2026 Native Food Sovereignty Grant

About First Nations Development Institute & Native Agriculture and Food Systems Investments
The Native Agriculture and Food Systems Investments program is a cornerstone of First Nations’ efforts to advance food sovereignty and security, strengthen tribal food economies, and support the relationship between community, place, and food. Established in 2001, this program supports Native food systems through grantmaking, convenings, and advocacy, uplifting the enduring commitment of Native communities to their food relatives and the earth.
Native Food Sovereignty projects support the inherent right of tribal communities to exercise self determination and self-governance in all aspects of their food systems. American Indians, Alaska Natives, and Native Hawaiians have the right to produce their own traditional foods on their own lands to sustain themselves, their families, and their communities. Tribes and community organizers have the authority to shape and influence the conditions that strengthen the control of the Native food system. These projects establish and safeguard Native food traditions while carrying forward the stories, identities, relationships, and responsibilities that Native cultures live by.
Primary Focus
First Foods and Maternal Health First Foods and Maternal Health projects support efforts to revitalize tribal customs, knowledge, and practices related to childbirth, prenatal and infant nutrition, maternal nutrition, and community support systems.Native Farm to School Native Farm to School projects provide educational opportunities and support to Native K12 youth, program coordinators, school staff, community organizers, and knowledge keepers of all ages. The goal is to ensure future tribal leaders experience traditional foodways within culturally inclusive school food systemsGATHER Emerging Organizations and ProgramsGATHER supports new or innovative entities, including tribal pilot projects, emerging Native-led organizations, and essential grassroots efforts. These organizations and programs add to the narrative that Native Food Systems are beautifully braided and alive, as seen in First Nations’ GATHER film, which documents both the disruption of Native foodways and the resurgence of Native food sovereignty.Governance of Native Food Systems Governance of Native Food Systems projects supports Native-led efforts to strengthen, adapt, reclaim, or implement policies, governance systems, and decision-making processes that advance Native food sovereignty. Policy is understood broadly to include laws, regulations, resolutions, administrative practices, funding priorities, and institutional procedures, as well as Indigenous governance systems, cultural protocols, and communitydefined practices carried through oral tradition and lived practice.
Grant Award Ceiling
Total requests for project budgets within this funding opportunity can range from $10,000 to $40,000.