Ending Hunger and Improving Physical Wellness in Native Communities

ANA Resources

This resource guide provides information on federal resources from the U.S. Department of Agriculture (USDA) and several agencies within the Department of Health and Human Services (HHS) that can address food insecurity and advance food sovereignty in tribal communities. 

Tribal Food Security, Nutrition, and Physical Activity Resource Guide (PDF) 

Supporting Food Security and Access to Indigenous Foods for Children and Families in Tribal Early Childhood Programs (PDF)

The Office of Child Care, Office of Early Childhood Development, and the Office of Head Start published a joint Information Memorandum that details ways that ACF's early childhood funds may be used to connect young children and families with traditional Indigenous foods and food practices, including CCDF, AIAN Head Start, and Tribal MIECHV. These programs support food security and access to Indigenous foods for children and families in Tribal early childhood programs. ACF seeks to support Tribal Nations and communities in providing critical nutrition during children’s formative years, facilitating access to healthy and nutritious food in early childhood programs, and preserving culture through traditional Indigenous foods and revitalization of traditional agricultural practices. The Information Memorandum includes resources from across ACF and the Federal government related to food security and food access in Tribal communities. 

Tribal Early Childhood Research Center (TRC)

The mission of the Tribal Early Childhood Research Center (TRC) is to grow the field of early childhood research in partnership with American Indian and Alaska Native (AIAN) Head Start, Home Visiting, Child Care, and Temporary Assistance for Needy Family (TANF) program leaders, AIAN community partners, early childhood and family economic well-being researchers, the Administration for Children and Families (ACF) federal staff, and a broad network of ACF-supported and other early childhood initiatives and national centers serving AIAN communities.

The Tribal Research Center (TRC), Brazelton Touchpoints Center, and educators working in Indigenous early childhood settings in the U.S. and Canada convened in May 2023 for a series of Virtual Learning Circles on Indigenous Food Sovereignty in Early Childhood:

 Wiba Anung (Early Stars, Michigan)

• The series’ first learning circle was held on May 16, 2023, and lead by a team of early childhood researchers and program leaders from Wiba Anung (early star) project. The team included Jessica Barnes-Najor, Ann Cameron, Danielle Gartner, Lisa Martin, Jessica Saucedo, Rosebud Schneider, Beedoskah Stonefish, and Chelsea Wentworth. This is a partnership between Michigan State University and the Inter-Tribal Council of Michigan to support Tribal early childhood education programs in Michigan. The team shared their efforts to develop health-focused curricular materials grounded in connections to Indigenous food practices for use in tribal home visiting and Head Start Programs.

Keres Children’s Learning Center (New Mexico)

• The second learning circle was held on May 18, 2023, and lead by a team from the Cochiti Pueblo and the Keres Children’s Learning Center (KCLC), a Keres language and cultural immersion Montessori program. The team included Bernard Suina, Jennifer John, and Trisha Moquino. The KCLC team is engaged in Indigenous food sovereignty work from early childhood through adolescence in their Keres language and cultural immersion Montessori program. The team described their community, how they are working with the land to self-sustain what they plant, grow, and harvest and the connection of this work with child, family, and community health, development, and well-being.

Wicoie Nandagikendan (Minnesota)

• The third learning circle was held on May 23, 2023, and lead by a team from Wicoie Nandagikendan — Minneapolis’s Ojibwe and Dakhóta language Immersion Early Childhood Center. The team included Jewell Arcoren (Sisseton Whapeton Nation) and Fawn YoungBear-Tibbetts (White Earth Band of Minnesota Ojibwe). The team shared their work to reintroduce and increase access for urban families to traditional foods and processing methods. The team also discussed how they are engaging families, connecting with the broader community, and finding creative solutions to support a vibrant Indigenous food sovereignty movement in the city.