Mvskoke Food Sovereignty Initiative's Current Projects

 

MFSI has received a grant award from USDA Cooperative State Research Education and Extension Service Agency to carry out a program entitled Community Outreach for Producer’s Empowerment Project. Over the next three years our mobile unit will visit communities across five counties within the Muscogee Creek Nation. Our goal is to assist farmers and ranchers, and those interested, in pursuing loans, grants, cost shares and incentive programs available through federal, state and regional sources. MFSI is developing a Farmers & Ranchers Resource Manual that will be distributed free of charge to these communities.

 

 

MFSI is working with two communities to create models of food sovereignty. Both of these communities are working to produce food in community gardens, create value-added products, initiate Market Basket programs and provide fresh produce to their community members and neighbors. Supported by USDA Community State Research Education and Extension Service Agency. For more information, click on "Community Food Project."

An active program aimed at helping young and elder folks share knowledge and work together to reinvigorate the local food system.

MFSI has established a seed bank to preserve and restore endangered seeds that are culturally linked to Native gardens. Through this project, MFSI is successfully restoring the Mvskoke favorite corn known as Sofkee corn that had almost gone extinct.

 

 

MFSI partnered with the Okmulgee Main Street Association to establish the first local Farmers’ Market since the 1930’s providing fresh, affordable, locally produced fruits and vegetables to the community and several surrounding communities.

 

 

Working with the Tribal Elderly Nutrition Services, MFSI to help develop a purchasing policy whereby purchases can be made from local growers to include fresh, locally grown fruits and vegetables in the menus for 18,000 meals served monthly in our service area.

 

 

Recognize the right to self determination; establishing a tribal, national policy for the protection for Indigenous knowledge and biological resources and a tribal food policy council responsible for protecting the health, security and general welfare of the Muscogee Creek Nation.

 

 

 

The Mvskoke Food Sovereignty Initiative (MFSI) “Meals and More” program offers educational dining experiences featuring the foods of the Indigenous peoples of the Americas. Traditional Mvskoke dishes are always featured and the meals are intended to be more than just a dining experience. They are an opportunity to learn about Native American food heritage and how these foods are beneficial to the health and well being of all people. Each meal is prepared utilizing seasonal, fresh and (as much as possible) organic, locally grown produce and meats. MFSI staff will make a presentation at each meal describing the preparation methods so that these meals can be duplicated at home or for group occasions. Educational materials including historical background of the foods, recipes and nutrition information for all menu items are provided for each meal. Guests are welcome to come early and assist in preparation to learn preparation techniques.

MFSI will come to the location of the meal and prepare, serve and clean up the facility. The cooks are volunteers, but the teachers are compensated for their time. We have learned how to prepare a large variety of dishes ranging from simple snacks to full meals. We have served groups as large as 400 and as small as 10. We will meet with the organizers of an event and create a custom menu for each meal. The price that we quote for the meal will include al educational activities and printed materials. All proceeds are tax deductible under Section 501(c)(3) of the IRS Code and will be used to support the programs and projects of the Mvskoke Food Sovereignty Initiative.