Seed to Plate Exploring the Importance of TRADITIONAL FOODS BY INDIGENOUS PEOPLES

Imagine a world without fast food chains, processed snacks, or pre-packaged meals. Instead, picture a world where every meal celebrates tradition and culture. Indigenous Peoples have a rich history of food that has sustained them for generations. Like other cultures, food is an integral part of Indigenous Peoples’ ways of life. The more you learn about their culture, the more you can understand what it means to appreciate the food you consume.

One of the Indigenous Peoples’ most critical cultural aspects is their connection to food. Before the United States of America was created, a land full of Indigenous Peoples was thriving. There were communities and tribes with their own culture, religious practices, traditions, and agricultural systems that allowed their people to live comfortably. As the world changed, their sacred land became scarce. Though Indigenous Peoples had to adapt, many continued the traditions of their ancestors.

Food is an integral part of many cultures as it represents their history and way of life. In Indigenous Peoples’ culture, food is believed to hold spiritual and cultural importance. Traditional foods are seen as nourishment and a connection to mother earth and ancestral knowledge. Food was and still is a gift and sustains excellent health.

Before colonization and the introduction to Western European diets, Indigenous Peoples’ diet consisted of many complex carbohydrates such as whole grains, beans, peas, and potatoes. They also consumed most foods from the plants that were harvested and animals that were hunted. The food is typically harvested as seeds, nuts, corn, chile, squash, wild fruit, and greens. As a source of protein, they would eat bison, birds, deer, elk, salmon, trout, and nuts, all of which they gathered from hunting. Many would use drying and smoking food for optimal food storage to save for later.

The three sisters; corn, beans, and squash, were the main crops the Indigenous Peoples relied on before colonization. Because these crops were the primary food source, they were a part of many stories passed down from generation to generation. In some ancient stories, the three sisters are said to “personify the plants as teachers of interconnectedness, harvest seasons, and how the dried crops can help people survive long winters,” according to MatadorNetwork.com.

Indigenous Peoples’ connections to the food they eat derive from their love and respect for their land. Because of their religion, they view their lands as sacred and connect their spirituality to their land. Their land and holy sites often provide the foundations of their stories and connect each generation to their ancestors. Their food source from the ground deepens their connections to what they consume as they see eating meals as a gift.

Today, the main issues with Indigenous Peoples and their descendants stem from food sovereignty. Food sovereignty is the ability of Indigenous nations and communities to control their food system and production without limitations of outside power. Since European colonization in the Americas, the Indigenous Peoples have had difficulty keeping their sacred lands. However, Indigenous communities continuously have been fighting to protect their land.

When thinking about the Indigenous communities’ connection to the food they eat, it is essential to think about your food. We often do not realize how many people make our food because we get the final product. Practice gratitude for your food and recognize the hard work people put into cultivating and producing it for your consumption. There is much hard work behind the scenes to provide you with an excellent experience, and understanding Indigenous Peoples’ connection to food will also help your appreciation.