This blog is Part Two of a three part series, highlighting the core priorities of National Wildlife Federation's strategy to enhance Tribal and Indigenous partnerships for collaborative conservation: Intergenerational Knowledge Transmission, Food Sovereignty, and Water Protection. The values of sovereignty, self-determination, and free, prior, and informed consent are foundational to our approach.

"Together these plants-corn, bean, and squash-feed the people, feed the land, and feed our imaginations, telling us how we might live."

The age-old Native American story of the "Three Sisters"-corn, bean, and squash-is a story about synergy. The idea that combining the strengths of a collective achieves a much greater impact than individuals working alone. Not to mention, they make a delicious and nutritious stew, when simmered all together in a pot for an hour.

Native food systems and principals

Indigenous peoples in North America played a key role in the domestication and cultivation of the Three Sisters (in ecosystems conducive to their growth), in addition to numerous fruits and vegetables that are considered staples in modern diets. While the Three Sisters are one prevalent food system, the diversity and availability of native foods vary all around the Americas and world, depending on an ecosystem's resources, climate, and seasonal growth patterns.

Next time you indulge in certain varieties of tomatoes, potatoes, peppers, blueberries, wild rice, and more, remember that Native ancestors were responsible for cultivating and sustaining these foods for millennia.

As for protein, many Indigenous peoples traditionally hunted, and continue to hunt, what is native to their region. This non-exhaustive list includes: buffalo and antelope in the Great Plains; deer and rabbit in the Southwest; salmon, whales and seals in the Arctic and Northwest Coast; and a variety of fish in the Great Lakes Region-just to name a few. Depending on location, some Indigenous peoples rely more on hunting and fishing rather than farming.

Beyond a food source, wildlife are viewed as relatives in many Indigenous cultures. The relations Indigenous peoples have with animals, plants, and all elements in their environment are honored in ceremonies, songs, stories, and more. Upholding the sacred relations between people and their environment is essential to Indigenous peoples' way of life. Stevie Parsons, NWF Tribal Advisory Council Member of Kanaka Ma'oli, Māori and Taíno descent, explains:

"Animals are our brothers and sisters; part of our family. Do we not also owe them a duty to recognize their rights to food sovereignty? If we do not honor, respect, and protect their food sources, our sovereign food rights are jeopardized as well."

Facing food insecurity

The unfortunate reality is that Indigenous peoples' ability to grow and harvest native foods has significantly declined over the past generations.

Today, many Indigenous peoples live in food deserts, where healthy food options are limited. Food insecurity among Indigenous communities has led to a rise in diabetes, heart diseases, and premature death. A number of factors have contributed to this reality, including but not limited to: colonization, climate change, pollution, and forced assimilation.

Colonization has resulted in the tremendous loss of Indigenous-managed land, where once viable soil and biodiverse ecosystems have been replaced with homes, buildings, and roadways, or shifted into crop fields and animal farms-managed by non-natives and serving non-natives' priorities. Additionally, when colonizers forced the relocation of Indigenous peoples, they issued rations of processed foods like white flour, lard, and canned meats, leading to an increased risk of diabetes among Indigenous peoples.

Climate change has resulted in catastrophic weather events, severe droughts, and temperature extremes, all of which adversely affect traditional farming, hunting, and gathering. Such conditions can reduce soil fertility, increase pests and diseases, reduce yields, and devastate crops, leading to the limited availability of and access to traditional animal and plant species for food.

Pollution from capital-driven activities like mining, animal farming, and pesticide use can contaminate water, making it unsafe for aquatic life, irrigation, and consumption. Since water is the source of all life, this contamination leads to numerous interconnected issues.

Forced assimilation ofIndigenous peoples into mainstream American culture has resulted in the suppression of Intergenerational Knowledge Transmission. It is imperative that younger generations are able to access these ancestral teachings and continue the farming, fishing, foraging, and hunting practices of their elders.

Reestablishing Indigenous food sovereignty

Amidst a myriad of social and economic challenges, Indigenous peoples are fierce advocates of food sovereignty-everyone's right to healthy and culturally appropriate food, and the ability to define their own agricultural and food systems.

Rematriating the land, reviving traditional practices, and educating youth are all central to the mission of food sovereignty. By centering Indigenous leadership and upholding their rights, we can move away from the industrial farming model that is primarily driven by economics.

Food sovereignty transcends the right to grow and eat good, quality food; it requires a fundamental shift in our approach to food systems. Indigenous food sovereignty calls for the return of ancestral diets, the honoring of Indigenous wisdom, and the protection of ancestral lands.

Imagine a plot of land is sprawling with monotonous rows of corn. The soil beneath is weary from generations of relentless cultivation. The air is heavy with the presence of pesticides. The nearby waterway is contaminated by synthetic fertilizer runoff.

Now imagine this land, if returned to the care of Indigenous peoples. The new keepers, whose ancestors have stewarded this place since time immemorial, approach the land with reverence and ancient wisdom. A transformation ensues.

Straight, sterile rows of corn are replaced with a patchwork quilt of diverse crops and native plants. The soil, once dry and compacted, begins to soften with the addition of organic matter and rotational planting. As the season turns, the fields come alive with the vibrant colors of corn, beans, and squash. The Three Sisters reunite-supporting each other, the land, and the people, as they had for centuries.

Wildflowers and native grasses begin to spring up, inviting bees, butterflies, and birds back to their original home. The air is fragrant with their blooms, the fields teeming with new life. Streams run cleaner with the absence of synthetic fertilizer runoff, allowing fish to swim freely again. Elk and other wildlife begin to reappear, finding sustenance and protection in the revitalized environment.

Under Indigenous care, the land flourishes in a way that industrial monoculture farming could never achieve. Ancient practices heal the land, thereby healing the people. These teachings are a guiding light for modern day conservation-the past is now leading the future.

Embracing a more just food system has the power to transform our physical and societal wellbeing. By honoring and integrating Indigenous wisdom, we can reestablish sustainable practices that nourish our bodies, strengthen our communities, and heal the Earth. Indigenous food sovereignty is a powerful, actionable step towards a more equitable and resilient future for all.

The National Wildlife Federation is actively seeking opportunities to advance food sovereignty through existing conservation work, with restoring Tribal buffalo populations, supporting access to clean water for Tribes, and advocating for Tribal land protections from resource extraction. The National Wildlife Federation acknowledges the need to do more, and the need to do better.

Continue learning about food sovereignty and rematriation:

• What is food sovereignty? (SeedChange)
• Why Food Sovereignty Matters (U.S. Department of the Interior)
• How Returning Lands to Native Tribes Is Helping Protect Nature (Yale E360)