Since its establishment in 2014, the U.S. Department of Agriculture’s (USDA) Office of Tribal Relations (OTR) has played an important role in helping advance Tribal food and agriculture. 

“OTR’s work for USDA is invaluable and has been a vital tether for government-to-government communication,” said the Indigenous Food and Agriculture Initiative’s Executive Director, Carly Griffith Hotvedt (Cherokee Nation). “As we celebrate OTR’s decade of service, we recognize its instrumental role in ensuring that USDA programs and policies are accessible and effective for American Indian and Alaska Native communities.” 

Creation of OTR 

In 2000, President Bill Clinton signed Executive Order 13175, emphasizing the importance of consultation and coordination with Indian Tribal governments. It took 14 years for its impact to extend to the USDA. 

Established in the 2014 Farm Bill, OTR is a stand-alone office that reports to the Secretary of Agriculture. Its primary function is to ensure that USDA programs and policies are accessible, efficient, and developed in consultation with American Indian and Alaska Native Communities. 

Co-founder of IFAI, Janie Simms Hipp (Chickasaw Nation), was the first director of the OTR, before later serving as USDA general counsel. 

OTR provides direct advice to the Secretary regarding policies impacting Tribal Nations, which enhances government-to-government relations while also increasing USDA’s efficiency through streamlining processes. 

In 2022, the USDA codified the OTR Director’s role in federal regulations, providing the position with greater legal authority. 

Today, OTR ensures access to USDA programs, resources, and services, and coordinates consultations and the Tribal Advisory Committee (TAC). 

Data From the Agriculture Census 

While OTR’s responsibilities cover the breadth of the department’s impact on Tribal communities and their citizens, looking at one set of data shows the correlation of its establishment on Tribal producers.  

According to the USDA’s Agriculture Census, since the OTR’s formation, there has been an 8.48 percent increase in the number of American Indian and Alaska Native producers and a 4.0 percent increase in the number of Native farms. 

• AI/AN producers before OTR in 2012: 71,947
• AI/AN producers after OTR in 2022: 78,316
• AI/AN farms before OTR in 2012: 56,092
• AI/AN farms after OTR in 2022: 58,336 

“Just from looking at the increase of Tribal producers and operations since OTR started focusing USDA’s work on Indian Country, we know it’s clearly been a success,” Griffith Hotvedt said. “USDA is such a large department, so having an office that understands Tribal governments and reports directly to the Secretary is a huge benefit to Tribal producers, program operators, and their communities. We’re seeing Indian Country agriculture grow because of it.” 

OTR has helped increase the number of robust and meaningful Tribal consultations held on USDA policies that impact Tribal Nations and their citizens. 

“Having expertise in one office that understands Tribes but also USDA’s internal dynamics is vital to meeting the federal trust obligation,” Griffith Hotvedt said. “Federal programs can always improve to better serve Indian Country, so having a reliable partner in OTR to get the right people at the table to have a nation-to-nation consultation benefits Tribal leaders, producers, and our federal partners.” 

To continue this progress, Tribal leaders are encouraged to engage actively with the OTR, participate in consultations, and utilize the resources and programs available. By doing so, they can help shape policies that respect Tribal sovereignty and enhance the well-being of their communities. 

For more information and to get involved, Tribal leaders should visit the OTR website and reach out to the office directly.