Indian Country Extension | The U.S. Indian Country Extension Commons

Provide information about and access to Indian Country Extension in America.

About Indian Country Extension

This term identifies Cooperative Extension work that occurs in Indian Country — on American Indian reservations, in tribal communities and tribal colleges. This nonformal, knowledge-based educational programming is grounded in the philosophy established in the Smith-Lever Act of 1914. The teaching is conducted by faculty, extension agents/educators and other associated employees of the extension organizations within land grant universities and colleges; tribal colleges and tribal governments.

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Program Showcase

Youth learn why character counts

Rosebud Extension - Rosebud
The South Dakota Character Counts: We Are All Relatives curriculum, as adapted from the Josephson Institute Character Counts program, uses Lakota culture and beliefs to help students realize their potential and their ability to effect change in their own lives. more

Vermicomposting

Tanana Chiefs Conference Extension - Tanana Chiefs Conference
With the price of fuel skyrocketing in recent months, villages are being impacted dramatically. The cost of shipping fertilizer to many villages is actually more than the price of the actual fertilizer. Composting with worms or ‘ggoo’ in Koyukon Athabscan may solve two problems in rural Alaska: 1. lack of readily available maure or source of fertilizer 2. more

Environmental Education

Muscogee (Creek) Extension - Muscogee (Creek) Nation
Environmental education is a high priority for the Muscogee (Creek) Nation. The Extension Educator provided hands-on educational experiences for the youth within the boundaries of the Nation. The youth gathered data from local water resources, learned about preventing non-point source pollution and studied stream ecology. Building and launching hydro-rockets capped off the water quality camp. more

Costa Rica Eco Study Tour

Cherokee Extension - Cherokee
Cherokee youth have the opportunity to travel to Costa Rica each year for international experiences in cultural exchange and learning about the environment and sustainable practices. Cherokee Extension prepare the youth for travel through an extensive educational series monthly classed from January to June. Thi stravel experience has allowed Cherokee youth to grow in their understanding of environmental issues and cultural appreciation. 2006 youth participants initiated a community recycling... more

Expanded Food and Nutrition Education Program (EFNEP)

Fort Berthold Extension - Fort Berthold
EFNEP's target audience is low-income families with young children in the household. Programs deliver education and hands on activities in the areas of Dietary Quality, Food Purchasing, Physical Activity and Food Safety. Although EFNEP does have a youth component, most of the educational programs are delivered to the head of the household who is responsible for food purchasing and food preparation for the family. more

Cherokee Farming and Gardening

Cherokee Extension - Cherokee
Cherokee FRTEP provides technical assistance to Cherokee farmers and gardeners. The annual garden contest grows in popularity each year. In 2006, 54 Cherokee gardens were in the competition. Over the past 3 years, the Chief's Cherokee Family Garden Project has distributed 1250 garden kits and 1000 apple trees to families to promote traditional family gardening. Two new interest groups have formed and meet monthly in Cherokee, the Smoky Mountain Beekeepers and the Cherokee Native Plant Study... more

Resource Areas

Latest additions and changes
Michigan Cooperative Extension \| *Extension Office* 5 weeks 1 day ago »
Master Food Preserver \| *Extension Program* 6 weeks 2 days ago » MSU Flathead Reservation Extension Office partnered with MSU Lake County Extension to offer the first Master Food Preserver class in Montana in over 25 years. With the increase in gardening...
Fort Peck Extension \| *Extension Office* 6 weeks 5 days ago » The Fort Peck Reservation is in northeastern Montana, and home of the Assiniboine and Sioux Tribes.
University of Nevada Tribal Exension \| *Extension Office* 6 weeks 5 days ago » Existing Federally Recognized Tribes Extension Program (FRTEP) funds are insufficient to support tribal needs on more than one reservation. In order to fund more than one full-time operation, UNCE...
"Health and Traditions among Hopi/Tewa Women." \| *Publication* 7 weeks 6 days ago » Abstract: This paper is based on participatory action research over a 6-year period with the Hopi non-profit, Pu’tavi, and the Hopi tribal government. Discussing the functions...
Hualapai Extension \| *Extension Office* 7 weeks 6 days ago » The Hualapai and Havasupai tribes speak closely related languages and are located on ancestral lands on the edge of the Grand Canyon of the Colorado River. The Hualapai Reservation is nearly a...
Keweenaw Bay Ojibwa Community College \| *Extension Office* 9 weeks 5 hours ago » Keweenaw Bay Ojibwa Community College is located in Bataga, Michigan.
Diné College \| *Extension Office* 11 weeks 6 days ago » The Land Grant Office of Diné College Our Mission: The Mission of the Land Grant Office is to increase the knowledge capacity of the Navajo Nation as well as other Native Americans in order to...
Colorado River Indian Tribes Extension \| *Extension Office* 13 weeks 1 day ago »
Agriculture and Natural Resource Management \| *Extension Program* 13 weeks 1 day ago » Educational Field Days and demonstration trials were used to help Identify problems facing the production of established crops (alfalfa, cotton, seed crops and vegetables) and to determine...
Health and Nutrition \| *Extension Program* 13 weeks 1 day ago » Health and Nutrition programming is combined with both of the above outlined Agriculture and 4-H Program areas. Any opportunity available is used to promote healthier lifestyles and increased...
Tanana Chiefs Conference Extension \| *Extension Office* 13 weeks 1 day ago » As the 20th anniversary of the FRTEP program in Alaska nears, it is good to reflect on the changes and the impacts this program has had on Alaska Natives in rural Alaska. As a relatively new agent to...
Ilisagvik College \| *Extension Office* 13 weeks 1 day ago » Ilisagvik College is a two-year tribal college located in the northernmost point of Alaska.
Cherokee Extension \| *Extension Office* 13 weeks 1 day ago » Current activities include the revegetation of ramps (a native wild onion) as a traditional food; revegetation of river cane, white oak, and butternut trees for traditional basket making;...
Choctaw Extension \| *Extension Office* 13 weeks 1 day ago » The MSU Extension Service's partnership with the Choctaw tribe since the inception of the FRTEP has been a story of success. As a result of this program, an average of 24 Extension activities have...