Since 1987, the Intertribal Agriculture Council (IAC) has promoted the Indian use of Indian resources for the benefit of the Indian People. Contending with systemic oppression, historical discrimination, and purposeful exclusion from generations of USDA programming, posed a bleak reality for Indian producers in the 1980's but presented an immense potential for growth through the eyes of the IAC's founding leadership. Carrying forward this effort has trained the IAC to be the most effective organization in service to our socially disadvantaged farmers and ranchers of Indian Country. Working across nearly four generations has rooted our staff in knowing the on-the-ground needs of socially disadvantaged producers pursuing USDA programs. For these reasons, the IAC proposes the work set forth in this cooperative agreement that will not only maintain service to more than 80,000 American Indian producers but will also share our experiences to better inform the USDA's approach to outreach in Indian Country.

Programmatic offerings have expanded over 34 years to directly address the needs of socially disadvantaged communities. A robust and dynamic team of Tribal and Indigenous community members and allies distribute a suite of producer-focused resources rooted in promoting equitable agricultural and food systems for Indian Country. Informed by the trade routes and food systems that existed on this continent before colonization, IAC seeks to address systemic inequities to better serve Native producers and Indian Country as a whole.