What does food insecurity look like in Native American communities?
November is Native American Heritage month, a time to commemorate Indigenous communities and practices. Indigenous communities have a deep tradition of cultivating and sharing food that nourishes their people and culture. However, today, Native Americans are three times more likely to be food insecure than white individuals. This is due to a long, persisting history of discrimination.
After settlers wrongfully took Indigenous land and forced tribes onto reservations, Native Americans had to figure out how to thrive without access to many basic necessities. Our Native American neighbors tell us that reservations lack access to fresh, affordable, and varied food, adequate kitchens, transportation, and viable farmland. On top of this, due to structural racism, many Native Americans face difficulty being approved for federal food benefits.
Despite these challenges, many Native American and tribal communities are working hard to reclaim agency over their food and ensure food sovereignty for generations to come.
Feeding America is inspired by the work of Native American and tribal leaders. We are honored to collaborate alongside them as we address the root causes of hunger together.
What does the Feeding America Network do to address hunger in Native American communities?
Forty percent of Feeding America partner food banks share geography with tribal communities. This has led to exciting collaborations; guided by the voices of neighbors, here are a couple ways the Feeding America network is working with local tribal and community partners to meet the need now, and build capacity for the future:
- Food banks across the country are working with community partners and Native American neighbors to create and sustain initiatives which: improve access to food, prioritize dignity, bolster health outcomes, and expand economic opportunity. One partnership like this took place in Arizona, where the Hualapai tribe and St. Mary’s FoodBank, which collaborated to convert unused lots into community gardens.
- Feeding America also advocates for anti-hunger programs and policies that support Native and tribal communities and improve food security for all. On top of advocating for the distribution of culturally preferred food, we advocate alongside the Native Farm Bill Coalition to improve and strengthen the Food Distribution Program on Indian Reservations (FDPIR).
What can you do to help?
- Learn more about hunger in Indigenous communities
- Follow your local food bank to stay up-to-date on initiatives like tribal partnerships