FDPIR Self-Service Kiosk Installed at Nixyáawii Governance Center

MISSION – Clients of the Confederated Tribes of the Umatilla Indian Reservation’s (CTUIR) Food Distribution Program on Indian Reservations (FDPIR) can now use a self-service kiosk in the Nixyáawii Governance Center (NGC) to expedite their food needs.

FDPIR Manager Lawanda Bronson said Sygnal Partners, a Texas-based technology and business consulting firm based, installed the kiosk on Nov. 3 inside the Department of Children and Family Services (DCFS) office and that it went online the next day.

Before the kiosk was installed, applicants took completed paper applications to Bronson, who would then type the information into the FDPIR system for review. Now, using the kiosk, people can apply for services with digital applications going directly to Bronson. Clients can also use the kiosk to apply for re-certification as well as make appointments, print recipes and see what foods they have remaining in their accounts. Clients can also order food and schedule deliveries or pick-ups at the FDPIR building.

“Sygnal is a program that I consider to be state of the art that makes it easier for our clients to speed up service,” Bronson said. “Most of the tribal members who are clients are elderly or they don’t have vehicles or transportation. A lot of them we deliver to, so if they are certified and they order, we can bring the food to them if they don’t have transportation. Or if they do have transportation but don’t have the time, we still provide that service for them. They only have to go to the kiosk to order.”

Bronson said installing the kiosk in the DCFS office also provides better accessibility for those with issues visiting the FDPIR building at 46678 Tokti Road.

“It allows better access to our clients who can’t get to our office by having it in DCFS,” she said. “We (FDPIR) are not in this community or that close to the NGC. Some people walk to the NGC because it’s accessible, and I thought that standalone kiosk would work perfectly. They can easily go into the DCFS office to apply, order or whatever they need to do.”

Soon cards will also be available to clients so they can pull up their information on the kiosk by scanning a bar code instead of signing in each visit. However, the materials and printing equipment for the cards are not yet on site, Bronson said.

FDPIR is a U.S. Department of Agriculture program available to anyone who meets federal income guidelines living on the Umatilla Indian Reservation. People who meet income guidelines, reside off the reservation in Umatilla and Morrow counties and have a member of a federally recognized tribe living in the household are also eligible.

For more information, call 541-429-7322 or email lawandabronson@ctuir.org.

The Confederated Tribes of the Umatilla Indian Reservation is comprised of the Cayuse, Walla Walla and Umatilla Tribes, and formed under the Treaty of 1855 at the Walla Walla Valley, 12 Stat. 945. In 1949, the Tribes adopted a constitutional form of government to protect, preserve and enhance the reserved treaty rights guaranteed under federal law.