Copyright © 2006 NLThomas
All Rights Reserved
News from the Cherokee Nation, OK
Copyright © 2006 CNO
TAHLEQUAH, OKLAHOMA – The Cherokee Nation’s Department of Natural Resources recently cosponsored a series of workshops intended to teach tribal farmers, ranchers, landowners and agricultural producers about a newly developed financial record-keeping system. The system, specifically designed for small and limited-resource farmers and ranchers, was designed to help reduce the risks associated with modern agriculture.Speakers included Nathan Notah, outreach specialist for the Intertribal Agriculture Council (IAC); Janet Johnson, outreach liaison with the National Tribal Development Association (NTDA); and Steve Swogger of the Cherokee Nation’s Department of Natural Resources. Representatives of the USDA’s Risk Management Agency (RMA) participated as well.
The presenters stated that good records are necessary today to make good business decisions, file taxes, apply for loans, and more. They also pointed out that accurate, organized record-keeping is not a concept many Native Americans understand.
“It’s no longer enough to throw receipts on the dashboard of your old feed truck and consider them filed,” said Swogger.
Notah agreed, saying that organization in financial record keeping can be difficult.
“In Indian Country, we often lack the records to apply for loans for many government agencies. Native Americans don’t keep records, especially tax records,” Notah said. “We want our program to instill in tribal members the importance of organization and record-keeping so they can be successful farmers. We also want to help them garner credit to help them build their own enterprises.”
Notah distributed an essential IAC/RMA joint publication, “A Guide to Financial Record-Keeping for Farmers and Ranchers” which included several record keeping worksheets.
Janet Johnson, with the National FSA American Indian Credit Outreach Initiative of the NTDA, shared several NTDA publications with participants and reinforced Notah’s remarks by saying the American Indian Credit Outreach Initiative exists to assist Native American farmers, ranchers and youth apply for FSA farm loans and to address the unique agriculture credit needs of Native American communities.
“The USDA says that the Cherokee Nation has the best-attended outreach programs in the U.S.,” Swogger added. “The Cherokee Nation is the only tribe in the U.S. with a position like mine, which is to help tribal citizens get loans and to educate and inform our tribal citizens about USDA agricultural programs.”
Swogger also follows up on cases where citizens feel discriminated against in applying for loans due to racism or prejudice.
Swogger distributes a monthly e-mail newsletter full of USDA news and program announcements; information on the Joplin, Tulsa and Oklahoma City stockyards; and hogs, sheep, goats, dairy, hay and grain reports. To subscribe, send an e-mail, with the word "subscribe" in the subject.
Future evening and weekend workshops are being planned for interested farmers and ranchers who cannot attend during the day. For additional information on the workshops and USDA programs, contact Swogger, phone: 918-453-5546.
| Related Cherokee Nation contact information: |
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Mike Miller, Cherokee Nation Director of Communications Phone: 918-456-0671 (ext.2210) Fax: 918-458-5580 E-mail: Communications@cherokee.org
Larry Daugherty, Advertising Manager |
Steven Swogger, Agriculture Liaison Natural Resources Department Phone: 918-456-0671 (ext.2546) FAX: 918-458-7673 E-mail: sswogger@cherokee.org
Bradley D. Peak, Cherokee Nation |