Award goes to group that mobilized Indigenous food support

When food insecurity worsened during the pandemic and in the aftermath of George Floyd’s murder, North American Traditional Indigenous Food Systems mobilized to get healthy Indigenous food to people in need.

The Minnesota Department of Human Services is recognizing those efforts with an award for outstanding work.

Human Services Commissioner Jodi Harpstead presented North American Traditional Indigenous Food Systems with the Circle of Excellence award in an online event on Jan. 14, citing the “direct, positive impact” of the group’s work on people who otherwise might have gone hungry.

A team organized by NA̅TIFS at the Indigenous Food Lab in Minneapolis worked with the Minnesota Board on Aging to distribute almost 80,000 culturally appropriate meals to Tribal elders and families across Minnesota during the winter of 2020-21. NA̅TIFS coordinated with nine of 11 Tribal Nations in Minnesota and seven Native nonprofit organizations during a tremendously challenging time.

The 10th annual Circle of Excellence awards from the Department of Human Services honor organizations for exemplary work providing access to food, health care and other assistance, with special consideration to efforts related to COVID-19.