On Thursday, the Crow Creek Sioux Tribe had a government-to-government consultation with the US Department of Agriculture.
Peter Lengkeek is Chairman of the Crow Creek Sioux Tribe. He called on USDA leadership to protect funding of Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program, or SNAP, and programs for Women, Infants and Children, or WIC.
“We at the Crow Creek Sioux Tribe, Crow Creek Sioux Reservation, we have an 85% employment rate with a life expectancy of 45-years-old. The proposed $30 billion cut to SNAP and reductions to WIC would have devastating consequences for my people," Lengkeek said. "The Crow Creek Sioux Tribe already faces high food insecurity and limited retail access. These programs are the backbone of public health and family stability within these rural, tribal communities. We urge USDA to oppose or mitigate these proposed cuts.”
He discussed many other issues, including protecting treaties, holding workforce reductions affecting tribes until they can be consulted and programs for beginning farmers.
Chairman Lengkeek’s remarks are available on Facebook.
