Tribe receives $4.8 million federal grant to build buffalo processing plant | News

NIOBRARA — The Ponca Tribe of Nebraska has received a $4.8 million federal grant from the U.S. Department of Agriculture to build a buffalo meat harvesting, processing, manufacturing and storage facility.

The Ponca Tribe of Nebraska will use this facility to harvest and distribute meat from its buffalo herd to tribal members located across the country, in accordance with sacred tribal traditions.

According to Courtney Chavez, CEO of Tribal Affairs for the Ponca Tribe of Nebraska, grant funds will be used to support the construction of a facility in Niobrara, which is the traditional homeland of the Ponca Tribe of Nebraska and will be located near the buffaloes of the tribe. herd. Construction is expected to begin in fall 2024 and be completed in spring 2025. The facility will create several jobs for tribal members residing in a rural community and help feed more than 5,800 members nationwide.

“We greatly appreciate the grant from the United States Department of Agriculture to support the Ponca Tribe of Nebraska’s continued work to sustainably harvest buffalo from our herd to feed our tribal members across the country said Candace Schmidt, chairwoman of the Ponca Tribe of Nebraska. “This grant will help our tribe advance our mission of providing services, support and nutrition to our tribal members, whether or not they live in our tribal service area.”

The grant is part of the Native Animal Harvesting and Meat Processing Grant Program.

In the USDA announcement, USDA Secretary Tom Vilsack said, “USDA has worked hand-in-hand with tribal nations to ensure our programs incorporate indigenous knowledge and perspectives. As part of our commitment to tribes, we deliver on our promises and invest in projects that advance food sovereignty and self-determination for tribal nations.