WHAT IS FOOD SOVEREIGNTY?
As one of four topics within the current New Technologies for Agricultural Extension federal grant, the Menominee eFieldguide, as the lone community-focused initiative, was developed to be shared with other 1994 Tribal institutions, FALCON, and Tribal orga nizations. Kemēcemenaw (Our Food): Tribal Extension Partnerships that Support Indigenous Food Sovereignty on the Menominee Indian Reservation is a collaborative project between the 1994 College of Menominee Nation and University of Wisconsin-Madison Division of Extension. The initiative is built on the concept of a sovereign food system that connects the Indigenous cultural beliefs of spirit, body, mind, and heart to the food system. The initiative will integrate Indigenous language and culture through Menominee stories about food, Indigenous food programs, and outreach strategies. This publication will highlight successful projects and processes from food sovereignty initiatives on the Menominee Reservation. When we were strong in our foods on this continent, we were stronger people — we were healthier. And for Indigenous peoples it all starts with the food. When Indian Country lost its ability to feed itself, through whatever means, we lost that part of ourselves that supports our ability to thrive. It is only by regaining our foods will we be able to restore our health, our resilience as peoples and secure the stability and diversification within our own communities and local economies (Echo Hawk Consulting, 2015). The concept of food sovereignty was developed by Via Campesina in 1996. Via Campesina is an initiative that describes itself as “an international movement wh ich coordinates peasant organizations of small-and middle-scale producers, agricultural workers, rural women, and Indigenous communities from Asia, Africa, America, and Europe” (Campesina, 2013 .) Via Campesina’s coined term “food sovereignty” represents an alternative to neoliberal policies. Neoliberal policies prioritize international trade, thus increasing dependence on agricultural imports while strengthening the industrialization of agriculture — jeopardizing genetic, cultural, and environmental diversity and forcing farmers to give up their traditional farming practices. Reclaiming traditional farming practices and working to adopt agricultural policies that have to support sustainable family farm-based agriculture are now practiced worldwide. Food securi ty is defined by the World Health Organization (n.d.) as “when all people at all times have access to sufficient, safe, nutritious food to maintain a healthy and active life.” This differs from food sovereignty in that while adequate food may be available, it may not be culturally appropriate or determined by the preferences of the people consuming it. Food sovereignty, while there is no universally agreed-upon definition for the term, can be defined as “the right of people to determine their own food and a griculture policies; the democratization of food and agriculture (Hahn, 2013).” Peter Rosset argues in “Food First Backgrounder” that “food sovereignty goes beyond the concept of food security…the only lasting way to eliminate hunger and reduce poverty is through local economic development” (Rosset, 2003). While promoting rural development, food sovereignty tackles issues of hunger and malnutrition, disease, and poverty while upholding environmental ethics and sustainable living (Windfuhr, Jonsén, 2005).
7
Powered by FlippingBook