First Nations Development Institute Will Host Convening on "Food as Economic Development in Minnesota Native Communities" in Prior Lake July 8-10, 2015

LONGMONT, Colorado (May 8, 2015) – First Nations Development Institute (First Nations [ http://www.firstnations.org ]) will host the "Food as Economic Development in Minnesota Native Communities" [ http://www.firstnations.org/fednc ] convening July 8-10, 2015, at the Mystic Lake Casino Hotel in Prior Lake, Minnesota. At this free event, attendees will coalesce around recognition of the power of household and tribal spending on food that contributes to the strengthening of local Native economies.

The convening will include training on First Nations' "Food Sovereignty Assessment Tool," presentations about multifaceted models in Native communities focused on food, discussion of available financial vehicles and capital resources, and presentation of food economy models in other Native communities. This is a forum for sharing and collaboration to build healthy food systems within Native communities. It will be extremely valuable for Native farmers, ranchers, gardeners, food-related businesses, tribal policymakers and agriculture staff, and Native nonprofits working in agriculture.

The event is part of First Nations' broader work under its Native Agriculture and Food Systems Initiative (NAFSI [ http://www.firstnations.org/programs/foods-health ]), which is focused on providing resources and tools that increase local food-system control in Native communities while bolstering economic development. The Minnesota convening is generously sponsored by the Otto Bremer Foundation [ http://www.ottobremer.org/ ].

Priority registration will be given to Minnesota-based tribal community representatives. Registration will be capped at 60 attendees, so act quickly! For complete information and registration, visit this link: http://www.firstnations.org/fednc [ http://www.firstnations.org/fednc ]

About First Nations Development Institute

For 35 years, using a three-pronged strategy of educating grassroots practitioners, advocating for systemic change, and capitalizing Indian communities, First Nations has been working to restore Native American control and culturally-compatible stewardship of the assets they own – be they land, human potential, cultural heritage or natural resources – and to establish new assets for ensuring the long-term vitality of Native American communities. First Nations serves Native American communities throughout the United States. For more information, visit http://www.firstnations.org [ http://www.firstnations.org ].