The Chickamauga Nation and the USDA
As an American Indian, and the National Executive Chief of The Chickamauga Nation West Region I nor over 99.9% of the Citizens of The Chickamauga Nation have ever been contacted by the U.S.D.A. They USDA is required to provide outreach and technical assistance according to legislative requirements in 7 CFR 1901.651, 1901.652 (a), (b), (c), (d), 1901.653 (d), €, (f), and (g), 1901.654, and 1901.655 (a), and (c).
The Chickamauga Nation has recently begun taking the initial steps to work with the USDA to help provide Outreach, Education, Training and Assistance to our Citizens and the people living in the communities where our people live. The Chickamauga Nation has agreed to work with the USDA to help provide our Citizens with the Outreach, Education, Training and Assistance we are entitled to under the law.
We have Full - Blood Citizens in over 36 states including Alaska and Hawaii. Fewer than one percent (1%) of our Citizens have any knowledge the USDA offers Outreach or Technical Assistance to them as American Indians. The typical Citizen of The Chickamauga Nation lives in rural areas, are at-risk, socially and economically disadvantaged, at or below the poverty line, elderly, with a statistically significant percentage being disabled or infirm.
The Citizens of The Chickamauga Nation are Legislatively Entitled to have Outreach and Technical Assistance from the USDA but have never been Offered or Received
A. The Agricultural Market Transition Act (AMTA)
B. Disaster Assistance Program (DAP)
C. Non-insured Crop Disaster Assistance Program (NAP)
D. Conservation plans (Conservation Reserve Program) (CRP)
E. The Indian Livestock Feed Program
F. Wildlife Habitat Incentives Program (WHIP)
G. Forestry Incentive Program (FIP)
H. Environmental Quality Incentives Program (EQIP)
I. The outreach and assistance program for Socially Disadvantaged Farmers (SDA)
The Best Kept Secret Becomes our Best Opportunity
In 1978, Congress passed the Indian Outreach Program as 7 CFR 1901.651. This program established procedures and responsibilities to make USDA programs accessible and available to Indians on and off reservations, correct problems and obstacles that hindered participation, increase participation levels of loans and grants to Indians, and provide written information to individual Indians, tribal leaders, Bureau of Indian Affairs personnel, and other interested groups
A Compliance Review Report states that most of the Native American farmers and tribal leaders interviewed were unaware of, or misunderstood FSA’s county committee election process and farm programs and most of such interviewees allege that they had been told that their lands were not eligible to participate in programs of the Department and that some potential borrowers alleged that they had been discouraged from applying to programs and have not received adequate technical assistance regarding the farm operating loan programs.
Beyond direct assistance programs. USDA research and extension efforts are not adequately addressing the unique needs of small, limited-resource, and minority farmers and ranchers. These include the need for intensive enterprises, appropriate technologies and practices, value-added products, management and marketing strategies, and the systematization of these into profitable operations.
In some cases, the CRAT found that program rule changes, either required by Congress in legislation or developed the rule-making process have through the effect of disqualifying many minority and disadvantaged farmers from participating in USDA programs, or significantly reducing benefits they may receive. Most of these arise from lack of communication by responsible agencies with the minority and limited-resource communities
Young men and women who want to follow in the family footsteps, either by taking over the family farm or by buying their own, oftentimes find it difficult to obtain financing for their ventures. According to several speakers at the listening sessions, FSA has denied loan new or beginning farmers despite years of working on their family farm or receiving advanced degrees in agriculture.
Meetings Coming Soon
Over the next few months, we will be hosting meetings where Large and Small operation Farmers and Ranchers can learn about how to access USDA Outreach, Education, Training and Assistance. We will also have the opportunity for Farmers and Ranchers in the communities where we have meetings to come and learn how to become Citizens of The Chickamauga Nation so they too can receive Outreach, Education, Training and Assistance as well.
When we announce meetings, sign up to come to the one for your area. We will be holding both in person and virtual meetings with representatives of the USDA in attendance to tell us about their programs and what we are entitled to receive. This is an opportunity for us to reach our to our neighbors and friends and encourage them to receive enhanced Outreach, Education, Training and Assistance from the USDA as Citizens of The Chickamauga Nation.