Native Roots

This document was essential at building my own understanding of the ways food systems in Native communities impact economic, social and cultural aspects of food production and consumption. If we are to restore our health as Native people we need to examine and address the food system in our own communities and see how this is impacting the health of our people. History has shown that decreased consumption of traditional foods is related to increased rates of diabetes and other chronic diseases in Native Americans.

The hope I see in using the Food Sovereignty Assessment Tool in our communities is that it might help Native communities restore production and access to traditional foods, not only for improved physical health but for the continuation of Native American cultural and spiritual traditions.

"Years of forced cultural assimilation and disrupted food systems have eroded many agricultural traditions," says Bell-Sheeter, "yet many communities are revitalizing cultural traditions as traditional cultivation practices are rediscovered."

Copies of the Food Sovereignty Assessment Tool can be obtained by sending a request to: NAFSI, Native Assets Research Center, First Nations Development Institute, 2300 Fall Hill Ave., Suite 412, Fredericksburg, VA 22401. If requesting more than one copy, a suggested donation of $5.00 is recommended for each additional copy. Training Sessions are also offered on how to implement the Food Sovereignty Assessment Tool and learn more about Native American food systems. First Nations Development Institute also publishes a quarterly magazine called "Native Americas" which features many interesting articles and stories from a variety of North American Tribes about food, health and people.

Kibbe Conti, RD, CDE, LN, is a member of the Oglala, Lakota tribe from Pine Ridge, South Dakota. She has worked in Indian Country for ten years as a Nutritionist and Dietitian, with the Indian Health Service in Pine Ridge and with Urban Indian Health in Denver, Colorado. She operates her own nutrition consulting business, Northern Plains Nutrition Consulting, and can be reached at kibbel@msn.com