Neqkiuryaraq: Strengthening access to traditional and healthy foods in the Yukon-Kuskokwim Delta
Official title: Neqkiuryaraq - The Art of Preparing Food
Funded at Yukon-Kuskokwim Health Corporation · NIH-11379176 · Data updated 2026-11-12
This project will help Alaska Native adults in the Yukon-Kuskokwim Delta get more traditional foods and affordable produce by improving local harvesting and distribution.
Quick facts
| Grant type | NIH-funded research |
|---|---|
| Study type | NIH-funded research |
| Funding institution | Yukon-Kuskokwim Health Corporation NIH-funded |
| Lab location | 1 site (Bethel, United States) |
| Project start | September 22, 2023 |
| Project end | September 21, 2028 |
| Funding year | 2025 |
| Award (this year) | $1,500,000 |
| NIH project number | 3OT2OD035835-01S2 |
| Project ID | NIH-11379176 on NIH RePORTER |
Who could benefit from this research
✓Could help
Adults (age 21 and older) who are Alaska Native or live in the Yukon-Kuskokwim Delta and who experience food insecurity or rely on local/traditional foods are the intended participants.
✕Less likely to help
People who live outside the Yukon-Kuskokwim Delta, children under 21, or those who are food-secure and not connected to local food systems are unlikely to benefit directly from this project.
What this research studies
We will work with tribal leaders, community groups, and local partners across the Yukon-Kuskokwim (YK) Delta to rebuild local food systems that center traditional foods and affordable produce. The project will support harvesting, storage, and distribution so perishable healthy foods reach remote communities more reliably. Community members will guide the work using traditional knowledge and multi-sector partnerships to make changes that fit local culture. The team will also collect simple measures like food security, what people eat, blood pressure, and blood sugar to see whether access and health improve.
Why it matters
Potential benefit: If successful, this could increase access to culturally acceptable nutritious foods, reduce hunger, and lower risks for diabetes, heart disease, and related conditions.
How similar studies have gone: Community-driven and traditional-food interventions have shown promise for improving food access and diet in other Indigenous and rural populations, though long-term health effects are still being studied.
Where this research is happening
-
Yukon-Kuskokwim Health Corporation
Bethel, United States Active
Researchers
- Principal investigator: Lefferts, Brian — Yukon-Kuskokwim Health Corporation
- Study coordinator: Lefferts, Brian
About this research
- This is an active NIH-funded research project — typically early-stage science, not a clinical trial accepting patient enrollment.
- Some NIH-funded labs run parallel clinical studies or seek volunteers for related work. To check, contact the principal investigator or institution listed above.
- For full project details, budget, and progress reports, visit the official NIH RePORTER page.