Parker Named Director of Indigenous Food and Agriculture Initiative

Russell Cothren

Erin Parker

FAYETTEVILLE, Ark. – Erin Parker has been named director of the University of Arkansas Indigenous Food and Agriculture Initiative in the School of Law.

Parker has worked for the initiative since its inception in 2013. She began as a graduate assistant while working on a Master of Laws in Agricultural and Food Law and was hired as its first staff attorney in 2014. Since then, she has served in various roles, most recently as research director and interim director.

The Indigenous Food and Agriculture Initiative was created to enhance the health and wellness of tribal communities by advancing healthy food systems, diversified economic development and cultural food traditions. The team provides strategic legal analysis, policy research and educational resources to empower Indian Country through food sovereignty, agriculture and economic development.

"The Indigenous Food and Agriculture Initiative is an important research and policy component of the School of Law, and Erin is the perfect leader for its team," said Margaret Sova McCabe, professor and dean of the law school. "Her wealth of experience with IFAI will only contribute to its continued growth and success."

The initiative's inaugural director, Janie Hipp, chose Parker as part of the original team. Over the years, Parker has written and managed a substantial amount of the initiative's Model Tribal Food and Agriculture Code, a foundational legal document for Tribal Nations interested in expressing their sovereignty through food and agricultural law and policy. She has been an integral part of its program development, research and writing operations and analysis of legislative and regulatory issues affecting tribal governments, businesses and individual food producers.

"Erin has such a strong depth of knowledge, passion and experience," said Colby Duren, director of policy and government relations for the Intertribal Agriculture Council and the initiative's previous director. "I'm very excited for her leadership at IFAI to continue to grow its essential role in Indian Country food and agriculture."

Parker specializes in federal nutrition law and policy. She has worked closely with the Board of the National Association of Food Distribution Programs on Indian Reservations since 2015 and assisted in creating a standing consultation body. The group meets three times a year and provides a dedicated space for Tribal leaders to sit in government-to-government consultation with United States Department of Agriculture leadership.

"I am honored to carry on the work that began with Janie and continued with Colby," Parker said. "There is nothing more important or fulfilling that I could imagine doing with my career than working alongside our incredible IFAI team to support Indian Country and uphold tribal sovereignty in food and agriculture."

Before beginning her work with the Initiative, Parker worked as a staff attorney and research coordinator for the Cobell Commission, a national working group convened by the U.S. Secretary of the Interior to repair the federal government's Indian land trust management system. She holds a Juris Doctor and a Master of Laws in Agricultural and Food Law from the University of Arkansas.