Wednesday, July 27, 2022
The Sac and Fox Tribe of the Mississippi in Iowa was awarded approximately $100,000 through a competitive USDA Farm to School grant. The Warrior Farm to School project will serve the Meskwaki Settlement School’s Early Childhood through 12th grade students focusing on expanding the school’s garden and food storage to increase capacity for food growth, supporting the purchase of local produce, and introducing tribal foods into the school’s diet. Taste testing activities and developing a tribal food sovereignty curriculum to support agricultural education are a couple of outcomes of the grant.
The Sac and Fox Tribe of the Mississippi in Iowa made a commitment to increasing access to fresh produce through developing a tribal organic farm and community educational programming via Red Earth Gardens and Meskwaki Food Sovereignty. The Warrior Farm to School grant complements the healthy path of ensuring youth has access to fresh and nutritious foods. Meskwaki Settlement School and Meskwaki Food Sovereignty are collaborating to execute and accomplish positive, healthy outcomes.
Middle/High School Principal, Clyde Tarrence, added, “We are all in partnership for this grant to work.”
“We are delighted to partner with Meskwaki Settlement School and strengthen one of our local foods structures while emphasizing the importance of the health of our children,” said Christina Blackcloud, Meskwaki Food Sovereignty Coordinator. “The partnerships bridge much needed actions and voices together while inspiring opportunities for locally grown foods to be more available and supported.”
The two-year grant period occurs during the 2022-23 and 2023-24 school years.
Christina Blackcloud
Meskwaki Food Sovereignty Coordinator
