Indigenous Food Sovereignty in Tribal Home Visiting

Generations of harmful policies have forcibly removed Indigenous people from their traditional living places and sources of foods, impacting the health of adults and children. To counter these events, some communities engage in an act of resilience known as food sovereignty, in which they seek to control the production and distribution of food to determine its quantity and quality.

Indigenous food sovereignty aligns with tribal home visiting’s goal to support the health and well-being of young children and their caregivers. Home visitors work with families regularly, providing ongoing opportunities to connect them to traditional foodways and revitalize meaningful traditions. Home visiting program staff can also engage with community members and partners to come up with ideas that align with available time and resources.

This brief presents three Indigenous food sovereignty partnerships that include home visiting programs and models:

• Gikinawaabi curriculum
• Native American Professional Parent Resources fresh produce initiative
• Family Spirit Nurture curriculum

It also provides guidance for programs seeking to adopt similar approaches.