ALASKA—The Metlakatla Indian Community is a federally recognized tribe in Alaska. Its members live on the Annette Islands Reserve found about 20 miles south of Ketchikan. It is the only Indian reservation in the state.

The Metlakatla economy is principally tied to fishing, seafood processing, services, tourism and forest products. It is home to 1,460 people.  

The tribe was recently awarded a $105,244 federal grant from the USDA Forest Service to further the implementation of its more than two decades-long Community Forest Management Plan. The infusion of funds from the agency’s Urban Forestry and Community Grants program will enhance the tribe’s existing community forestry program and promote opportunities.

Specifically, the Indigenous community plans to hire young community members for green jobs and make significant strides toward achieving environmental justice and resilience against climate change.

“Community forestry is not new to us; we have been investing in it for some time now,” shared Metlakatla’s Genelle Winter. “These new funds will infuse the concept of food forestry into our projects and allow us to implement activities such as a tree inventory, removal of problem trees, the replacement of sick or damaged trees, the pruning and mulching of current trees, and the planting of new trees and shrubs that support the food forest initiative in the community.”

Winter is the perfect project lead, as she is the holder of several positions in the tribal community, including the director of the landscape and maintenance program, grant coordinator and invasive species program director. She has managed the Community Forestry Program for more than 10 years.

Since the tribe’s first community forestry project installation in 2000, other initiatives added to the plan have come to fruition. In 2010, the community committed to preserving and enhancing local biodiversity as well as fostering community knowledge and participation in the process.  

The management plan now includes efforts to bolster native biodiversity and resilience while increasing public awareness and contribution through outreach and education. The current expectation is to increase the availability of fresh fruits and vegetables for everyone, including those in underserved or marginalized situations.

Moreover, the improved project is expected to stimulate personal development and mental well-being among community members. This award is a significant stride in the community's mission to enhance the quality of life for its residents and ensure the sustainability of its environment.

Putting food forest principles in beautification projects uplifts various aspects of human well-being, a fact the Metlakatla Indian Community is eager to take advantage of to better its community forestry projects and align itself with both state and national priorities.

“This funding will enhance the quality of life for Metlakatla families, youth and the community as a whole,” added Winter. “This $100,000 grant serves as a reminder of the pivotal role such investments play in environmental sustainability and its direct impact on the well-being of Indigenous communities,” concluded Winter. “It offers hope for a sustainable future and reflects the necessity of preserving and valuing Indigenous knowledge about the land and its resources.”

The Biden Administration awarded more than $1 billion in grants nationally in early September as part of an effort to increase Americans’ access to trees and green space.