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English: Institute of American Indian Arts (IAIA) The Center for Lifelong Education (CLE) conference center likely holds the designation as the first gold certified LEED building to be built at a tribal college. Besides providing office space for the CLE staff, the building contains several conference rooms, offices for student life and the on-campus café, Bon Appetit, in Santa Fe, NM, on Sept. 11, 2019. IAIA is a U.S. Department of Agriculture (USDA) 1994 Land-Grant Tribal College and University (TCU) Land-Grant member. Adjcent to the building is the National Institute of Food and Agriculture (NIFA) Demonstration Garden.

The USDA supported demonstration garden promotes indigenous agricultural methods for food and medical crop cultivation while serving as an outdoor learning space. It is designed and maintained by the CLE, local tribe members, students, and faculty. The Garden is representative of IAIA's 1994 Land Grant mission to provide training and outreach that promotes tribal sovereignty and self-determination.

The tiered gardens feature traditional crops of the Southwest, such as corn, squash, beans, melons, and New Mexico’s signature chile peppers (Capsicum annum). Waffle gardening and flood irrigation practices also reflect the traditions of surrounding farming communities. The gardens have expanded to include the perennial turtle garden; an orchard with apples, pears, and peaches; and a small raspberry and blackberry plot. The turtle (shaped) garden began as land art and expanded to include perennial utilitarian plants, including Native American tea (Cota tinctorial), yarrow (Achillea lanulosa), and white sage (Salvia apiana). These are grown for the healing and sacred space within the garden.

Additionally, land grant programs have coupled traditional crops and practices with other crops, such as lettuce greens and culinary herbs, as well as modern practices like drip irrigation and raised-bed gardening. The raised-beds are an example of modern water conservation for the region's drought conditions. IAIA’s USDA demonstration gardens serve research and educational purposes and are an example of a small agricultural business that generates produce for IAIA’s on-campus café, Bon Appetit.

1994 Land-Grant Tribal Colleges and Universites (TCU) programs have served Native communities since 1994. Services and programs have included the three focus areas of teaching, extension, and research to serve the needs of tribal communities and their members.

IAIA applies a USDA National Institute of Food and Agriculture (NIFA) Tribal College Research Grant for an applied student internship research program that engages tribes and pueblos. The research is geared towards the agricultural needs of 19 New Mexico pueblos and tribal communities. IAIA has also received nine Community Facility Program obligations from the USDA Rural Development (RD) Community Facilities Tribal College Grant Initiative over the years for the construction of various campus buildings significantly improved campus facilities and associated equipment. USDA Photo by Lance Cheung.

For more information, please see: usda.gov IAIA.edu

tribalcollegejournal.org/at-iaia-agriculture-is-art/