American Indians and Alaska Natives

136 Pages·2007·4.91 MB·English

Contents
Letter From the Secretary of Agriculture 1
Letter From the Director of Native American Programs 3
Preface 5
Introduction 7
Office of Congressional Relations 9
Office of External and Intergovernmental Affairs Programs 9
Office of Native American Programs 9
Office of the Assistant Secretary for Civil Rights 11
Office of Civil Rights 12
Conflict Prevention and Resolution Center 12
Office of Outreach 13
Departmental Administration 15
Office of Small and Disadvantaged Business Utilization 15
Federal Small Business Programs 16
Natural Resources and Environment 19
Natural Resources Conservation Service 20
Forest Service 30
Farm and Foreign Agricultural Services 39
Farm Service Agency 40
Risk Management Agency 53
Foreign Agricultural Service 54
Rural Development 59
Utilities Programs 61
Housing and Community Facilities Program 64
Business and Cooperative Programs 69
Community Development Programs 72
Food, Nutrition, and Consumer Services 75
Food and Nutrition Service 76
Center for Nutrition Policy and Promotion 82
Food Safety 85
Food Safety and Inspection Service 85
 AMERICAN INDIANS AND AlASkA NAtIvES: A GUIDE tO USDA PROGRAMS
Contents
Research, Education, and Economics 93
Agricultural Research Service 94
Cooperative State Research, Education, and Extension Service 95
Economic Research Service 105
National Agricultural library 106
National Agricultural Statistics Service 107
Marketing and Regulatory Programs 109
Agricultural Marketing Service 110
Animal and Plant Health Inspection Service 111
Grain Inspection, Packers and Stockyards Administration 118
Bibliography 119
Appendixes 127
Appendix 1:
President Bush’s Executive Memorandum on
Government-to-Government Relations With
Native American tribal Governments 127
Appendix 2:
USDA Departmental Regulation 1340-006:
Policies on American Indians and Alaska Natives 128
 AMERICAN INDIANS AND AlASkA NAtIvES: A GUIDE tO USDA PROGRAMS
Letter from the Secretary of Agriculture
United States Department of Agriculture
Office of the Secretary
Washington, D.C. 20250
 AMERICAN INDIANS AND AlASkA NAtIvES: A GUIDE tO USDA PROGRAMS

Letter from the Director of
Native American Programs
United States Department of Agriculture
Office of the Secretary
Washington, D.C. 20250
February 2007
Dear Colleague:
UlNpNmSerSaeaaoadctDtdgiirevverAerae etsi mass tpa: r ratsynAoo dpa go eG vrrfmniaa ouAsmierilugdmiasrtrebye bii l ctneettouho rt tlsa Uhotw,tu e SptmoriherlDra ee kwMnAmm wno .ibPer ki ekrtrAehsro w,sc Jg t ccororiooitahfbhmmr ata dnhmlmsi nen gefssugoome nlarv yibg net,uer ydrUsorn esltumSeh pboaDeesyfd n UA ebtAthr s.ehsSme,n ,ai.i er epsnD fir rrddietoeci esvdpfavpuiuandeelrc llcutIyeomntar ipdflsve re,iteno adra tminc n bAo od aaftmmn lh o Admeemt g rhAneiurecmuinlracamsinbust iwk eeleItrranushso .dro,Nu ei asa wan( ntUUidissv SS hAeaDD nlttaordAAis buA k)a tahlilanl ais zvkeea
stairUoenun rfSribvamaDeenl a tAidy’lnse o naP,vu noarerdovnl co gadpoptr licammavhmnemeit lsni du hntsrn;e pe taiehnatlnyni’tnseh a akr;nng iawundyntg ;irdt d iotat eefi b lohareorneacmuln;op tgf m lohUeooom aoSdwnfuD s dnay,Ai irosice ntuaaar stisacibs,doa iuisdnnnttisi ctoby;il neooufso nudcto i etiundonntg timma elficrozaasheron;ik dyecUe v rtsoSoiianntpDfhgge eAi ;tnry y’s ssoa;cu urhidrenroiaa tvngoesecolr.r nea lsTua;le stnhf i.rac ouerhnssm,eoa sIelu ;rtre srwcna’e codmsome tau;o errh kanboeg’esutets st ;yei nro gu;
mahewIpAnnvaeohdnnserrip nsdecieoettl.hxs i cnin ,ctshn gieh aoem lesallnl e yt wpb nS lsesathe ierboernngvux c ewiiasec lhmgrodeeoar p atkwthohlweeo nedc ap ror ariewefent a ntgiiphttnesehoans. w tasotM r tv-obihwbaafrian tisosie lyvawG fl efeovsue at,ti i hhdfddsoeieetenooror kwsmdet ai xainppplnaglr e mdde h waop epsnnaaltlpacr esfafe soifsts ni oho,mos dofcnp e woi pinmtrmnerenecb morptheehvanurceasrine at qdoiintvutieftyoeel v Uyn smeu SlbaasoenyDenep d dtoAUmi nfpf’ne sogrUin oosvFtSp,de o oeDa rosrfsnaAd idmatf y eSpgme taroyrtoafhe.fe ng ao MtTtyrdy a mhs ooma enotan hstfvnda e ieyf nrdox aeoi osdt,,
ILcSnooptnepetrcertizirabi blfu oatthril o aAtnhngsek ristrio c ao urtuheltt eusd trGuaeen uC ditdhioneeug mna hcn miedll epftoom i rnib ni etitstres sAr ndossefs vJitsehatlceaoq nUpucmeSel DeiwnnAiett. hBN A teah ctseikpv epeelcr ,Aoi Vajmela c“nettnr.hiecasansnka WyCohouir”ck hianalgrseo Gl lgoroo, euaspn t dof o Dtrh atelhl eaisr
hAeglpaifnu,l trheasnoku rycoeu. for your interest in the Guide. I hope you will find it an informative and
Sincerely,
Patrick Atagi
Director
Office of Native American Programs
 AMERICAN INDIANS AND AlASkA NAtIvES: A GUIDE tO USDA PROGRAMS

Preface
American Indians and Alaska Natives: A Guide to USDA Programs is a
reference for American Indian and Alaska Native tribal leaders and members,
planners, community leaders, producers, and others who work with American
Indians and Alaska Natives on any of the numerous USDA programs available to the
Native American community. The Guide is intended as a resource for decisionmakers
seeking to identify USDA programs that will best serve an individual or community’s
needs as well as for facilitating improved access to USDA programs and services.
President George W. Bush’s Administration continues to work with tribal govern-
ments, providing American Indians and Alaska Natives with new economic and
educational opportunities. Indian education programs remain a priority, so that no
American child—and no Native American child—is left behind.
The Bush Administration has worked hard to see that Native Americans have access
to economic and educational opportunities, investing more than $177 million in
distance learning and telemedicine programs so that 3,635 rural education facilities
could expand their access to modern telecommunications technology and 1,650 health
care institutions could develop technologies needed to enhance local medical care.
The Administration has also taken the following steps to enhance partnerships with
Indian tribes:
>
President Bush signed an Executive Memorandum on July 3, 2002, for tribal
colleges and universities, ensuring that his administration will continue to
maintain a close relationship with Indian tribes.
>
The President established the Klamath River Basin Federal Working Group on
March 1, 2002, to address concerns among the tribes as well as farmers and
fishermen about the drought in the basin.
>
President Bush signed an Executive Memorandum on September 23, 2004,
reiterating his Administration’s adherence to a government-to-government
relationship and support for tribal sovereignty and self-determination.
In President Bush’s 2005 proclamation of National American Indian Heritage Month,
he announced a move to enhance energy opportunities and a desire to strengthen
tribal economies. The President also stated that his administration is working to ease
the barriers associated with tribal energy development. The President signed the
Energy Policy Act of 2005, which allocated $2 billion in the form of grants, loans,
and loan guarantees for exploration, development, and production of energy to
ensure that the latest technologies are being used throughout the United States.
USDA’s Animal and Plant Health Inspection Service (APHIS) is finalizing $3
million in funds for States and tribes to conduct field trials in animal identification.
APHIS has already awarded $27 million in funds to States and Tribes to advance the
National Animal Identification Initiative.
 AMERICAN INDIANS AND AlASkA NAtIvES: A GUIDE tO USDA PROGRAMS
Preface
In his 2001 proclamation for National American Indian Heritage Month, President
Bush stated,
Since our Nation’s birth, pluralism and diversity have been hallmarks of the
American experience and success. In 1782, the Founding Fathers chose as our
national motto “E Pluribus Unum,” which means “out of many, one.” Today,
America’s unity, derived from a mix of many diverse cultures and people, grandly
embodies the vision expressed by our Founders. American Indian and Alaska
Native cultures have made remarkable contributions to our national identity.
Their unique spiritual, artistic, and literary contributions, together with their
vibrant customs and celebrations, enliven and enrich our land.
President Bush believes that education is the key to a successful nation, and that is
why he has provided Indian nations with funds for school construction and signed
an Executive Order to help Indian children and college students reach their highest
potential through education.
On September 21, 2004, the Nation celebrated the opening of the National Museum
of the American Indian on the National Mall in Washington, D.C. On September 23,
2004, in honor of the opening of the Museum, President Bush welcomed a number of
tribal leaders, congressional representatives, Government officials, and others to the
White House, stating:
The National Museum of Indian Affairs affirms that this young country is home
to an ancient, noble and enduring native culture. And all Americans are proud
of that culture. Like many Indian dwellings, the new museum building faces east,
toward the rising sun. And as we celebrate this new museum and we look to the
future, we can say that the sun is rising on Indian country.
USDA is pleased to offer this Guide for the use of Native American and Alaska
Native communities throughout the Nation.
 AMERICAN INDIANS AND AlASkA NAtIvES: A GUIDE tO USDA PROGRAMS