afpc events & conferences, partner spotlight & events

2025 Alaska Food Festival & Conference Planning Partner Highlight - Intertribal Agriculture Council

In just over a month (March 28-29), we will be convening in Kodiak at the 2025 Alaska Food Festival & Conference. Registration is open, so get your tickets now! We invite you, our food systems supporters, to get involved! 

AFPC’s goals for the conference are to:

  1. Increase awareness of Alaska food issues among the general population;
  2. Provide training, resources, and networking opportunities to increase involvement in local food issues by community members and decision-makers; and
  3. Increase connections and build community between the public, Alaska food businesses, NGOs, governmental entities, Tribal entities, and others to support local economic development and innovative solutions.  

Each month, we are introducing one of AFPC’s conference planning partners. You can read previous posts about KALI, KANA, and KHFC. The Intertribal Agriculture Council’s (IAC) mission is to “pursue and promote the conservation, development, and sustainable use of agricultural resources for the betterment of our people.” IAC’s programs aim to enhance the livelihood and well-being of Indigenous people through legal and policy development, USDA technical assistance, natural resources management, marketing support, and Native youth in food and agriculture leadership development. Formed in 1987, IAC’s long-standing support of Indian agriculture and Native food systems is robust and comprehensive. Two USDA programs are particularly relevant to AFPC’s upcoming conference: the Intertribal Food Business Center and Meat and Poultry Processing Capacity Technical Assistance. 

The USDA established twelve Regional Food Business Centers (see our website for more information on Alaska’s Regional Food Business Center), and IAC was selected to establish the only nationwide Center prioritizing American Indian and Alaska Native food systems. The Intertribal Food Business Center directs technical assistance and capacity-building subawards to food and farm businesses across Indian Country Nationwide. IAC will share more information about this program at the conference in Kodiak. 

Additionally, IAC offers Meat and Poultry Processing Capacity Technical Assistance (MPPTA), another USDA program, to Tribal-led meat and poultry production and processing projects. This on-the-ground support includes educational events like AFPC’s conference. With IAC’s collaboration, we are including meat and poultry processing speakers and panels on the conference agenda.

Regional Food Business Center leads at the 2023 Food and Farm Festival including Hawai’i Good Food Alliance, Alaska Food Policy Council, and Tikaan Galbreath with Intertribal Agriculture Council.

“A robust, vibrant, and functional food system benefits everyone. In times of significant change and transition, there are things that will always remain true; Everyone eats. The Alaska Food Policy Council has consistently worked to engage with all Alaskans to get input to strengthen our food system while sharing information, resources, opportunities, and potential risks with all food stakeholders. Intertribal Agriculture Council is proud to partner with AFPC for the 2025 Food Festival and Conference to further realize our shared goal of building resilient food systems that strengthen local economies.”