Food Sovereignty & Chairman Joe Davis of the Hoopa Valley Tribe

In the heart of northern California, a story of empowerment and advocacy unfolds. It begins with Tribal leaders, like Hoopa Valley Tribal Chairman Joe Davis, who understand the importance of securing agricultural resources through Tribal provisions in the Farm Bill.

Reconnecting with ancestral foodways and establishing food sovereignty remains a long-term goal and primary issue for many Tribes. The Hoopa Valley Tribe is working to

revitalize its ancestral fishing practices while integrating modern techniques to achieve and

maintain food sovereignty on its Reservation. By using modern metal weirs to harvest salmon, the Tribe ensures they take only what is needed, increasing food access for elders and teaching youth how to clean, cut, smoke, can, and preserve traditional foods.

Reviving traditional practices is just the beginning. The Hoopa Valley Tribe is also focused on advancing food sovereignty through policy change and community education—recognizing that lasting impact requires cultural restoration and systemic support. The Native Farm Bill Coalition (NFBC) works alongside American Indian and Alaska Native producers and Tribal leaders to address Tribal provisions in the Farm Bill. The Farm Bill offers several opportunities to support Tribal food sovereignty, regional food economies, access to credit, enhancement of Tribal natural resources, parity for Tribal governments, and promotion of traditional foods into feeding programs. These opportunities range from farming and ranching to nutrition programs, rural development and forestry.

For the Hoopa Valley Tribe in northern California, maximizing opportunities to achieve a goal of self-sufficiency for their members starts with educational opportunities for youth, improving the infrastructure for agriculture operations on the Reservation, and creating access to credit and capital for producers to grow and sustain their operations. "I think a lot of it gets back to education, getting kids interested, but also educated on how to produce [agricultural] products at an early age, and creating the infrastructure around that," stated Chairman Joe Davis in a recent interview. The Tribe is taking a well-rounded approach that addresses issues such as food production, education and infrastructure development to restore the self-sufficiency that once defined their way of life.

Chairman Joe Davis describes his Tribe's ancestral lands, before the establishment of a Reservation, as a "self-sustaining, breadbasket of northern California." Never dependent upon anyone except themselves, the Tribe was always self-sustaining. Unfortunately, when the federal government created the current Reservation boundaries at the turn of the 20th century, the Tribe lost approximately five-sixths of their ancestral lands. The Tribe's hope is to reclaim the ability to produce healthy, sustainable food and pass these practices on to future generations.

“It’s just all about creating opportunities, figuring out where they exist and lobbying for things when you have to,” stated Chairman Davis.

The NFBC assists Tribes like the Hoopa Valley Tribe in voicing their concerns to Washington, D.C. decision-makers and ensuring they are part of the process. Learning, developing, networking, and evolving are essential priorities for the Tribe, and they are excited and thankful for their involvement with the NFBC.