TITLE: Remove the “Urban Place” Limitation in USDA’s Food Distribution Program on Indian Reservations
WHEREAS, we, the members of the National Congress of American Indians of the United States, invoking the divine blessing of the Creator upon our efforts and purposes, in order to preserve for ourselves and our descendants the inherent sovereign rights of our Indian nations, rights secured under Indian treaties and agreements with the United States, and all other rights and benefits to which we are entitled under the laws and Constitution of the United States, to enlighten the public toward a better understanding of the Indian people, to preserve Indian cultural values, and otherwise promote the health, safety and welfare of the Indian people, do hereby establish and submit the following resolution; and
WHEREAS, the National Congress of American Indians (NCAI) was established in 1944 and is the oldest and largest national organization of American Indian and Alaska Native tribal governments; and
WHEREAS, The U.S. Department of Agriculture (USDA) Food Distribution Program on Indian Reservations (FDPIR) program classifies an "Urban Place" as a town or a city with a population of 10,000 or more people; and
WHEREAS, tribal citizens who reside in urban areas can only be served in this program through a waiver process; and
WHEREAS, tribal citizens living in slightly larger communities and the metropolitan areas are excluded from receiving nutritious food through the FDPIR program due to the “urban place” definition; and
WHEREAS, tribal communities are growing and expanding due to increased economic development to include more tribal citizens from many tribal nations; and that there are thousands of tribal citizens who live in urban areas who are excluded from receiving nutritious and culturally relevant food supplies from the FDPIR program;
WHEREAS, the FDPIR, which is administered by over 270 tribes, is a vital program which provides feeding program services and food packages for the most food insecure tribal citizens and should be allowed to reach all tribal citizens in need.
NOW THEREFORE BE IT RESOLVED that NCAI asks the U.S. Department of Agriculture to remove the “Urban Place” definition and limitation to a population of 10,000 people for the Food Distribution Program on Indian Reservations, allowing tribal nations and the USDA to work collaboratively to serve even more tribal citizens who need nutritious food, regardless of where they live.
BE IT FURTHER RESOLVED, that this resolution shall be the policy of NCAI until it is withdrawn or modified by subsequent resolution.
CERTIFICATION
The foregoing resolution was adopted by the General Assembly at the 2016 Midyear Session of the National Congress of American Indians, held at the Spokane Convention Center, June 27 to June 30, 2016, with a quorum present.