A helpful resource in guiding the design of these convenings was Fostering Dialogue Across Divides (Herzig & Chasin, 2006). This resource is designed to navigate controversial and difficult discussions. While the questions asked at convenings were far from controversial, the resource provided a great format to ensure equity in participant engagement. Each community must decide on a format that works best for that community. Locally, it was important to assess both community and service provider responses. To achieve this, convenings were held with community members only and with service providers only. The same questions were asked of each group using the format described above. By breaking the convenings into two groups, the College of Menominee Nation and its extension division were able to see areas of alignment and disconnection with the work that service providers were interested in and what community needs were. A final convening of both groups was held to share responses and to use those responses to develop a definition for food sovereignty.
The working definition for Menominee Food Sovereignty is as follows:
“The Menominee Nation describes food sovereignty as living our traditional Menominee ways, identity, values, and relationship to provide a Tribally sustained community food system for future generations.”
Recruiting Menominee community members to participate at the community convening
Menominee Food Sovereignty community convening
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