Celebrating Indigenous Food Sovereignty: Efforts Driving Wide-Ranging Change
By Danielle Nierenberg, Food Tank
It wasn’t that long ago that bison were scarce in South Dakota. In just six years, that’s changed dramatically. Now, more than 1,100 bison roam the grasslands, already the largest Native-owned bison herd in the world and still growing. The Sicáŋğu Food Sovereignty Initiative is also helping community members learn to grow, produce, harvest, and prepare their own food, while workforce development programs support farmers, ranchers, and aspiring entrepreneurs.
The name of the organization speaks for itself: This is not only a success story for one Indigenous group; it’s a success story for efforts everywhere toward food sovereignty.
"When I first started, [people couldn’t] really articulate what food sovereignty was or understand the importance of it. But now, people are seeing the urgency and that importance," says Matte Wilson, Deputy Director of the Sicáŋğu Community Development Corporation.
The Urgency of Building Food Sovereignty
The urgency of building food sovereignty in Indigenous communities is stark. Food insecurity levels among Native households in the United States are significantly above the national average. Indigenous people are “up to three times more likely to die from cardiometabolic diseases compared to other groups,” a Frontiers in Sustainable Food Systems report notes. And tragically, this is no accident. Over recent centuries, federal policies have restricted traditional food systems, disinvested in reservations, interfered in organizing efforts, and more.
Indigenous Food Systems as a Model for Change
But when Indigenous communities take the reins, remarkable transformations can occur. By prioritizing local, traditional, and sustainable food systems, they’re not only improving food security but also healing communities and revitalizing cultures.
The Sicáŋğu Food Sovereignty Initiative is a testament to this. Their approach involves:
- Restoring traditional food systems: Bringing back bison and other native species to the grasslands.
- Empowering community members: Teaching skills in growing, producing, harvesting, and preparing food.
- Supporting local entrepreneurs: Providing workforce development programs for farmers, ranchers, and aspiring business owners.
These efforts are having a ripple effect, inspiring similar initiatives across the country and underscoring the power of Indigenous-led food sovereignty movements in shaping a more just and sustainable food system.