Cassius Spears
Coverage of Cassius Spears in the Nexus archive.
- Tribes hope Farm Bill can feed more people and preserve Indigenous culture
Tribes aim to expand Indigenous agriculture and preserve heritage crops through the Farm Bill, but face challenges as federal programs supporting tribal farmers were cut under the Trump administration. The Biden administration launched programs like LFPA and LFS to help local food purchases, which were later terminated in 2025. Senators Jack Reed and Jim Justice introduced a bill to create a permanent grant program for local food purchases by tribes and states.
- Tribes hope Farm Bill can feed more people and preserve Indigenous culture
Tribes in southwest Rhode Island, including Dawn and Cassius Spears of Ashawaug Farm, cultivate Narragansett heritage crops but face challenges expanding due to cuts in USDA programs under the Trump administration. The Biden administration introduced two pandemic-era programs (LFPA and LFS) to support tribal and local food purchases, but these were ended in 2025 under the Trump administration. Senators Jack Reed and Jim Justice proposed a new bill to create a permanent grant program for state and tribal food purchases.
- Tribes hope Farm Bill can feed more people and preserve Indigenous culture
Indigenous farmers like Dawn and Cassius Spears at Ashawaug Farm rely on federal programs to cultivate and distribute culturally significant crops, but Trump-era cuts to USDA programs have limited their reach. The Biden administration established two pandemic-era programs to help tribes and states purchase local food, but these were terminated in 2025 under the Trump administration. Senators Jack Reed and Jim Justice introduced a bill to create a permanent grant program for local food purchases by tribes and states.