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| Lakota in Rapid City, South Dakota, are gearing up to feed the people during the government shut down. During the pandemic, they provided these incredible meals in 2020. "The Food Angels: Lakota Serve up Gourmet." Lakota volunteers cooked homestyle gourmet meals, and delivered to those in quarantine. Meals and photos by Stephanie Eare Savoy, Lucy Seda, Rebecca Kidder, Cynthia Robertson, Lonnie Jeffries, and Laura Schad, with special thanks to founder Natalie Stites Means, organizer Jean Roach, and all cooks, drivers and donors. link |
Blackfeet, Lakota, Chippewa and Kickapoo Feed the People During Government Shut Down
By Brenda Norrell, Censored News, Updated Oct. 29, 2025
The Blackfeet Nation in Montana is preparing to feed the people during the government shutdown by distributing buffalo meat and organizing an elk hunt. In Rapid City, South Dakota, Lakota are organizing mutual aid. In North Dakota, the Turtle Mountain Chippewa Nation is keeping all its food programs going, with hot meals and bagged lunches, and making sure children, elderly and college students don't go hungry.
Wahpepah's Kitchen in Oakland, California, is supporting its community with free bison tacos for elders and young ones, who are losing their SNAP benefits.
The Blackfeet Nation said, "This proactive measure is part of a broader effort by the Council to safeguard essential food distribution programs, particularly as the future of the Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program (SNAP) remains uncertain."
Chippewa are issuing weekly food cards for SNAP recipients and furloughed workers. There are also community kitchens with bagged meals and hot meals daily. Senior meals will be noon meals and evening bag lunches.
The Blackfeet Nation in Montana is preparing to feed the people during the government shutdown by distributing buffalo meat and organizing an elk hunt. In Rapid City, South Dakota, Lakota are organizing mutual aid. In North Dakota, the Turtle Mountain Chippewa Nation is keeping all its food programs going, with hot meals and bagged lunches, and making sure children, elderly and college students don't go hungry.
On the west coast, an Indigenous restaurant owned by Crystal Wahpepah, Kickapoo, is serving up free bison tacos for young ones and elders in Oakland, California.
The Blackfeet Tribal Business Council said it has authorized the culling of 18 buffalo from the Blackfeet Nation herd. "The processed meat will be distributed directly to community members to help sustain food access during this period of uncertainty."
In Rapid City, there was a mutual aid planning session on Oct. 29. "SNAP looks like it will not be issued in November. Let’s get organized," said Wotakuye Mutual Aid Society (Meals for Relatives Rapid City COVID Response) In Pennington County, there are more than 5,000 households that will be affected, nearly 10,000 persons, and more than 4,000 are children.
The Blackfeet Nation said, "This proactive measure is part of a broader effort by the Council to safeguard essential food distribution programs, particularly as the future of the Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program (SNAP) remains uncertain."
"While Governor Greg Gianforte’s Office continues working to ensure SNAP benefits remain available to all Montanans, including those in Blackfeet Country, the Council’s decision reflects a commitment to meeting community needs."
The Blackfeet Fish and Wildlife Department and the Blackfeet Commodity Office are coordinating an elk harvest to further supplement food distribution efforts. Processed elk meat will also be made available to community members in the coming weeks.
"With federal restrictions and the shutdown disrupting vital resources, the Blackfeet Nation is turning to its own natural resources and community partnerships to ensure that families continue to have access to food," the Blackfeet Nation said.
The Blackfeet Fish and Wildlife Department and the Blackfeet Commodity Office are coordinating an elk harvest to further supplement food distribution efforts. Processed elk meat will also be made available to community members in the coming weeks.
"With federal restrictions and the shutdown disrupting vital resources, the Blackfeet Nation is turning to its own natural resources and community partnerships to ensure that families continue to have access to food," the Blackfeet Nation said.
In North Dakota, the Turtle Mountain Band of Chippewa Indians said their Federal Shutdown Emergency Services Plan ensures the community will have food, heating and support.
Chippewa are issuing weekly food cards for SNAP recipients and furloughed workers. There are also community kitchens with bagged meals and hot meals daily. Senior meals will be noon meals and evening bag lunches.
Chippewa are also remembering their school and college students with emergency funds for weekend backpack programs and college students. All its regular food programs -- food distribution, food pantry and WIC -- will operate without interruption.
Meals for Relatives, Mutual Aid in Rapid City, during the pandemic in 2021.
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