Reclaiming Native American Food Traditions, Culture, and Community Engagement

Rose James (Lummi), a public health associate officer with the Urban Indian Health Institute, discusses a collaborative project aimed at reclaiming Native American food traditions. The initiative involves developing a curriculum and training program to help communities rediscover their cultural foods and medicines. James emphasizes the importance of this work in addressing health issues like diabetes and obesity that were uncommon in previous generations. The project tracks the spread of healthy, culturally grounded practices across different communities, focusing on how Native people can improve their health through traditional knowledge. James highlights the project’s adaptability to different cultures and its impact on physical activity and community engagement. She shares her vision of Native people as knowledge keepers capable of improving health for future generations, noting the profound impact of cultural context on lifestyle changes.