Thoughts on the loss of SNAP and its effects on Indigenous Communities.
- Denee Bex, MPH, RD, CDCES, LD
- 4 days ago
- 3 min read
By: Denee Bex, MPH, RD, CDCES, LD
Did you know that over 1 million American Indians and Alaska Natives (AI/AN) receive SNAP benefits, aka food stamps? That reflects about a quarter (25%) of all AI/AN households in the U.S. Just to give you some context, the national poverty rate for American Indians was 25.4% as of 2018, which is the highest poverty rate among all ethnic minority groups in the U.S.
This state of reduced wealth was no accident.
It is a result of federal policies and legislation that targets our ability to “own” the land we live on, which creates a snowball effect of reduced wealth and inability to properly house our communities and generate wealth. Many U.S. treaties with American Indian nations contained provisions about food, farming tools, livestock, or annuities of provisions, especially in the 19th century when tribes were forced to cede land and move to reservations. These promises were often framed as part of the U.S. government’s obligation in exchange for land.
Examples with food-related terms:
Going back to SNAP, this isn’t just about “free food” for our Native communities, it’s also about trust responsibilities. This is also about government-to-government treaties which our ancestors entered into with the federal government in exchange for our land. I wish we didn’t have to rely on SNAP so much and I wish my community, especially my reservation, could generate enough wealth to not have to rely on SNAP, but the reality is that for now, it’s something we must do. We have to because there are structural barriers that goes back centuries that prevent us from thriving. Some tribes are recommending our communities enroll in the Food Distribution program on Indian Reservations, but that still leaves out a large portion (about 3 in 4) of Indigenous people who don’t live on reservations in the U.S.
We could also talk about how the loss of SNAP benefits directly impact small businesses and farms located in Native communities. One of our local stores on the Navajo Nation claims about 75% of their income is from SNAP benefits. Some of our farmers also accept SNAP and WIC benefits. This failure to fund SNAP will hit the poorest of our communities and stifle what economic development we do have. So don’t talk to me about “Making America Healthy Again” while simultaneously blaming people for their food “choices”. If there’s no way for our highest-risk populations to access food, then there’s no way to be “healthy”.
Food security precedes nutrition security.
Food and nutrition security predicts chronic disease risk.
Our Native communities bear some the highest rates for chronic disease.
Addressing food security and strengthening our local food systems is paramount in addressing our current health crisis.
Note: This blog post was originally formatted from an Instagram post on October 28, 2025.
In New Mexico, where Tumbleweed Nutrition is located, families received 100% of their November SNAP benefits after the state loaded the funds to EBT cards before the U.S. Supreme Court lifted a lower court order requiring the federal government to release them. For other states, the rollout on benefits began after the government shutdown ended but could take some time for people to receive their whole balance.
For us here at Tumbleweed Nutrition, everything that was written is still applicable and we stand by it.
Not Medical Advice: The information provided does not constitute medical or nutritional advice for individual patients and should not replace consultation with a qualified healthcare professional.