FORT TOTTEN — The Spirit Lake Tribal Council declared a State of Emergency on Tuesday, Oct. 21, and is preparing to step in with other resources if the federal shutdown continues past Oct. 31 and threatens food and heating assistance programs.

Additionally, State Rep. Lisa Finley-DeVille of MHA Nation announced the United Tribes of North Dakota (UTND) has adopted a resolution urging the State of North Dakota to ensure continuity of food nutrition programs and U.S. Department of Agriculture food distribution during the federal shutdown or funding disruption.

The UTND resolution, introduced by Chairwoman Lonna Jackson Street from Spirit Lake Nation and Finley-DeVille, calls on the governor and the North Dakota Department of Health and Human Services to guarantee uninterrupted access to essential food programs in tribal and rural communities.

“Our families depend on programs like SNAP and WIC not as a luxury, but as a necessity,” said Finley-DeVille. “I grew up on these programs, and I know firsthand how critical they are for families working hard to make ends meet. During times of uncertainty, it’s our duty to protect these safety nets for the next generation.”

The UTND resolution reflects the united voice of North Dakota’s five sovereign tribal nations. Finley-DeVille also acknowledged recent correspondence to the governor from Reps. Jayme Davis of Rolette and Collette Brown of Warwick, who submitted similar requests for program continuity.

Due to a lapse in federal appropriations, Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program (SNAP) benefits may be paused beginning Nov. 1, if the shutdown continues beyond Oct. 31, according to information from the Spirit Lake tribe. North Dakota Health and Human Services officials are awaiting further federal guidance on when benefits would resume, the tribe stated.

While programs such as Women, Infants, and Children (WIC) and Temporary Assistance for Needy Families (TANF) are currently unaffected, uncertainty remains as the shutdown continues, the tribe said in a news release.

“While we hope for a quick resolution from our federal partners, we must act now to protect our community,” Jackson Street said in the release. “These difficult times call on us to lean on each other. We will go back to our own sources and resources to provide for our people. We will always defend and stand up for our treaty rights as Native American people. We will not sit by and allow our people to suffer.”

The tribal response includes:

– The tribe is preparing to supplement the Low-Income Home Energy Assistance Program (LIHEAP) and provide alternative food resources while exploring sustainable, community-based solutions. As of FY 2026, LIHEAP has received only 10% of its total budget. The Spirit Lake is accepting LIHEAP applications and provides services to more than 650 recipients within the reservation boundaries, the tribe reported.

– Families who rely on SNAP are encouraged to apply with the Spirit Lake Food Distribution Program (FDP) to ensure uninterrupted access to food. Due to possible interruptions in SNAP benefits for November, individuals wishing to transition to the FDP are urged to close their SNAP cases and apply for FDP by Oct. 28 to ensure continued food support. The FDP already has reported an increase in families seeking assistance since the start of the current fiscal year.

– The Woodlake Food Pantry, supported by the Great Plains Food Bank, remains open to all residents living within Spirit Lake Reservation boundaries, including those who are not enrolled tribal members.

In addition to food security, UTND is also reviewing LIHEAP to ensure tribal households are protected from energy or heating disruptions this winter, particularly if federal operations slow or pause.

Willy Soderholm, executive director at Community Action Partnership in Minot, said, as of Thursday, Oct. 23, there has been no interruption or notice of any planned interruption to the LIHEAP programs the agency coordinates in the Minot region.