Fast Blackfeet

OUR VISION IS A HEALTHY, STRONG, AND FOOD SECURE BLACKFEET NATION. FAST (FOOD ACCESS AND SUSTAINABILITY TEAM) BLACKFEET IS A GROUP OF COMMUNITY LEADERS, HEALTH PROFESSIONALS, EDUCATORS, AND INVOLVED CITIZENS WITHIN THE BLACKFEET NATION WHO ARE DEDICATED TO: IDENTIFYING FOOD INSECURITY IN OUR COMMUNITIES. EXPLORING AND IMPLEMENTING EFFECTIVE SOLUTIONS RELATED TO ACCESS TO HEALTHY FOOD AND NUTRITION EDUCATION. ADDRESSING FOOD SOVEREIGNTY TO ENSURE CULTURALLY RELEVANT AND AFFORDABLE FOOD FOR ALL. FOOD SECURITY FOR OUR PEOPLE: WHEN PEOPLE KNOW WHERE THEIR NEXT MEAL IS COMING FROM AND THAT THEY WILL HAVE THE FOOD THEY NEED. FOOD SOVEREIGNTY FOR OUR NATION: THE RIGHT TO HEALTHY, CULTURALLY APPROPRIATE FOODS AND OUR RIGHT TO DEFINE OUR OWN FOOD AND AGRICULTURE SYSTEM.

ON JANUARY 6, 2021, THE ORGANIZATION BEGAN DELIVERING FOOD BOXES TO 8 OUTLYING COMMUNITIES IN THE BLACKFEET NATION. IN 2021 A TOTAL OF 5391 BOXES WERE DISTRIBUTED TO FEED A TOTAL OF 19,820 INDIVIDUALS EQUALING A TOTAL OF 133,138 POUNDS OF FOOD. JANUARY 2021 BEGAN DEVELOPING COOKING CLASSES AND RECIPES FOR CLIENTS. OFFERED A SERIES OF 10 CLASSES IN THE SUMMER AND IN THE FALL. ATTENDEES NUMBERED 7-10 PEOPLE AND COMMENTS WERE POSITIVE FOR LEARNING ACHIEVED AND USE OF THE RECIPES. RECIPES INCLUDE INDIGENOUS FOODS. COVID CAUSED O'YO'P' FOOD PANTRY DISTRIBUTION TO INCREASE SO THAT IN 2021 A TOTAL OF 5984 BOXES WERE DISTRIBUTED TO FEED TOTAL OF 21,412 PEOPLE EQUALING 176,484 POUNDS OF FOOD. IN APRIL 2021 OUR DIETITIAN AND NUTRITION EDUCATION SPECIALIST BEGAN DISTRIBUTING SPECIAL BOXES FOR PARTICIPANTS WITH CHRONIC DISEASE TO HELP THEM EAT HEALTHY EVEN WITH FOOD INSECURITY. IN THE SPRING AND SUMMER 2021, FAST BLACKFEET CONDUCTED A SUCCESSFUL PILOT PROJECT TO HELP 10 LOCAL FAMILIES PLANT INDIGENOUS TEAS IN HOME GARDENS AND THEY WILL SELL SOME BACK TO THE PANTRY FOR PANTRY PARTICIPANTS TO RECEIVE. BEGINNING IN AUGUST 2021 OUR DIETITIAN BEGAN DOING NUTRITION COUNSELING BY PHONE FOR CLIENTS REFERRED FROM THE TRIBAL HEALTH CLINIC.