As Federal Cuts Loom, MAZON Announces Investments to Support Food Security and Sovereignty in Indian Country
August 19, 2025 – With communities nationwide deeply concerned about federal cuts to basic food assistance needs and with more threats on the horizon, MAZON: A Jewish Response to Hunger today announced grants totaling $250,000 to four prominent Indigenous community organizations that are working to increase food access in Indian Country, promote Tribally-driven solutions to address hunger, improve access to traditional foods, protect subsistence rights, develop local food systems specific to their communities, and more.
“Our longtime partnerships in Indian Country reflect MAZON’s ongoing commitment to supporting food security and food sovereignty efforts that are developed by and for Indigenous communities,” said Mia Hubbard, MAZON’s Executive Vice President. “We have always made it a priority to listen to Tribal leaders, which should be at the forefront of any effort to change or adapt programs, systems, and policies that impact them. That’s why MAZON works to support and empower Tribes who want to address food insecurity on their own terms, so they have what they need to ensure the health, safety, and wellness of their people. We are prouder than ever to work with these Tribal partners — organizations and leaders who act from a place of incredible power, vision, and resilience.”
Today’s announcement follows the recent enactment of the Republican budget cuts that included the most significant and damaging restructuring of the Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program (SNAP) in history. The Congressional Budget Office estimates that the new law will strip food assistance from at least 2.7 million people over the next decade, and state and local governments will imminently be forced to absorb unprecedented program costs. With at least 1 in 4 Native Americans facing food insecurity, advocates are concerned about the negative impacts of the law on Indian Country.
“Native Agriculture Financial Services is deeply grateful for the support of MAZON. My own work has intersected with MAZON for many years, and I’ve been deeply thankful for our continued shared focus on missions centering on access to food,” said Janie Hipp, CEO of Native Agriculture Financial Services. “Our organization continues to grow and evolve in our service to Indian Country and the agriculture producers who are critical to shoring up Native food systems and our shared health and food security. The challenges ahead are significant, but together we can solve complex problems and leave the world better than we found it — this is the core purpose of MAZON and it is a mission we are proud to work alongside MAZON to accomplish.”
MAZON’s current partners in Indian Country are:
- Indigenous Food and Agriculture Initiative
- Makoce Agriculture Development
- Native Food and Nutrition Resource Alliance
- Native Agriculture Financial Services
To learn more about MAZON’s work in Indian Country, visit https://mazon.org/priorities/indian-country/.
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Inspired by Jewish values and ideals, MAZON: A Jewish Response to Hunger is a national advocacy organization working to end hunger among people of all faiths and backgrounds in the United States and Israel. For more information on MAZON, please visit mazon.org.