Food Security Programs
Food insecurity refers to the lack of consistent access to enough nutritious food to meet basic health and living needs. On the Cheyenne River Sioux Tribe (CRST) Reservation, one of the largest land-based reservations in the U.S. and nearly the size of Connecticut, food insecurity is a daily challenge for many families.
With limited low access and low income, CRST is considered a food desert by USDA census. The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention estimates that one in every two Native American children born after the year 2000 will develop Type 2 diabetes in their lifetime.
This alarming trend is rooted in a long history of food oppression, including the forced removal of traditional food sources such as buffalo, the introduction of government-issued rations, and the reliance on commodity foods and food stamps. As a result, our communities have experienced a transition from starving and malnourished to malnourished and obese. The Keya Foundation is committed to breaking this cycle through two community-driven programs: the Produce Prescription Program and the Eating Like Our Ancestors project.
Produce Prescription Program
The Produce Prescription Program was created to address the growing concern of food insecurity and its connection to diet-related chronic illnesses within our community. This innovative program explores how increasing access to healthy foods can positively impact health outcomes.
Through a research-based approach, the program provides eligible families with vouchers to purchase nutritious frozen and fresh fruits and vegetables, evaluating whether this increased access helps reduce chronic conditions such as diabetes, high blood pressure, high cholesterol, obesity, and heart disease.
Since launching in December 2023, the program has enrolled 140 households on the Cheyenne River Reservation. Each household receives nutrition education and $100 in healthy food vouchers for a total of 12 months.
Enrollment has closed for participants, and the program will continue through September 2026, with the goal of improving long-term health and food security for local families. This project is funded and supported by the USDA NIFA and GusNIP NTAE Center.
Eating Like Our Ancestors Project
The Eating Like Our Ancestors project was created to help our community reconnect with traditional Lakota foods and food systems while ensuring access for both current and future generations.
This work is grounded in the wisdom of our elders. We began by interviewing 12 Cheyenne River elders who shared their stories, traditional recipes, and cultural teachings. In collaboration with community members, youth, and organizations, we created the Uncí Kitchen Toolkit. This resource is designed to preserve Indigenous foodways and inspire meaningful conversations around the kitchen table.
The toolkit includes recipes, stories, and teachings from elders, with local youth contributing to the illustrations throughout the toolkit. It will be available to all Cheyenne River residents in both print and digital formats.
This project is funded and supported by the Strong Heart Study, StrongHeart Tribal Approach to Research (STAR) and carried out in partnership with Cheyenne River Sioux Tribe elders, youth, and community members. The project was completed in April 2025, but toolkits are still available both in office and digital format.