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Geoenvironmental Implications On Food Sovereignty - Meskwaki Settlement, Tama County, Iowa, Lindsey Hubbell, Chad Heinzel Ph.D., Christina Blackcloud, Luke Kapayou, Avis Bear-Bass

Summer Undergraduate Research Program (SURP) Symposium

Native American culture demonstrates a spiritual relationship to food, land, and Earth. As opposed to European traditions valuing private property and exploiting the Earth for profit, Native American tradition believes the Earth is owned by no one; food and nourishment from it are a gift for all to take only as needed. The Meskwaki Nation originated around the Great Lakes but was removed to Tama County, Iowa. It is derived from the words “Meskwa” meaning “red” and “aki” meaning “Earth”. This Red Earth nation has initiated a Food Sovereignty program to pass along traditional growing and food preparation practices to …