Intertribal Agriculture Council
100 North 27th St. Suite 500
Billings, MT 59101
(406) 259-3525 (Office) (406) 256-9980 (Fax)
Email: iac@i-a-c-online.com
Home Page: http://www.i-a-c-online.com/
IAC was founded in 1987 to pursue and promote the conservation, development and use of our agricultural resources for the betterment of our people. Land-based agricultural resources are vital to the economic and social welfare of many Native American and Alaskan Tribes. The harmonies of man, soil, water, air, vegetation and wildlife that collectively make-up the American Indian agriculture community, influence our emotional and spiritual well being.
Prior to 1987, American Indian agriculture was basically unheard of outside reservation boundaries. Since that time, IAC has grown to prominence in Indian Country and among the federal government agencies and the agricultural field with which it works on behalf of individual Indian producers and Tribal enterprises. The IAC has over the last decade become recognized as the most respected voice within the Indian community and government circles on agricultural policies and programs in Indian country.
OUR MISSION: To provide a unified effort to promote change in Indian Agriculture for the benefit of Indian People.
A subset of this mission that you will see from time to time which affects the directions IAC takes in pursuing the goals, is: Promote the Indian use of Indian Resources for the benefit of Indian People.
The Intertribal Agriculture Council conducts a wide range of programs designed to further the goal of improving Indian Agriculture by promoting the Indian use of Indian resources. Contracts and cooperative agreements with federal agencies directly fund some of these projects and some are funded with grants from private foundations.
Cooperative Development Project
The IAC has been working since 1993 to improve the economics of Indian agriculture by assisting in the set-up and operation of Agriculture Cooperatives. In 1996, IAC efforts on Cooperatives centered on resolving the main barriers, which were identified by the two pilot projects; Sac and Fox Land and Cattle Association and the Eastern Navajo Livestock Association. Barriers include a lack of access to start-up and operating capital for the purposes of developing and filing appropriate charter documents, and perhaps more importantly, acquiring the minor but necessary tools for production. This agriculture-based Cooperative Development Center is designed to assist new and developing cooperatives with both technical support and seed grants. The project includes holding organizational seminars and instructional meetings, and assisting fledgling cooperatives in developing business structures and operating procedures. Additionally, three types of monetary assistance are available: Direct financial assistance, Production improvement assistance, and Seed money assistance.
The national center seeks to identify areas of potential cooperation between various tribes as well as the existing and developing Cooperatives to help them form mutually beneficial working and marketing relationships. Thereby improving the overall economical condition of Indian Country.
The IAC continued promoting the "Made by American Indians" trademark
to clearly identify actual Indian products. The IAC started the
initial research, development and registration of a "Made
by American Indians" trademark, funded by a grant through
the Administration for Native Americans (ANA) in 1991. The "Made
by American Indians" trademark was finally approved by the
U.S. Patent and Trademark Office in January, 1995. It has been
test-marketed and is currently certified for use on Class 21,
Class 29, and Class 30 products and additional certifications
are ongoing as the use increases.
Interest in the "Made By American Indian" trademark continues to grow and offers improved marketing potential for all Indian producers. The IAC's booklet on use of the trademark has been a good resource.
This trade mark project is not currently funded but continues as a part of normal IAC administrative activity. If you, your Tribe or a Tribal enterprise have products which are Indian made and not using this free trademark, contact the IAC staff to get an application and registration form. The more use it gets, the more market recognition it will have and the less willing consumers will be to spend their money on imitations.
Text and logos reproduced from IAC homepage at i-a-c-online.com