Perspectives on Land and Food From the People Who Have Been Here the Longest

BY ALTHEA WALKER , CLIMATE SCIENCE ALLIANCE

The concept of a paradigm shift within our food systems is recognizing “the right of peoples to healthy and culturally appropriate food produced through ecologically sound and sustainable methods, and their right to define their own food and agriculture systems. It puts the aspirations and needs of those who produce, distribute, and consume food at the heart of food systems and policies rather than the demands of markets and corporations.”
—Declaration of Nyéléni, the first World Forum for Food Sovereignty., Mali, 2007 (US Food Sovereignty Alliance)

• Changing the narrative about terms like produce and food.

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• Indigenous peoples are the original regenerative farmers. The Indigenous perspective and approach to regenerative agriculture is not just about farming and grazing practices, but about how we care and tend for the ecosystems all around us. Regenerative farming, from an Indigenous perspective, is a balance of land, animals, plants, water, and humans—the ones who throw this order out of balance. We need to find more ways to live in balance with all ecosystems around us and not just what matters the most to us.

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• We need to see all parts of every ecosystem as interconnected.

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• Prepare mentally, physically, spiritually, emotionally to be on the land, in relation.

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• Foster knowledge of how to respectfully steward and care for the land.

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• Apply integrated ecosystem management approaches.