The Intertribal Agriculture Council (IAC) advocates for Native issues across the nation. To use their own words within the mission statement, “To pursue and promote the conservation, development, and sustainable use of agricultural resources for the betterment of our people. With a goal of promoting positive change in Indian agriculture.”
The program divides itself into 12 regions that mirror the regions covered by the Bureau of Indian Affairs. The Southern Ute Indian Tribe falls into the Southwest region along with Ute Mountain, Jicarilla & Mescalero Apache, and all the Pueblo Tribes. Our technical representative for our region is Janice Lucero. She helps compile issues to run up the ladder, create programming for the benefit of Tribes, and helps set up training or education opportunities.
With the help of Janice and Desbah Padilla, we were able to host an Agriculture Youth workshop at the Multi-Purpose Facility for youth and adults earlier in the year. This partnership also has allowed us to work closer with the USDA in an era where we are fighting on multiple fronts for land and water, we can use all the help we can get. Developing and exposing our youth to agriculture in different ways also helps to rouse curiosity and emphasizes the fact that there is a good living and career potential in the ag industry.
As a delegate to the Intertribal Agriculture Council, I am pleased to announce a number of opportunities that are now available to young Southern Ute enrolled members and descendants. Please visit the Intertribal Agriculture Council website to apply. Feel free to also contact me for any additional details: mpinnecoose@southernute-nsn.gov.
The IAC National Youth Advisory Council serves as the advising body for the IAC Youth program, ensuring the needs of youth in Indian Country are properly met within IAC programs. Applications for 2024 will be accepted on a rolling basis until positions have been filled. Eligible applicants must be 18-27 years of age. Successful NYAC applicants will serve in shaping the leadership roles that this body will carry forward.
The following regions have open council positions; Alaska, Eastern, Great Lakes, Navajo, Rocky Mountain, Southwest, Southern Plains, and Western.
Additionally, full travel scholarships to attend the IAC Youth Conference will be awarded to 60-80 essay finalists and candidates to attend the 2024 IAC Youth Conference in Las Vegas, December 10th-12th, 2024.
Essay Topic Questions:
Utilizing the resources and information provided on this page, write an essay in response to this prompt:
What is my vision for what the USDA Tribal Advisory Committee can do for Indian Country? In responding to the prompt, consider answering the following questions (responses should be prepared in essay format including an introduction paragraph, body paragraphs, conclusion, and resources):
- Tell us, if you were on the TAC, what recommendations would you have for the USDA? Are there specific recommendations you might have that address the overlap of USDA and BIA functions and services to your home community?
- Are these subcommittee topics relevant to you and your community? How so? Outline why these topics are important to you and your community’s agricultural, natural resources, food systems, and community development goals.
- Did you already know about the TAC? How can we ensure that our communities are aware of the TAC and its purpose?
- Is the USDA TAC webpage easy to navigate and understand? What information do you wish that it also highlighted?
- What kind of questions do you have about what TAC does?
- Will you now be empowered to offer public comment to the TAC at an upcoming meeting? Are there any professional development trainings that would help empower you to do so?