Quapaw Nation Agricultural Programs
Drawing from its farming heritage, Quapaw Nation diversifies its economy and champions food sovereignty.
By Honoring Nations
Honoring Nations 2018 Awardee
Quapaw Nation Agricultural ProgramsHonoring Nations
A disappearing agricultural heritage
Prior to their removal in the 19th century, the ancestors of today’s Quapaw Nation lived in agricultural settlements near the Mississippi River. However, the Nation reached a point in the early 2000s where few of its citizens were engaged in agriculture/farming traditions.
Additionally, the Nation's growing economic dependence on casino revenue prompted Quapaw tribal leaders to consider revitalizing their agricultural heritage. Without local agriculture, Quapaw families struggled to find fresh, affordable ingredients, resulting in the loss of traditional dishes and ancestral nutritional knowledge, contributing to chronic health problems.
Reflecting on all these concerns, tribal leaders wondered— what if the Nation worked toward the dual goal of developing profitable agricultural enterprises and increasing food sovereignty?
The Quapaw farm-to-table initiative
The Nation launched the Quapaw Agricultural Programs in 2010 with a modest purchase of eight American Bison. Since then, the Agricultural Programs have become a thriving farm-to-table initiative.
The Nation also launched the Quapaw Horticultural Program and built five large commercial greenhouses. The Quapaw Cattle Company began a breeding program to expand the bison herd and added Black Angus cattle and goats to its operations. To reduce dependence on commercial feed for its animals, the Nation began farming corn, soybeans, wheat, canola, and hay to use as fodder. In 2017, the Nation opened the first tribally owned US Department of Agriculture certified meat processing plant.
Finding strength by feeding a nation
By running its own Agricultural Programs, the Nation independently controls the quality of the food available to its citizens and to visitors. The Agricultural Programs supply food at low cost to various community initiatives, including school lunches.
The agricultural operations emphasize land management and farming techniques that protect the environment, animal well-being, and public health. For example, the Nation only uses rainwater for their crops and invests in efficient automatic livestock watering systems. Moreover, the Quapaw Nation retains economic benefits by keeping funds used to purchase supplies within the community and selling the end product itself.
Quapaw Nation Agricultural ProgramsHonoring Nations
Awardee update
In 2021, the Quapaw Nation Farmers Market received funding from the First Nations Development Institute to expand the farmers market into a Food Hub. This allows their local producers to buy farm food and value-added products on consignment which allows them to have a greater variety of farm products along with extended business hours to meet their needs.
Quapaw Nation Agricultural ProgramsHonoring Nations
Bringing the lessons home
By focusing on humane and sustainable farming methods, the Programs help the Nation reclaim agricultural traditions, create new jobs for community members, and make high-quality, healthy food products newly available to tribal citizens and their neighbors.
Lesson 1
Tribal business diversification benefits both Native and nonNative economies through job creation and the expansion of regional economic opportunities.
Lesson 2
Strategic investments in vertical integration and sustainable food sources have the potential to increase tribal authority over both food production and food quality standards.
Lesson 3
Economic development ventures that simultaneously strengthen a Native nation’s culture and meet citizens’ contemporary needs also strengthen tribal sovereignty.
HONORING NATIONS: 2018 Awardee
Quapaw Nation Agricultural Program
Quapaw Nation
This exhibit was curated by the Project on Indigenous Governance and Development, Honoring Nations national awards program. All images were obtained with the permission of the host nation, and gathered during the site visit of the awarding year.
Honoring Nations Awards 2018
https://hwpi.harvard.edu/files/hpaied/files/quapaw_nation_agricultural_programs.pdf?m=1639579342
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