MISSION – Yellowhawk Tribal Health Center has received a $32,000 grant to support the efforts of the First Foods & Food Systems Collaborative for the Confederated Tribes of the Umatilla Indian Reservation (CTUIR).
The grant from the First Nations Development Institute of Longmont, Colorado, will support development of a comprehensive First Foods and Food Systems Report and Strategic Plan, and provide funding to help host six interactive and educational First Food excursions.
Throughout the year-long project, the collaborative plans to improve the CTUIR food system based on community specific needs and increase knowledge of First Foods, said Carrie Sampson-Samuels, Community Wellness director at Yellowhawk. The project will gather community and leadership input through three public planning sessions.
Yellowhawk’s Community Wellness Department and CTUIR’s Cultural Resources Protection Program (CRPP) have created a First Foods and Food Systems workgroup. The group meets regularly to plan and implement strategies for First Foods and Food Systems.
“The collaboration between the Department of Natural Resources’ (DNR) Cultural Resources Protection Program and Yellowhawk’s Community Wellness Department will provide more resources for tribal members to engage in First Food excursions and Food System activities,” said Teara Farrow Ferman, CRPP Manager.
“Through knowledge sharing and hands on activities, tribal members will be reengaging in cultural teachings and practices of our ancestors. The Foods will be remembered and reawakened thus we will be keeping our promise to them. Additionally, input we receive from the tribal community will help guide our direction on the types of foods and activities they want to learn more about and inform DNR management goals and actions.”
For more information, contact Sampson-Samuels at carriesampson@yellowhawk.org or 541-969-1111.
