Events

Meet the speakers for this summer’s webinar series on cooperating to enhance Native American food economies

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Investments in Native American agriculture not only support Tribal economies and rural communities, but also contribute to a sustainable, resilient new American food system.

The Native American Agriculture Fund (NAAF), Cooperative Development Foundation (CDF) and the National Cooperative Business Association CLUSA International (NCBA CLUSA) are pleased to announce the speakers for a webinar series on enhancing Native American food systems through cooperatives.

Scheduled for August 2-5, 2021 from 12-2:30 pm EDT each day, “Cooperating to Enhance Native American Food Economies” will begin with an overview of Reimagining Native Food Economies: A Vision for Native Food and Agriculture Infrastructure Rebuilding and Recovery. Published by NAAF, this report provides an infrastructure framework to harness Indian Country’s economic and nutritional potential to recover from COVID-19 and propel sustainable rural economic development.

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This webinar series will also address food hubs and cooperatives, opportunities and challenges for cooperatives in Indian Country, and imagining a cooperative Native food system. Speakers include Janie Simms Hipp, CEO of NAAF and citizen of the Chickasaw Nation, and Doug O’Brien, president and CEO of NCBA CLUSA. Meet all the speakers below.

MEET THE SPEAKERS

Cornelius Blanding

Executive Director
Federation of Southern Cooperatives/Land Assistance Fund

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Jackson Brossy

Executive Director
Native CDFI Network

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Dave Carter

Principle
Crystal Springs Consulting

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Zach Ducheneaux

Administrator, Farmer Service Agency
U.S. Department of Agriculture

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Colby Duren

Director of Policy and Government Relations
Intertribal Agriculture Council

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Dr. Murry Fulton

Director and Professor, Johnson Shoyama Graduate School of Public Policy
University of Saskatchewan, Saskatoon

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Janie Simms Hipp, J.D., LL.M.

CEO
Native American Agriculture Fund

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Chris James

President and CEO
The National Center for American Indian Enterprise Development

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Stacy Leeds

Foundation Professor of Law and Leadership, Sandra Day O’Connor College of Law
Arizona State University

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Sandy Martini

Senior Director, Compliance and Operations
Native American Agriculture Fund

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James Matson

Owner and Principle
Matson Consulting

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Jerry McGeorge

Executive Vice President of People
Organic Valley

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Kathleen Merrigan

Executive Director, Swette Center for Sustainable Food Systems
Arizona State University

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Karli Moore

Program Officer
Native American Agriculture Fund

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Dr. Karama Neal

Administrator, Rural Development-Cooperative Service
U.S. Department of Agriculture

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Doug O’Brien

President and CEO
NCBA CLUSA

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Trista Pewapisconias

Indigenous Relations Lead
Co-operatives First

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C. E. Pugh

CEO
National Co+op Grocers

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Chris Roper

Indigenous Agriculture, LLC

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Pamela Standing

Director
Minnesota Indigenous Business Alliance

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Toni Stanger-McLaughlin, J.D.

Regional Director and Federal Liaison
Native American Agriculture Fund

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Heather Dawn Thompson

Director, Office of Tribal Relations
U.S. Department of Agriculture

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Duane Wilson

Vice President of Stakeholder Relations
Arctic Co-operatives Limited

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Felipe Witchger

Executive Director
Community Purchasing Alliance

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The Native American Agriculture Fund (NAAF) provides grants to eligible organizations for business assistance, agricultural education, technical support and advocacy services to support Native farmers and ranchers. NAAF is the largest philanthropic organization devoted solely to serving the Native American farming and ranching community. 

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