When the federal government ground to a halt in early October, the livelihoods of federal workers and status of people who rely on food assistance programs were thrown into uncertainty.
On tribal lands — where nationally, rates of hunger are disproportionately high — losing lifelines like the Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program (SNAP) could have serious consequences.
In Kitsap, the Suquamish and Port Gamble S’Klallam Tribes, as well as individual tribal members, stepped up for both the Native American community and county residents through food drives to help support vulnerable populations through the shutdown.
Nationally, one in four tribal households face hunger, per a report from Feeding America, and rates of food insecurity can reach 92% in some places. A 2021 report by the University of Washington found that out of 196 tribal households surveyed, 67% face food insecurity, and reliance on food assistance has increased from pre-pandemic levels.
Within the PGST community, 60 out of 91 families who receive SNAP benefits through the tribe’s Community Service Office are enrolled tribal members, explained Cheryl Miller, director of PGST Child & Family Services. Miller added that her department also has 65 participants on the Women, Infants and Children program (WIC), a special form of SNAP for families with children under the age of five.
“Food insecurity due to the non-payment of SNAP is the biggest challenge to tribal members right now,” said Miller before the shutdown ended. “For any tribal members employed with the Puget Sound Shipyard or other federal employment, they are not receiving a paycheck, and the inability to contact federal partners for any assistance for the tribal government during this shutdown is also a factor.”
Leaders at both the PGST and Suquamish Tribe confirmed that despite the government shutdown falling on the new fiscal year, the tribes were both financially stable and able to support local services for the foreseeable future. The Suquamish Tribe “remains in the best financial position it has seen since 2019,” said Logan Green, the tribe’s finance director.
To support community members, both the official tribal governments began food drive programs in earnest, and individuals followed suit.
The Suquamish Tribe held a “Fill-the-Trailer” style event, inviting community members to donate non-perishable food items to be made available to those facing food insecurity, after losing SNAP for the month of November. The tribal Finance Department also began accepting donations for an emergency fund for community members.
“The federal government shutdown is no match for the strength of the Suquamish Community! Let’s flex our collective muscles to offset the loss in federal food aid,” wrote Suquamish leaders on social media. “Other Washington, do you hear us? There’s no stopping Suquamish, Washington!”
Further north, the PGST continued to operate their own food bank at full capacity, said Miller, which also stocks non-food essential items, such as detergent, toilet paper, personal hygiene supplies and pet food. Both tribal members and non-tribal community members are able to visit.
Tribal youth also set out to make an impact.
Lisa Johnson and siblings Josue and Emilie May, all students at North Kitsap High School and members of the Native Club, held a donation drive for the PGST food bank to support their community, collecting over 50 pounds of food.
All three students shared their concerns for tribal members who faced serious challenges during the early part of the shutdown. Some families had many mouths to feed, which made acquiring enough food a struggle, leading to rationing, said Josue May. For students who receive free or reduced lunch, a food assistance program for children whose families are within a certain range of the federal poverty level, that could be the only meal that student eats that day, Emilie May added.
“It is important to remember that during times like these, we come together to help one another, regardless of whether we are tribal or not. We are all one community,” said Johnson.
The students also all shared a sense of joy and pride in helping people through community service.
“What draws me to community service is doing things for other people and seeing that they are happy afterwards. It brings me so much joy knowing that I was able to help someone out, and that they are happy with the outcome of my helping out,” said Josue May. “Some of my favorite memories are handing out food or hot meals at food drives with my mom.”
