Bipartisan Bill Aims to Safeguard Native American Seed Heritage

A bipartisan coalition of legislators on Thursday formally reintroduced the Native American Seeds Act of 2025, a critical piece of legislation designed to bolster the capacity of Tribal nations to protect and preserve culturally significant seeds now increasingly threatened by the pressures of climate change, environmental contamination, and other systemic hazards.

The bill, shepherded in the House by Representatives Norma J. Torres (D-Calif.) and Doug LaMalfa (R-Calif.), and in the Senate by Senators Martin Heinrich (D-N.M.) and Mike Crapo (R-Idaho), is intended to grant the Department of the Interior enhanced flexibility. This flexibility would allow the Department to more effectively support Tribes in developing seed banks and reinforcing traditional agricultural practices crucial to their identities and survival.

Proponents of the legislation emphasized the deep cultural and practical value held within these unique seed varieties. Representative Torres articulated that "Traditional seeds hold centuries of knowledge, culture, and resilience," asserting that the bill recognizes the fundamental importance of preserving these seeds, not merely for food security, but for the "cultural, spiritual, and environmental legacy they carry." Echoing this sentiment, Representative LaMalfa stated that protecting native heritage requires ensuring that seeds of traditional importance are not lost to neglect or disaster, adding that the measure gives Tribes the necessary flexibility to "preserve and grow these plants on their own terms."

The Senators sponsoring the bill highlighted the economic and political implications. Senator Heinrich stated that the effort is designed to bolster cultural and economic sustainability throughout Indian Country, ensuring that Tribal members "remain connected to their culture and heritage." Senator Crapo underscored the link to political self-determination, noting that by "empowering tribal self-governance and equipping native communities with the tools to preserve traditional agriculture systems," the legislation helps safeguard these deeply rooted practices for generations to come while strengthening traditional food systems.

Tribal leaders greeted the reintroduction of the legislation with enthusiasm, pointing to the growing array of environmental threats—including drought, wildfire, invasive species, and unpredictable weather patterns—that imperil ancestral seed stocks.

Governor Earl Samuel of the Pueblo of Tesuque expressed profound gratitude, emphasizing that the bill would support efforts to protect agricultural systems and seeds that "have nourished us physically, culturally, and spiritually since time immemorial." He affirmed the "unbroken relationship" the Tesuque people have always maintained with plants for sustenance and medicine, noting the bill will help them foster these deep connections.

Similarly, Donna Thompson, chairwoman of the Fort Hall Business Council of the Shoshone-Bannock Tribes, affirmed that the measure directly responds to the federal government’s treaty obligations. Thompson cited the importance of preserving culturally vital foods such as camas, bitterroot, wild onions, sage, and chokecherry, stating that the bill will help the federal government honor its commitments under the Fort Bridger Treaty of 1868 and enable future generations to continue their traditional ways of life.

In its broad scope, the Native American Seeds Act also aims to generate positive public health and economic outcomes, specifically seeking to strengthen Tribal food security, improve health outcomes, and increase agricultural opportunities within Native communities. The bill has also secured early support from Senators Ruben Gallego (D-Ariz.), Ben Ray Luján (D-N.M.), and Jim Risch (R-Idaho) as original cosponsors.