Join us to learn about strategic and unique partnerships formed by several organizations in multiple sectors who have taken impressive strides to ensure Indian Country issues are brought to the forefront and addressed.

Mike Roberts, of First Nations Development Institute and Janie Hipp, of the University of Arkansas’ Indigenous Food and Agriculture Project will give a brief 101 primer on the history of Indian country as it relates to Native people's health, food systems, economy, policies, communities and overall well being. The call will have an integrative approach with presentations that illustrate the need and current successes of forging dynamic partnerships.  We will hear from funders such as MAZON: A Jewish Response to Hunger, the Shakopee Mdewakanton Sioux Community, First Nations and the American Heart Association (AHA). 

Representatives from Shakopee and AHA will share the origins of their partnership that began in 2015, and why they feel it has been critical for advancing change in Indian country. In a short amount of time, they have had several positive outcomes from their partnership, including a fall funder convening where 41 national, regional, and tribal funders, along with state and federal funding agencies, came together in Indian Country to discuss these issues and solutions.  A report published by Echo Hawk Consulting,Feeding Ourselves: Food Access, Health Disparities, and the Pathways to Healthy Native American Communities, that explores the complex historical and contemporary challenges to Native American healthy food access, childhood obesity, and health disparities, helped to inspire and frame the important diaoluge that took place among funders at the convening. 

There is a great deal of momentum building around these conversations among our funder networks. Additional convenings and other opportunities for funder education, engagement and collaboration exist in 2016 that will be discussed as well. 

We hope you'll join us and kick off the New Year by hearing the latest progress in Indian Country and learning how you can be engaged in this movement. 

MODERATOR
Crystal Echo Hawk, President & CEO, Echo Hawk Consulting 

SPEAKERS
Chris Georgacas, Consultant, Shakopee Mdewakanton Sioux Community Seeds of Native Health Campaign 
Janie Hipp, Director of the Indigenous Food and Agriculture Intiative, University of Arkansas, School of Law
Debbie Horner, Misison Advancement Director, American Heart Associate (AHA) 
Mia Hubard, Vice President of Programs, MAZON: A Jewish Response to Hunger
Michael Roberts, President, First Nations Development Institute
Lori Watso, Secretary & Treasurer, Shakopee Mdewakanton Sioux Community Business Council