The U.S. Department of Agriculture (USDA) has announced plans to strengthen food sovereignty and expand indigenous roles in forest management, in response to tribal requests. The department will allocate more than $68 million in investments across 120 new agreements to facilitate this effort.

According to a press release by the USDA, Secretary Tom Vilsack made this announcement at the 2023 White House Tribal Nation Summit. "As Tribes have requested, we are reshaping our programs to incorporate Tribal and Indigenous perspectives, remove barriers, and encourage Tribal self-determination," said Vilsack. "USDA is working directly with Tribal Nations to support their decisions on how best to co-steward federal lands and forests and the traditions that have been passed down from ancestors and elders." He added that these investments would create economic opportunities in tribal communities, increase co-stewardship in forest management, and boost the availability of affordable, healthy protein sources from indigenous animals. The summit saw tribal leaders from across the country convene to discuss key priorities and new policies with President Biden.

The press release also revealed that Vilsack announced partnerships with the Sitka Conservation Society and the U.S. Department of the Interior (DOI) aimed at improving food sovereignty and developing an educational curriculum for rural citizens. The USDA-DOI Buffalo Initiative will enhance federal investments in grasslands restoration, tribal buffalo conservation, and market opportunities. The Forest Service nearly tripled annual investments to $68 million, providing additional funding for aligning with tribal priorities and incorporating indigenous knowledge. These agreements mark significant advancements in co-stewardship of ancestral lands of Tribal Nations.

Under the new agreement, the USDA will make historic funding available for harvesting and processing indigenous animals such as bison, reindeer, and salmon. The department has partnered with Oweesta Corp. to provide these grants. Among those set to receive these grants are the Alutiiq Tribe of Old Harbor and Tribal Government of St. Paul Island, both in Alaska. The Alutiiq tribe will receive $1 million to purchase and modernize unused processing facilities, addressing food shortages that have arisen due to climate change. The Tribal Government of St. Paul Island will receive a grant of $668,000 to re-establish a local reindeer meat processing operation. The Tolowa Dee-ni' Nation and the Assiniboine & Sioux Tribes of the Fort Peck Indian Reservation are the other two Tribal Nations receiving this grant.