During a panel organized by The James Beard Foundation and First Nations Development Institute, “Women’s History Month: Honoring Indigenous Women in America’s Food System,” Indigenous women activists discuss the role of food in preserving and elevating their communities.

The conversation is moderated by First Nations member A-dae Romero-Briones of the First Nations Development Institute. Panelists include Gwich’in member Rochelle Adams of Native People’s Action; Navajo Nation member Denisa Livingston of Diné Community Advocacy Alliance; writer, ethnobotanist, environmental activist, and Blackfeet Nation member Rosalyn LaPier; and Ho-Chunk member Vanessa Casillas of Gatherings Café.

“When we ask what are the differences between an American food system and an Indigenous food system, one of my first answers is—you see the panel—we’re women,” begins Romero-Briones.

“We have such an important role in our lands and in our communities and how we raise our plants, as well as our children. We are the bedrock of Indigenous food systems. In American food systems, that’s often dominated by men. The female voice is not always heard, but you will hear it strong today,” she says.

“Indigenous people have quite a challenge to the rights to our hunting and fishing and food sovereignty,” she says. “Our family has a story for every bend of the river and every trail… It’s important that we maintain that stewardship over our land.”

Panelists also call out other challenges Indigenous communities struggle with: an absence of food sovereignty, poor public health, and an abundance of food swamps, or areas that only have access to unhealthy food.

Read the full article about Indigenous foodways by Amy Martin at Food Tank.