A new report on native food sovereignty says tribal communities in Arizona still struggle to control food production and health.

First Nations Development Institute just published its report on food sovereignty that found native communities, including the White Mountain Apache Tribe in Arizona, lack control when it comes to food systems.

“The food that comes onto Indian reservations is coming from the outside rather than being grown or being supported in the community, and that’s an issue when you are looking at things like disparate healthcare and disparate health indicators and educational opportunities,” said A-dae Romero-Briones, First Nations director of programs.

Romero-Briones said the major point of the assessment is to establish how much of the food system is local so that disparate health outcomes can be improved. She said there are major grassroots movements across native communities to grow, produce and manage their own food.

"You know you are going to be dealing with people who deal with corn. If you look at the Northwest, you are probably going to be dealing with fisherman, and so the overall idea is the same...tribes want more localized control of their food system, and particularly the traditional foods," Romero-Briones said.