TM EAGLE Seventh-generation Greenhouses project - Project Title: Turtle Mountain Seventh Generation Greenhouses EAGLE Project Applicant Name: Turtle Mountain Band of Chippewa Indians Tribe Address: 4180 Highway 280, P.O. Box 900, Belcourt, ND 58316 Contact: Alice Lunday Phone: (701) 477-2600 ext. 7242 Email: alice.lunday@tmbci.org Website: https://tmchippewa.com/ The Turtle Mountain Band of Chippewa Indians, a federally-recognized tribe, submits this Economic Advancement Grant for Local Empowerment (EAGLE) Seventh Generation Greenhouses project to support socioeconomic projects that promote strategic and sustainable empowerment through human capital development, economic development, and governance. NEEDS: The Turtle Mountain Indian Reservation in Rolette County, North Dakota, is a recognized rural food desert where more than 12,000 residents face severe limits on accessing fresh, affordable groceries. The remote location makes it difficult for residents to travel to large supermarkets outside the reservation. There are very few full-service grocery stores on or near the reservation, leaving many people reliant on convenience stores or federal food packages. High unemployment and poverty rates mean many families struggle to afford fresh produce and healthy food staples. Poor access to nutritious food directly contributes to high local rates of diabetes, obesity, heart disease, and cancer. Local health facilities often operate with tight budgets, making it harder to treat chronic nutrition-related conditions. GOAL: Over the three project years, the Turtle Mountain Seventh Generation Greenhouses Economic Advancement Grants for Local Empowerment (EAGLE) project will establish two seventh generation greenhouses that train apprentices, improve infrastructure in a Native American community, assist in supporting community-based businesses, and strengthen Native American families while sharing local, healthy food and Native American traditional food knowledge/culture. SERVICES: Objective # 1: Two seventh generation greenhouses, one each in project Years 1 and 2, will be established to provide hands-on apprenticeship training for a minimum of two apprentices each year to create an economic/workforce development opportunity for future greenhouse/local healthy food production. Objective # 2: Two seventh generation greenhouses will provide local, healthy food supplies for a minimum of 10 families per year per greenhouse during each growing season as measured by implementation records, service provision records, and annual satisfaction surveys. Objective # 3: Each project year, the Turtle Mountain EAGLE seventh generation greenhouses project will prepare materials and provide educational activities for students, teachers, and community members. POPULATION TO BE SERVED: TMBCI will engage valued elders to share their wisdom and knowledge of traditional food and culture. The project will train and support six age 18+ apprentices who are working to improve their workforce and/or entrepreneurial capabilities. Over 50 families will receive fresh, healthy food supplies from the two greenhouses. Students, teachers, and community members (240) will enjoy participating in educational events (four each year) at the greenhouses. The Tribe’s commitment to cost-share and supply of healthy, local food will connect tribal citizens in a meaningful path of tradition, culture, and well-being in a good way.
