The NCTCC’s newest Program is the Rights of Mother Earth. With generous support from the National Congress of American Indians and First Nations Development Institute, we have been working with our member tribes and allies on all issues involving indigenous food sovereignty, including banning genetically engineered salmon and crops and reducing pesticides on Tribal lands.

“When we were strong in our foods on this continent, we were stronger people – we were healthier. And for Indigenous peoples it all starts with the food. When Indian Country lost its ability to feed itself, through whatever means, we lost that part of ourselves that supports our ability to thrive. It is only by regaining our foods will we be able to restore our health, our resilience as peoples and secure the stability and diversification within our own communities and local economies. But the challenges to secure that future require different approaches than those used in other communities and in predominately urban settings, if for no other reason than our unique legal status, the remote location of our lands upon which foods can be found, and the language, cultural traditions, and legal status of our communities. ” – Janie Hipp Director, Indigenous Food and Agriculture Initiative, University of Arkansas School of Law

In 2013, the Yurok Tribe, working with the Northern California Tribal Court Coalition (“NCTCC”) received a grant from the National Congress of American Indians (“NCAI”) Partnership for Tribal Governance Initiative (“PTG”) Government Reform project. Through this PTG grant, the Yurok Tribe, working with NCTCC, enacted legislation to ban genetically engineered organisms on Tribal lands, and has taken steps to similarly restrict pesticides from contaminating Tribal lands.

The Yurok Tribe continues to work with other Tribes in a regional collaborative as part of the NCTCC and the Tribe and NCTCC co-hosted a Northern California Tribal Food Sovereignty Conference – Restoring the Balance: A Tribal Food Sovereignty Gathering in Klamath California in April 2016.

In 2016, NCTCC received a Seeds of Native Health grant from First Nations Development Institute (“FNDI”) to continue with work started by the Yurok Tribe and NCTCC. Through the FNDI funding, NCTCC was able to complete work on local Tribal pesticide legislation, research and draft model codes and policy guides to regulating genetically engineered organisms, pesticides and other contaminants on Tribal lands, as well as host a series of Tribal Youth Food Sovereignty Camps in February and March of 2017, with additional technical assistance from Valerie Segrest.

Media releases, and final copy of the Yurok Tribe GEO ordinance, (formally enacted December 10, 2015) along with model ordinances and policy guides for regulating genetically engineered organisms and pesticides on Tribal Lands are linked below