Att 5 - Example of narrative and story

"Pay the Farmer, Not the Doctor"'
A Standing Rock Native Gardens Coalition $uccess $tory
DP08-8{903CONTi0

Increasing access and availability of local produce and traditional foods through the pilot Long
Soldier District market (Fort Yates, North Dakota) is an important achievement for the Native
Garden Project. Development and coordination of this market has been an important shared

experience for members of the Standing Rock Native Garden Coalition (Standing Rock Sioux Tribe
Diabetes Program Native Oardens Project, Standing Rock Sioux Tribe Nutrition for the Elderly
Frogram, Native Gardens Project Elden Advisory Council, and Siorm County Extension Service).
These parhers worked to achieve mutual goals of interest in promoting healthier lifestyles and

Standing Rock communities. Stafffrom these programs coordinated the market every Friday
beginning July 10, 2009 and kept it going through a'\rrinter" farmers' market as well.
The maraet opened at 9:00AM and closed when produce was sold out--generally before noon.

This shows there was a high demand for fresh fruits and vegetables in Standing Rock. Some of the
most popular items were timpsila (wild turnips), chokecherries, wild plums, cucumbers, Hubbard

squash crooked neck squash,

cor!

potatoes and ouions. Many of these

friits

and vegetables are

key ingredients in traditional foods like papa soup, wojapi, and wasna.
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Native Gardens

Proiect DP08€{903CONT10

Altogether 16 residents sold wild foods and garden vegetables at the market this year. These
people provide Stauding Rock Communities with healthy foods that can teat and prevent diabetes,

high blood pressure, heart disease, and even cancers. People across the country are learning to "pay
the farmer, not the doctoro'.

In addition, the market was a center of activity offering, not only fresh produce and traditional
foods from local gardeners but also, advocacy and encouragement for growing pesticide-free
produce, education about diabetes prevention and healthy lifestyles, and food demonstrations. Food

demonstations focused on contemporary and traditional methods of food preparation and
preservation (e.9., making chokecherry patties, corn wasnq sugar-free jelly, maple syrup from local

trees). Food demonstrations became o\ilinter" farmers' market wents as harvest ended in order to
maintain a presence as a community resorrce for families and individuals interested in leaming
about and sarnpling taditional foods as well as times to meet socially and have fun.
The market was a success for many reasons as coalition partrers shared their stengths and
assets. Many of the gmdeners that paticipated in the farmers market received assistance from the

Native Gardens Project to

till

garden plots in the spring. Native Gardens provided seeds, guidance

on gardening methods, problem-solving support, and other supplies. This year, a long-term parbrer

fortilling

gardens at Standing Roclc, the National Relief Charities from Rapid City, also helped

with

tilling.
The Nutrition for the Elderly Program was involved in a USDA Food and

Nutition Services

parfiership withthe Senior Farmers MarketNutrition Program (SFMNP) that encouraged
community members to purchase fresh produce. Throt'gh this grant, $50.00 vouchers for fresh
produce were distributed to elders (60 + years old, lower than 185 percent poverty level). 347
elders and their spouses received vouchers which were redeemed at the farrrers' market.

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Native Gardens

Proiect DP08{1903CONT|0

The majority of vouchers were redeemed at the Long Soldier Farmers' Market. A total of $17,350
was issued in vouchers; 52 percent were redeemed.

Among Standing Rock Sioux Tribe communities, tbree farmerso markets were supported through
SFMNP vouchers inNorth Dakota (Long Soldier, Bismarck with two locations, and Mandan), trvo
market days in South Dakota (Mobridge). 37 vendors were certified as SFMNP participants

(including four roadside stands).
Sioux County Extension Service as well as the Nutrition for the Elderly Program staffand
participants provided contemporary and taditional foodways demonstrations at the Iong Soldier

Market that were fun. A total of nine events were held that included preparing such traditional
foods as corrl wasna chokecherry patties, maple syrup, elderberry cough synrp, gabubu bread and

soup. Approximately 138 people attended these events.
Implementation of the SFMNP voucher program for consumers works hand-in-hand with the
operation of the farmers' market in facilitating policy changes described in "Recommended

Community Strategies and Measurements to Prevent Obesity in the United States (Strategt 5:
Communities should improve availability of mechanisms for purehasing foods from farms; Strategt

6: Communities

should provide incentives

for

the productian,

distributian, and procurement offood

from localfmms in the local jurisdiction.)
This year, the Director of the Nutrition for the Elderly Program was able to have dried teas added
to the list of items that could be purchased with vouchers*an important policy change for USDA
and for families as they reclaim naditional plants for medicine.

The farrrers' market is also an important potential economic resource as individuals and families
engage in gardening as well as food preservation (making jams, dried teas, etc). Produce and

products can be easily sold at the market.

37

Native Gardens

Proiect DP08{1903CONT10

Based on coalition member interviews, one of the biggest challenges faced are the number

of

other projects coordinated and delivered by coalition me,nbers (beyond the Native Gardens

Coalition and the

-*t 0. Clari$ing agency roles and responsibilities supported abetter

understanding of all the factors that affect the level of conaibution and participation in the Native
Gardens Coalition projects. Sbarcd commiment and dedication helped the market to be a success.

However, being present is demanding and the coalition is working on its principles and task lists in
order to improve communication. Recruiting more parhers is suggested this year and figuring out

how to delegare more tasks per activity or event

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