of Native cultures, traditions, history and community,” Assistant Secretary for Indian Affairs Bryan Newland said, according to the press release. “The Indigenous Food Hubs will work to provide healthier food to Indigenous communities and help to repair the damage done to Indigenous foodways by the harmful policies of the past, including colonization, relocation and assimilation of Tribal communities.”
The BIA and BIE will support food sovereignty efforts like farm-to-table and farm-to-school programs and hire a nutritionist to develop nutrition plans that are culturally relevant and nutritious. There will be pilot hubs at four BIE schools and four BIA detention centers to source foods from Native producers and vendors, provide training for cooks, and develop educational materials.
