EASTERN BAND OF CHEROKEE INDIANS FEDERALLY RECOGNIZED TRIBES EXTENSION PROGRAM 2022

WHAT ARE THE NEEDS OF THE COMMUNITY?Alternative farm and garden food production techniques (most families do not have land or suitable land to farm and raise gardens or animals) Approximately 86% of the EBCI Land Base is classified as forested mountain landscape.Food preservation education and assistance. Access to quality fruits and vegetables has historically been an issue. With the past two years pandemic, food access has faced its challenges with supply chain disruption.Food system support to promote local foods access (increased food service options with increased demand for local foods from tribal farmers). There is currently one grocery store on the Qualla Boundary and zero farmers markets or roadside stands.Re-education on traditional ecological knowledge about native wild food gathering and sustainability. East Coast Native American Tribes have a longer history of pressure to assimilate with European Cultures. This and the added cultural diversity have caused a loss of traditional ecological knowledge and practice. Traditional food knowledge and resources are more scare than language resources.Rehabilitation of culturally significant plants. Overharvesting, habitat disturbances, and invasive species have had a negative impact on native populations.Create culturally centered youth programming. Traditional 4-H curriculum coming from the University is not culturally applicable to Cherokee Culture.Capacity building within traditional community clubs for leadership and volunteer development, especially youth engagement. Community Club youth attendance is low, and most community club officers are retirees.Capacity building of extension knowledge and resources to community members and partners. Turnover of Extension Staff creates a void in service and in the Extension Relationship. Extension needs to build the capacity of community members and partners to lead educational endeavors.Needs are gathered from information regarding historical challenges, program surveys, Cherokee Community Club Council meetings, Ag & Natural Resources Committee meetings, Tribal Leadership guidance, and vested EBCI NC Cooperative Extension input and planning. A Strategic Planning session was held between EBCI NC Cooperative Extension and the EBCI Natural Resources Division in December 2021. Final Report to be released Spring 2022. This will also serve as a guiding document for Extension and FRTEP with EBCI.This proposal will build upon the outstanding work that has been done with the Eastern Band of Cherokee Indians over the past few FRTEP Grant Cycles. The Eastern Band of Cherokee Indians are located in the seven westernmost counties of North Carolina. There are approximately 16,000 tribal members living on 56,000 acres of mountainous forest land with minimal property suitable for farming or housing. As with most mountainous areas, farmland is often competing for housing and commercial use. This land classification also tends to lead to isolated communities with little modern infrastructure such as cell towers and fiber connections. Due to land restrictions and the historically challenging access to healthy food options through local food systems, food sovereignty is of major concern.The Federally Recognized Tribes Extension Program through Extension Outreach and Education will provide Extension services through a holistic educational approach to the EBCI Tribal Members. Our focus for the next FRTEP Award Cycle shall be food production, food sovereignty, traditional food ways education for youth, natural and artisan resource education, and developing healthy communities through citizen leadership.