Our Native American Food Ways event was a great way for students and community members to learn about Indigenous agriculture and cuisine. The event was a huge success, and we are glad that so many people joined us for this thought-provoking discussion. 

The event began with a warm welcome from English Dawson, a Penn State senior who is coordinating the Food Ways series. English introduced a few of the topics that would be discussed, and then passed the floor to Dr. Hollie Kulago, an associate professor of education who co-facilitated the event. Dr. Kulago conveyed the importance of learning about and appreciating Indigenous culture, and she gave the audience questions to ponder throughout the presentation. She acknowledged that we are all living on Indigenous lands and are therefore learners from those who originally lived here. 

“This opens up the discussion of how we can continue to support and stand in solidarity with Indigenous communities,” Dr. Kulago said. 

After Dr. Kulago spoke, Mr. Tracy Peterson delivered an acknowledgment of Indigenous land and sovereignty. Mr. Peterson is the director of student transitions and pre-college programs in the College of Engineering. These introductions set the tone of the event, and they paved the way for an important, informative discussion. 

The first distinguished presenter of the evening was Mr. Taylor Keen. Mr. Keen has made several impressive accomplishments in Indigenous agriculture throughout his career, including founding Sacred Seed. Sacred Seed is a non-profit that strives to return Indigenous seeds back to their native tribes. 

In his presentation, Mr. Keen explained the importance of corn in Indigenous culture. His explanation helped participants understand the wide variety of roles that corn plays. Mr. Keen spoke in-depth about native seeds and how they have been incorporated into commercial farming. His work focuses on returning these seeds to the tribes that use them for their original purposes. 

The second distinguished presenter of the night was Dr. Louis Ellen Frank. Dr. Frank has extensive experience with Indigenous cuisine, and she is an award-winning cookbook author and founder of Red Mesa Cuisine. 

Dr. Frank discussed food and its connection to physical and spiritual wellness. She highlighted a few particular foods, including squash, chilies, and potatoes. Dr. Frank explained that maintaining Indigenous cooking practices is a way of achieving food and environmental justice, as well as supporting traditional ecological knowledge. 

The Native American Food Ways event was very informative and thought-provoking. It was a great way to celebrate Native American Heritage Month. If you missed the event, you’re still in luck! A recording of the event is available on our YouTube channel, so be sure to check it out! A huge thank you to our partners and attendees who came to the space eager to learn.