HCCDC is working closely with the Winnebago Tribe of Nebraska and other key community partners to address food insecurity in our service area. The Tribe’s efforts regarding Food Sovereignty are focused on increasing the number of tribal members who can grow some of their own food, expanding the availability of fresh, healthy, locally grown food for purchase on the reservation, and addressing nutrition-related health challenges which are suffered disproportionately by our tribal population.

“BAGO GROWS” HOME GARDENING PROJECT — This program provides free raised gardening beds, soil, plants, seeds, and technical assistance to households on the reservation who are interested in growing their own food. There were 219 participating households in our last growing season, and more households are added each year. Project partners include the Winnebago Tribal Health Department, HoChunk Farms, and Little Priest Tribal College. The project was supported with funds from the Winnebago Community Development Fund, the USDA’s Community Food and Nutrition Program, and the WellCare Hyper-Local Grants Program.

WINNEBAGO FARMERS’ MARKET INITIATIVE — Construction was completed in 2019 in the HoChunk Village for a new Farmers’ Market Structure to serve as a central community marketplace for fresh healthy foods, local native craft artisans, and other goods and services. In addition to Farmers’ Market event space, the facility  houses the Little Priest Tribal College’s  Extension Office to provide agriculture and nutrition related technical assistance to the community. Funding partners include the USDA’s Community Food and Nutrition Program; the Nebraska USDA Office’s Rural Business Development Grant program, the Kiewit Foundation, and Ho-Chunk, Inc.