![]() Thompson, who is a member of the Cheyenne River Sioux Tribe, knows about the systemic factors at play. “I think we have to be cognizant of the historical role that the federal government and the American people have played in displacing the indigenous plants and animals to begin with,” said Heather Dawn Thompson, director of the Office of Tribal Relations at the U.S. It especially resonates with Native Americans, many of whom have been separated from their cultural food by centuries of colonization, leading to systemic food insecurity and health disparities. The idea of food sovereignty - or people having the right to control where and how they get food - is growing throughout the U.S. She’s among a growing number of Native Americans discovering the health and cultural benefits of native plants. I like to think that my ancestors are proud of me for doing this.” Jojo Blackwood tends to one of her sumac seedlings she is growing inside a small nursery at the Kansas City Indian Center. “It helps me connect to my people better. “It really helps me connect to my culture better,” said Blackwood. The experience sparked her love of foraging for edible plants, as well as growing indigenous foods at the Kansas City Indian Center’s two community gardens. It was a giant white puffball mushroom, a rare find. When she pointed it out to the foraging leader from the Kansas City Indian Center, he gasped. “In my mind, I was like, ‘This is the weirdest looking soccer ball I’ve ever seen in my life,’” Blackwood recalled. KANSAS CITY - While on a foraging trip through a wooded area of Kansas City, Jojo Blackwood discovered a plant that would change the way she views her food. Native American tribes and communities are creating formal programs that focus on their traditional foods to not only combat systemic food insecurity, but also connect people to their culture. ![]()
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