Food sovereignty and the environment

We conduct research related to community food system self-determination and related environmental issues that shape what people can or choose to eat. This area of research includes Indigenous food systems, inclusive of traditional foods both stewarded and cultivated, and seed systems and sovereignty. Our current work includes food sovereignty and Indigenous foods in urban spaces and Indigenous food systems resilience following climate shocks.

Cultural use food and  fiber plants

We work with Indigenous communities and cultural use food, fiber, and medicinal plants to support Tribal led stewardship and management of these species, restoration and revitalization of cultural use plants, and response to climate change. This area of research includes Indigenous led monitoring approaches. Current focus includes berry stewardship in southwest Alaska and national consideration of Tribal led plant stewardship in land governance.​

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Two-eyed seeing, community based, and Indigenous approaches to research and allyship

Part of our research is studying and refining our approach in collaboration with partners and communities. We work to reflect on and evolve our roles and processes as community-based researchers. We work to inform and guide the function of academic institutions  in centering different ways of knowing and doing, including Indigenous ontologies and epistemologies and Indigenous Sciences in environmental sciences.

Environmental stewardship and social-ecological health and wellbeing

We are interested in how Indigenous environmental stewardship shapes both the health and wellbeing of ecosystems  and people that engage in environmental stewardship. There is less understanding of how engagement with the environment by Indigenous peoples influences things like food security, nutrition, and different indicators of physical, mental, and spiritual health. We are currently developing new research in this area and would love to discuss more!