Press Release
For Immediate Release
Powhatan Confederacy Launches with Groundbreaking USDA Grant
Date: 06/06/2024
Welcome to the Powhatan Confederacy! We are proud to announce the establishment of the Powhatan Confederacy, a 501(c)3 community development organization dedicated to fostering ecological, sustainable, and culturally centered economic development in our traditional homelands of Maryland, North Carolina, and Virginia.
Founded in 2024, the Powhatan Confederacy is driven by a passionate team of Indigenous farmers, entrepreneurs, politicians, chefs, seed keepers, and academics. One of our missions is to build a regional sustainable food supply chain that honors and revitalizes traditional Indigenous practices.
In just under six months of operation, our efforts have been recognized with the prestigious USDA “Supporting the Use of Traditional Indigenous Foods in the Child Nutrition Programs Cooperative Agreement.” This award enables us to develop a pilot supply chain that will provide Indigenous foods to Child Nutrition Programs across Maryland, North Carolina, and Virginia, supporting Indigenous students and their communities.
The Powhatan Confederacy is a community-led initiative that aims to transcend community politics and bridge a gap for healing between communities, descendants, and Mother Earth. We are committed to ushering in a new generation of cultural, ecological, and environmental revitalization.
To achieve our goals, we are partnering with the William & Mary Institute for Integrative Conservation, the Baltimore City Public Schools Indigenous Programs Liaison, The REED Center for Ecosystem Reintegration, Just Harvest, and professional Indigenous chefs. Together, we will work with school nutrition staff at five School Food Authorities (SFAs) in Maryland, Virginia, and the Carolina's. Our training and technical assistance will focus on recipe development, Indigenous cooking styles, and supply chain development. Additionally, the project will create culturally relevant nutrition education that includes both classroom and exploratory learning.
For more information, please visit USDA Grant Page.
Contact:
Troy Wiipongwii, PhD, MPP
Interim Chairman
Powhatan Confederacy
4445 Corporation Lane
Virginia Beach, Virginia
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