An appreciative inquiry and inventory of Indigenous food sovereignty initiatives within the western U.S.

Abstract

Indigenous food sovereignty is informed by—and is a framework and movement that supports—all the various means through which Indigenous peo­ple are revitalizing and reclaiming their traditional foodways. These efforts incorporate established values, pro­cesses, and outcomes, including rela­tionality, self-determination, decolonization, and wellbeing. Through appreciative inquiry, this re­search inven­tories Indigenous food sovereignty initiatives in the western United States and identi­fies their common themes and key features. A systematic search of scholarly and popular sources yielded a database of 123 initiatives that vary by type, land base, and geo­graphic location. Three themes emerged across ini­tiatives. First, concrete strategies include growing and food production, harvesting and food acquisi­tion, food preparation, and distribution and ex­change. Second, cultural revitalization occurs through community develop­ment, youth and young adult education, other forms of education, and regenerating cultural iden­tity through tradi­tions. Finally, initiative founda­tions include advo­cacy, policy, and environmental stewardship; fund­ing mechanisms; and partner­ships with non-Indigenous actors. Across themes, individual initia­tives include numerous intercon­nected food sover­eignty efforts and demonstrate the adaptive capaci­ties of Indigenous people. This research compiles and aims to respectfully celebrate the myriad ways Indigenous people in the western U.S. are revitaliz­ing their foodways as part of a larger movement toward Indigenous food sovereignty.