Honoring Native American and Other Indigenous Peoples for Their Long-Standing Commitment to Agriculture and Conservation

The U.S. Department of Agriculture (USDA) honors the Native American and Indigenous farmers, ranchers and forest landowners who work with our employees. We pay tribute to their love for the natural resources—land, water, plants, and animals. Native American, Alaska Natives and other Indigenous Peoples have always played a significant role in agriculture and conservation and that commitment continues today.

Below are three stories about Native American and Alaska Native agricultural producers and private forest landowners who used conservation programs and services, and conservation tools to manage and improve natural resources on tribal land.

Meet the Suquamish Tribe and the Puget Sound Restoration Fund, Washington State—Creating a Haven for the Olympia Oyster to Thrive

The Olympia oyster has a strong connection to local Native American Tribes, who have lived in the Puget Sound Region for thousands of years. The Olympia oyster is a food staple, but it also has cultural significance to local Tribes. The Suquamish Tribe, along with others, has worked closely with USDA and the Puget Sound Restoration Fund (PSRF) to restore a part of the Salish Sea, the nation’s third largest estuary to allow the Olympia oyster to thrive. PSRF used the voluntary Environmental Quality Incentives Program to restore 100 acres of native Olympia oyster habitat in the Salish Sea.

Read more about how the Puget Sound Restoration Fund and Native American Tribes work together to save Olympic Oyster habitat.

Meet the Osage Indian Tribe, Oklahoma – Partnering to Increase Grazing Capacity for Cattle and Buffalo

The Osage Nation in Osage County, Oklahoma, wanted to restore its 47,000-acre ranch by clearing it of invasive species such as blackberry and cedar trees. Once cleared, the land could be fully used to graze its 2,500 head of cattle and 80 buffalo. USDA worked closely with the Tribe to help them create land for healthy grass to grow for grazing their animals. The Osage Nation used USDA’s voluntary Environmental Quality Incentives Program for spraying to eliminate overgrowth and prescribed burning to create healthy pastures. Through its partnership with USDA, the Osage Nation returned the entire ranch to its former glory.

Read more about the Osage Indian Tribe, Oklahoma.

Meet the Tribal Conservation Districts in Alaska – Protecting Tribal Lands Through Strong Partnerships and Trust

As the largest private landowner in the state, Alaska Natives play a crucial role in protecting the state’s natural resources for future generations. Locally led partnerships and trust are important to achieving the successful adoption of voluntary conservation in the state. USDA works closely with members of the Alaska Natives Tribal Conservation Districts to understand their key natural resource challenges and how best to address them. Through the tribal conservation districts, Tribes have used USDA programs such as Environmental Quality Incentives Program and the Emergency Watershed Protection Program. Those relationships have resulted in diverse natural resource accomplishments on tribal land such as enhanced fish and wildlife habitat, increased forest health and increased food production through community gardens.

Read more about how USDA partners with the Alaska Tribal Conservation District system.

USDA offers one-on-one assistance to farmers, ranchers, and private forest landowners nationwide. Whether you are a veteran producer or a new or beginning producer, USDA has diverse programs and services to help you. Here are available resources:

• Disaster Assistance Recovery Tool
• Loan Assistance Tool (new tool)
• Conservation at Work Video Series
• Getting Started! A Guide to USDA Resources for Historically Underserved Farmers and Ranchers (new publication)

To learn more about USDA other programs and services, please visit farmers.gov. Tribes, Tribal producers and other Indigenous producers interested in participating in USDA programs and services should contact their local USDA Service Centers.

Sylvia Rainford is a public affairs specialist with USDA in Washington, D.C.