Xa Kako Dile is leading an innovative initiative to preserve and distribute traditional foods for tribal communities in Mendocino County, California, using freeze-drying technology. This project seeks to address the disconnection between tribal communities and their cultural foodways by providing shelf-stable, nutritious products to Tribal and community organizations that service Elders, youth, and our underserved community in collaboration with tribes, Indian Health programs, youth camps., such as those in schools, elder care programs, and health facilities. Through this planning grant, Xa Kako Dile will conduct a comprehensive market analysis, document current food procurement practices, and build partnerships with tribal producers and institutional buyers. The goal is to create a scalable model that honors ancestral food practices while meeting food safety standards, empowering tribal communities to control their food systems, and improving health outcomes. Xa Kako Dile’s work also supports economic development by creating new market opportunities for Indigenous food producers and offering a model for other tribal communities to replicate, advancing Indigenous food sovereignty and transforming institutional procurement.