KU’s Office of Sovereign Partnerships & Indigenous Initiatives is leading the summit, with Native scholars Star Her Many Horses and Kelly Nalani Beym among those whose work helped inspire the gathering. Day-of programming includes presentations on the history of food sovereignty and how food can serve as medicine and support collaboration between tribal nations, plus a documentary screening, a resource and demonstration fair, and a student mixer.
People can register by Friday, Sept. 4. The Lawrence community connection extends beyond the summit with additional KU-area events, including a Sept. 17 talk hosted by the Commons at KU and featuring Hollie Mackey of ND AgTech Engine at 7 p.m. in the Haskell Auditorium.
Meanwhile, the Indigenous Food Systems Study and Action Plan is an ongoing Douglas County effort focused on food sovereignty, aiming to guide local policymakers on gaps in access, preservation, and cultural support for Native foodways, with partners from KU, Haskell, and Douglas County.