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USDA Observes the National American Indian/Alaska Native Heritage Month Celebration

USDA observes American Indian/Alaska Native Heritage Month. The opening ceremony of the 2006 observance was held on November 2, 2006, in the Jefferson Auditorium in Washington, DC. This year's theme is "Native Women: Caretakers and Preservers of Family and Legacy in Indian Country"

American Indian/Alaska Native women are a vital component of the USDA workforce. USDA maintains key relationships with national employee organizations that serve women and American Indian/Alaska Native government employees, such as Federally Employed Women (FEW) and the Society of American Indian Government Employees (SAIGE). USDA is proud to sponsor the national conferences of both of these organizations.

As of October 18, 2006, of the 2,052 USDA employees who are self-identified as American Indian/Alaska Native, 41 percent are women. The Forest Service boasts the highest USDA representation of American Indians/Alaska Natives at 4 percent, and the Natural Resources Conservation Service has the second highest at 2.7 percent.

USDA is a leader within the Federal government in the recruitment of American Indian/Alaska Native interns. For the past three years, USDA has been recognized by American University as the leading sponsor of American Indian/Alaska Native interns in the Washington, DC area, having sponsored 68 interns for an average of nearly 23 interns per year. Women have comprised 63 percent of the interns. This past summer, USDA sponsored 19 American Indian/Alaska Native interns who represented 13 Tribes from 15 colleges and universities, studied 20 different majors and worked in seven mission areas.

USDA has an established the 1994 Land Grant Institutions (Tribal Colleges) Program in the Office of the Assistant Secretary for Civil Rights. Ms. Yolanda Garcia is the Director of the program. The 1994 Land Grant Institutions are Native American tribally controlled colleges and universities that were granted land-grant status under an Act of Congress in 1994. These colleges primarily serve Native American populations that are typically located in remote, underserved communities that lack access to higher education. Their missions include serving their constituents through higher education programs involving teaching, community outreach, and research. The 1994 Land Grant Institutions take special care to include cultural relevant curriculum and programs so that Native American students and communities can take pride in their cultural and historical identity. Ms. Garcia will further develop the 1994 scholars program to provide scholarships to American Indian/Alaska Native students attending Tribal Colleges and Universities. This program will encourage American Indian/Alaska Native students to study agriculture, food and nutrition, and natural resources, and offer career opportunities at USDA.

USDA launched the USDA/American Indian Higher Education Consortium Leadership Group, a national advisory body made up of 1994 Tribal College and University Presidents and USDA management officials to facilitate collaboration between USDA and the 1994 Land Grant Institutions.

USDA agencies are visible and active in Indian Country in a variety of ways, such as partnerships, technical assistance, training, food safety, research and education, housing and rural business, forest restoration, conservation and veterinarian programs. USDA supports the improved coordination of services to our internal and external American Indian/Alaska Native customers.

Additional related information
Office of Native American Programs
1994 Land Grant (Tribal Colleges) Program
Memorandum of Understanding Between USDA and the American Indian Higher Education Consortium (PDF 1.4MB)