Historic Tribal Leaders Meeting in Washington, D.C.

On February 23, 2016, elected leaders from twelve Tribal Nations convened in Washington, D.C. and met in consultation with then Deputy Secretary Krysta Harden and Acting Deputy Secretary Michael Scuse of USDA, and Under Secretary Kevin Concannon and Deputy Under Secretary Katie Wilson of the Food, Nutrition and Consumer Services of USDA. The meeting brought together Chairmen, Chairwomen, Presidents, Governors, Tribal Chiefs, and Tribal Council Representatives to discuss the landscape of nutrition programs in Tribal communities. Jefferson Keel, Lieutenant Governor of the Chickasaw Nation of Oklahoma (pictured to the right), opened the meeting with a request to seat a working group of Tribal leaders to consult regularly with USDA. Lieutenant Governor Keel then opened the floor for his fellow Tribal leaders to speak directly to USDA leadership on what they view as the outstanding issues related to the Food Distribution Program on Indian Reservations (FDPIR) and the needs in Indian Country in general. Tribal leaders spoke passionately about FDPIR, the important role it plays, and the need and interest to look to improvements, both legislative and regulatory, for the program. The discussion also included increasing access to traditional foods in the food package, enhanced nutrition education opportunities, and the availability of more funding for local FDPIR operations. Tribal leaders, along with staff at USDA, are exploring options to continue the important dialogue in the future.