To celebrate National Women’s History Month, the Indigenous Food and Agriculture Initiative is highlighting women who are blazing the trail for others in Indian Country food and agriculture. This week we’re highlighting IFAI’s co-founders, Janie Simms Hipp (Chickasaw Nation) and Stacy Leeds (Cherokee Nation).

Seeing an unmet need for food and agricultural law and policy expertise in Indian Country, Janie Simms Hipp (Chickasaw Nation) and Stacy Leeds (Cherokee Nation) established the Indigenous Food and Agriculture Initiative in 2013.

But their service to Indian Country does not stop there. Leeds became the first Native American Dean of a Law School during her time at the University of Arkansas, and now serves as the Willard H. Pedrick Dean, Regents Professor, and Foundation Professor of Law and Leadership at the Sandra Day O’Connor College of Law, Arizona State University.

Janie Simms Hipp stepped down as IFAI’s founding director to help establish and lead the Native American Agriculture Fund, the largest philanthropic organization serving Indian Country food and agriculture. She also became the first Native American to serve as General Counsel to the U.S. Department of Agriculture from 2021–2023. Today, Hipp is the president and CEO of the Native Agriculture Financial Service, helping Indian Country farmers and ranchers access capital.