The Indigenous Food Sovereignty movement is building in Canada, the USA, and around the world. While there is no universal absolute definition, it can be described as the newest and most innovative approach to achieving long term food sustainability and food security. Indigenous food sovereignty is a specific policy approach to addressing the underlying issues impacting Indigenous peoples and the ability to respond to the needs for healthy, culturally adapted Indigenous foods. The food sovereignty solution starts with “Educating and Training” the Indigenous populations using “On Reservation”, indoor Controlled Environment Agriculture (CEA) owned and operated by the local band or tribe, to provide a local food security solution.
No doubt the language and concept of food sovereignty for Indigenous communities has only recently been a major focus, the reality is, it’s not just a concept. Indigenous food related knowledge passed down by the Knowledge Keeper’s, with values and wisdom built up over thousands of years has provided a basis for identifying key principles that guide the present-day food sovereignty movement in Indigenous peoples and their communities. Back too the land has a true meaning, but the reality is, there must be a balance of the old ways, versus the new ways, with the ultimate goal of health and wellness for the Indigenous people.
- Sacred or divine sovereignty – as taught by the Knowledge Keeper’s, food is a gift from the Creator. In this respect the right to food is sacred and cannot be constrained by what is deemed as the establishment, colonial laws, policies, and institutions.
- Indigenous food sovereignty – is fundamentally achieved by upholding the sacred responsibility to nurture healthy, interdependent relationships with the land, plants and animals that provide the Indigenous populations with healthy sustainable food.
- Collaborative Participation – the day-to-day practice of maintaining healthy food consumption strategies based on the needs and collaboration of the Indigenous people, not as dictated.
- To maintain Indigenous food sovereignty as a living reality for both present and future generations, continued participation in healthy food consumption strategies of the individual, family, community is key.
- Self-determination- The ability to respond to the needs for healthy, culturally adapted Indigenous foods as determined by the Indigenous people, not the politicians or establishment.
- Freedom from dependence on national chain grocery stores or corporately controlled food production, distribution and consumption based on industrialized economies that are governed miles from the Indigenous consumer.
- Indigenous owned and operated food security and food sovereignty establishments that produce year-round indigenous food like Miner’s Lettuce, Dandelion Leaves, Chickweed, root crops, and strawberries, and fish, grown and harvested for traditional Indigenous menus.
Alta-CEA Innovations is positioned to supply food security and food sovereignty solutions for the Indigenous people.
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