TAHLEQUAH, Okla. – Leaders from the Cherokee Nation, Sequoyah High School, Bureau of Indian Education, the Native American Agriculture Fund, and the Tribal Agriculture Fellowship celebrated Thursday a partnership to start a new agriculture education program at the high school.
Over the next year Sequoyah High School, which has about 400 Native American high school students enrolled, will hire an Ag teacher to start an agriculture program, create a school garden and explore options to grow beef and utilize the garden for a farm to food program in the school’s cafeteria. Sequoyah teachers will also incorporate Agriculture curriculum into their classrooms.
“At the root of our culture, our Cherokee people have always believed in food sustainability and a holistic approach to health and wellness to ensure our entire tribe was cared for and this partnership today carries forward those traditional ways of life for our students,” Cherokee Nation Principal Chief Chuck Hoskin Jr. said.
BIE Education Director Tony L. Dearman and NAAF CEO Toni Stanger-McLaughlin attended the event to celebrate the partnership and continued support for Indigenous Food Hubs that will enhance culturally-based healthy nutrition education in BIE schools nationwide.
“This initiative empowers our students by giving them the skills and knowledge to succeed in agriculture while honoring and integrating our Indigenous traditions and values,” said Tony L. Dearman, director of the Bureau of Indian Education. “This partnership will help to build a brighter, more sustainable future for Native communities. This is a significant step forward in providing our students with the tools they need to thrive in agriculture and beyond.
Sequoyah High School is the third BIE school included in a pilot program focused on culturally relevant agricultural training and education for BIE schools, expanding on a partnership announced earlier this year.
As part of the program, innovative Ag education materials will enhance learning by tailoring supplemental agricultural units to existing school resources.
“This initiative exemplifies our commitment to turning words into action and reclaiming educational spaces for Native students, guided by Native educators and advocates. One of the goals of this partnership is to empower the next generation of agriculturalists by offering new learning experiences for students at a younger age to reimagine what a future in agriculture can be,” said Toni Stanger-McLaughlin, CEO of NAAF. “Integrating what Indigenous teachings have always taught us, such as reverence for the land, and fostering an educational environment that cultivates excitement can be a launching point to transform perceptions around agriculture.”
Sequoyah High School joins other BIE schools, Chemawa High School in Oregon and Fort Wingate in New Mexico.
“Sequoyah High School is a school of choice for our young people, already teaching areas in STEM, and now providing opportunities in agriculture to create even more well-rounded future leaders of our tribe and tribal communities,” Deputy Chief Bryan Warner said.
The program provides engaging education across various agricultural topics, emphasizing a proactive approach that encourages students to learn about agriculture by actively participating in hands-on experiences – whether it’s testing water systems, cultivating plants, or exploring soil science – students gain invaluable technical skills and knowledge that are cornerstones of agriculture education and serves as a beginning pathway into exploring future career opportunities related to agriculture.
NAAF was established after the Keepseagle national class action settlement, which focused on barriers in lending practices impacting Native farmers and ranchers. One important area impacting Native producers’ success is access to capital. NAAF’s mission is to invest in solutions that advance agriculture, including education, by addressing and reducing the challenges that Native producers face.
The Bureau of Indian Education implements federal Indian education programs and funds 183 elementary and secondary day and boarding schools serving approximately 40,000 students. BIE oversees the operation of two postsecondary schools, Southwestern Indian Polytechnic Institute and Haskell Indian Nations University. BIE administers grants for 29 Tribally controlled colleges and universities and two tribal technical colleges. For more information, visit the BIE website at https://www.bie.edu/.