Every year, March is designated Women’s History Month by Presidential proclamation. It is a time reserved to honor women’s contributions to American history. This year’s theme is “Celebrating Women Who Tell Our Stories.”
According to the 2017 Census of Agriculture, American Indian/Alaska Native producers are more likely to be female than producers overall (44 percent of American Indian/Alaska Native producers are female compared with 36 percent of all U.S. producers). Native women have long been central to the welfare of our communities, including agricultural food production. Their contributions to the food system not only invest in food security for Native communities but lay a foundation of positive change for future generations in Indian Agriculture.
This month, the Intertribal Agriculture Council will spotlight the contributions and resilience of Native women in agriculture to bring awareness to contemporary issues facing Indian Country and honor the strong matriarchy in our communities who have been pivotal to the economic and social well-being of American Indian and Alaska Native peoples. Stay tuned to our blog and social media channels for new stories throughout the month!