Native Americans will be among hundreds of thousands of Minnesotans whose food assistance will be halted as long as Congress remains in a stalemate over passing a federal spending bill.

Red Lake Nation is one of three tribal nations in Minnesota who administers SNAP benefits, according to the Minnesota Department of Children, Youth, and Families. Oshkimaajitah-dah, the tribe’s human service agency, administers the federal food support program to income-eligible households on Red Lake Nation tribal lands.

The loss of food support could mean households will have to choose between paying their rent and utilities or buying food.

“You have income that you have where, typically, you would pay your rent out of, or you would pay your utilities out of. Now, they have to look at stretching it out. Now they have to pay for food out of that money because of the loss of food support,” Tracey Kingbird, the agency’s assistant executive director, said.

More than 3,300 Red Lake Nation band members, including children and elderly adults, receive support through SNAP, according to the data collected by the Minnesota Department of Children, Youth, and Families. The Mille Lacs Band of Ojibwe and White Earth Nation also administer SNAP to members of their respective nations, according to the state.

Full Article