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North America: Indian Nations Endowments
Historically, indigenous people around the world have suffered greatly at the hands of those forging new nations by their "manifest destiny." In many cases, the native people are driven from the land that they have cared for and, in turn, has cared for them. Without their native land, indigenous people are without their traditional food and medicines. There is a saying that "he who feeds, leads." Among the Native Americans of the continental United States, that leader is the USDA through its welfare commodities program.
Because of the dependence created by the government program, the Western European diet that it provides has taken a toll on the health of Native Americans. To meet the needs of native people in poverty, Heifer International has established the Indian Nations Program. Many programs, government and non-government, have sought solutions for the poverty and malnutrition of Native Americans. Most fail because they try to change indigenous peoples' culture, instead of working with their culture. Heifer is bringing together representatives from several nations to determine culturally appropriate solutions, and to implement plans for redeveloping indigenous food systems for Native People. Indigenous peoples have an urgent need for training in the area of food security such as animal husbandry, horticulture, soil management, food preservation, etc. The primary resources of land and people exist, but there must be training in sustainable practices. Heifer International is working to implement such training through model farms which would provide assistance in a culturally appropriate way.
When you contribute to the Native American Endowment, or establish your own, you will be providing a jumpstart for a much needed program to assist in bringing back the self-sustaining independence of a rich and ancient people's tradition.
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