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The garden demonstrates and promotes indigenous agricultural methods for food and medical crop cultivation while serving as an outdoor learning space. It is designed and maintained by the Center for Lifelong Education, 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. This activity is supported by grants from the U.S. Department of Agriculture (USDA)

IAIA has 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. Significant improvement of IAIA campus facilities and associated equipment were made to provide art education to Native American students from all over the United States. IAIA is a1994 Land-Grant Tribal College and University (TCU), where the Land-Grant program has 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. The Institute also applies a USDA 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. USDA Photo by Lance Cheung.

For more information, please see: usda.gov tribalcollegejournal.org/at-iaia-agriculture-is-art/