Meet the speakers for this summer's webinar series on cooperating to enhance Native American food economies - NCBA CLUSA

By: NCBA CLUSA Staff Published: Tuesday, June 8, 2021 Print: Subscribe

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

Jackson Brossy

Executive Director
Native CDFI Network

Dave Carter

Principle
Crystal Springs Consulting

Zach Ducheneaux

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

Colby Duren

Director of Policy and Government Relations
Intertribal Agriculture Council

Dr. Murry Fulton

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

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

CEO
Native American Agriculture Fund

Chris James

President and CEO
The National Center for American Indian Enterprise Development

Stacy Leeds

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

Sandy Martini

Senior Director, Compliance and Operations
Native American Agriculture Fund

James Matson

Owner and Principle
Matson Consulting

Jerry McGeorge

Executive Vice President of People
Organic Valley

Kathleen Merrigan

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

Karli Moore

Program Officer
Native American Agriculture Fund

Dr. Karama Neal

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

Doug O’Brien

President and CEO
NCBA CLUSA

Trista Pewapisconias

Indigenous Relations Lead
Co-operatives First

C. E. Pugh

CEO
National Co+op Grocers

Chris Roper

Indigenous Agriculture, LLC

Pamela Standing

Director
Minnesota Indigenous Business Alliance

Toni Stanger-McLaughlin, J.D.

Regional Director and Federal Liaison
Native American Agriculture Fund

Heather Dawn Thompson

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

Duane Wilson

Vice President of Stakeholder Relations
Arctic Co-operatives Limited

Felipe Witchger

Executive Director
Community Purchasing Alliance

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.