The changing world they face threatens not only their way of life but also their very existence, as they must find new ways to adapt and survive in a landscape that is rapidly changing. The community's connection to the land is demonstrated through their use of traditional hunting and gathering techniques, as well as their reliance on the teachings of their Elders and the wisdom of their ancestors. Through their shared exploration of the importance of the natural world in Indigenous culture, both works highlight how Indigenous communities have historically been connected to and dependent on the land. They also reveal the devastating impact that colonization and environmental degradation have had on Indigenous communities and the broader ecosystem. In this way, both "Moon of the Crusted Snow" and "One Native Life" demonstrate the urgent need for Indigenous-led efforts to protect and steward the natural world for the sake of Indigenous peoples and the wider
Dr. Seth Holmes, who is an Assistant Professor of Public Health and Medical Anthropology at the University of California, Berkeley, was witness to the lives of a group of indigenous migrant farmworkers from the Triqui village of San Miguel in the mountains of Oaxaca, Mexico. Through participant observation as well as interviews with clinic staff, public health officials, farm employees, U.S. border agents, and residents of the farming areas, he paints a detailed picture of the true cost of fresh fruits and vegetables in this country. In Holmes’ account, by using the stories of real people, we learn that Triqui farmworkers deal with backbreaking work, racism, language barriers (most Triqui farmworkers understand little English or Spanish), and
The Muscogee (Creek) Nation community and the Mvskoke Food Sovereignty Initiative have both worked together to continue the elements of wellness and community health, seed sovereignty and biodiversity, youth voices, intergenerational knowledge transfer, and culture and language of indigenous food sovereignty within their community to achieve complete indigenous food sovereignty. First, it is important to cover the natural environment of the traditional lands of the Muscogee to understand the means on how they use to grow traditional foods before discussing wellness and community health. On the Muscogee Nation government website, they state that the Muscogee “built expansive towns within these same broad river valleys in the present states of Alabama, Georgia, Florid and South Carolina” (Muscogee (Creek) Nation). These river valleys provided a heavy supply of fertile soil and water, which are essential to produce crops.
We could lower the foods costs on my reservation from hunting, fishing and gathering by showing our community members how to butcher/process their own meat and fish. A lot of our community members currently bring in their meats/fishes into butchers that are located off the reservation to have it processed. This would give our community members the knowledge needed to process their meats/fish without having to pay someone to do this for them. A lot of people can’t afford to pay for the processing so that is the reason some people do not hunt or fish in my
In the article ‘The Climate Crisis at the End of our Fork’ Anna Lappe, co-founder of the Small Planet Institute, has drawn on research to determine that a “full eighteen percent of the worlds global warming effect is associated with ‘land use changes’” (Lappe 753) such as livestock emissions and the destruction of rainforests. According to Lappe, these changes in land are used for livestock and pastures for cattle. This poor management of land significantly impacts climate change which produces food for consumers. Therefore, Lappe suggests that people look more closely at what they eat and where it comes from.
Although the fact that an effort is being made to improve conditions for these people is enough to inspire hope for their future health, there is still much more that needs to be done. Whether revisions occur in the form of changes in policies, public awareness, or campaigning by stores to make healthy foods more financially appealing, something desperately needs to be done and soon. The people living in these food deserts have been forced into horrible dietary habits, and now once presented with the ability to change, are unsure of how to achieve this goal of change. It is the obligation of all the people to educate, and inspire others to reform their diets, and ultimately improve their own
As a community nutritionist, I developed a feel and confidence for how to educate and counsel community members of the Pascua Yaqui Tribe as part of the Diabetes Prevention and Treatment Program. I am a Native American and part of this tribe and therefore was so enthused to be part of their health care team. Being fresh out of college and given only a vague idea of the expectations of the position, I gathered all my available resources and set about the task of independently creating a successful education and counseling program. As I learned the ropes and increased my knowledge base, I felt the need to develop healthy cooking classes for my clients. The goal was to show my clients how to cook delicious, affordable and nutrient dense meals while catering to their specific culture preferences.
There are countless amounts of influences in everyday life. Whether these influences are big or small, they still influence people. A giant influence growing up was my culture and more specifically the food I grew up eating. In the documentary, and articles it is clear of the effects of food influences on children as they are growing up. Food and culture strongly affect people as they are raised around it.
In the book, Original Instructions – Part One; Chief Lyons discusses “what happens to you and what happens to the earth happens to us as well,” (Nelson, 2008) referencing to the unethical practice and/or protection of Mother Nature. Chief Lyons emphasized that as Indigenous people, we must take a stand and advocate against atrocities occurring to Mother Nature by influencing the stakeholders and powerful leaders who have the ultimate responsibility to make a difference and who are influential to their followers. Our Indigenous ancestors have survived through unfortunate unethical treatment from the government that has impacted us through historical trauma; nonetheless our ancestors and indigenous people today have survived and conquered because
Food is a critical part to the environment that a community lives in, yet food is not always just. Food justice is an important part of environmental justice, and Robert Gottlieb studied how food impacts communities. Gottlieb explained how food justice has links to equity, empowerment, and social justice as well. This area of justice “addresses issues of health, globalization, worker rights and working conditions, disparities regarding access to environmental (or food) goods, land use and respect for the land, and ultimately, how our production, transportation, distribution and consumption systems are organized” (7). Food (in)justices and the other presented issues are all around in society today.
UTILIZING ENVIRONMENTAL MANAGEMENT IN THE PRESERVATION OF INDIGENOUS ETHNOBOTANY AND LANGUAGE INTRODUCTION Problem Statement The Yakamas of the Washington Yakama Indian Reservation are losing significant sources of traditional ethnobotanical knowledge due to the rise of ecological problems, conflicts in resource management, and sociocultural losses among the generations. From these rising problems, traditional knowledge that influence many aspects of the Yakama culture and traditions are at risk of being forgotten. Over generations, Yakama traditional knowledge has been used as an important source of food, to identify materials for making baskets, and how to grow herbs for medicinal treatments.
Many of them face daily challenges to secure clean drinking water and most of them are not able to wash themselves. Boil-water advisories are in place in 93 Indigenous
This article reminded me of a trip I took this summer that focused on the indigenous people in the nation. In late June and early July, I went on a trip that changed my life. The trip was a climate change congress that took place in Shepherdstown, West Virginia and the congress focused on the indigenous people of the nation. The keynote speakers were all Native American and the counselors at the congress were also Native American. The students at the congress learned about climate change, but we all learned something deeper than that; every one of us became inspired by a few of the congress leaders.
Culture and memories are expressed through food. Everyone can identify themselves with a concrete culture and in every group there are numerous food dishes that satisfies one, or brings back peerless memories and feelings only they can relate to. Food itself has meaning attached to it, from the way it is prepared down to the ingredients used. Factors that influence food can be anything from practices and beliefs to the economy and distribution. Culinary traditions are important in helping express cultural identity.
Review of Literature Environmental issues began to be discussed and debated only towards the end of the 20th century. Since then significant amount of literature has been penned down raising awareness about issues of pollution, deforestation, animal rights and several others however it has failed to result in major changes, ideas or even actions to save the environment. Several species of animals have become extinct; pollution level is at an all-time high, global warming is leading to severe climate changes all across the globe but these problems do not seem to alarm the decision makers. Leydier & Martin (2013) also states that, “despite the increasing expression of concern in political and media debates about issues such as climate change, pollution and threats to biodiversity, “political ecology” (operating at the confluence of scientific developments, political engagement and ethical debates) is still trying to find its bearings” (p.7). It is quite evident that environmental issues are not treated in equivalence to political, economic, social or even religious issues.
