Reflecting on the Success of the 1st Annual FEED Symposium
In August 2022, Feed Seven Generations (FEED) proudly hosted the inaugural FEED Symposium, a groundbreaking event to raise awareness and foster opportunities for Native Americans in King County and other local Tribal members to engage in food sovereignty initiatives rooted in Tribal culture. This symposium held virtually on June 27, 2022, brought together various speakers and participants to explore the intersections of agriculture, culture, and community.
The symposium theme, "Keeping Culture in Agriculture," set the stage for a day of insightful discussions and presentations. The morning session kicked off with an inspiring Invocation by Louie Ungaro, a Muckleshoot Tribal Council Member. It was followed by keynote speaker Adae Briones from First Nations Development Institute, who shared valuable insights into Tribal food economies.
Throughout the day, attendees had the opportunity to engage with panels featuring Native-led agriculture programs from across Indian Country. These panels, facilitated by experts from Tahoma Peak Solutions, explored topics ranging from sharing success stories to highlighting Northwest success stories and providing resources for developing agricultural businesses.
The symposium also featured breakout sessions focusing on food production, agricultural projects, and value-added products and markets. These sessions, led by industry experts and facilitated by FEED members, provided attendees with practical knowledge and resources to support Tribal food sovereignty efforts.
Following the symposium, FEED hosted a productive in-person planning session at Muckleshoot Tribal College in September 2022. Despite challenges posed by the increase in COVID-19 cases, this session brought together participants from various tribes and Tribal organizations for a post-symposium mind mapping activity and event debrief.
The outcomes of the FEED Symposium were significant, with over 150 individual registrants and 20+ Native Food Sovereignty specialists and Native Producers presenting. Post-survey data revealed a 75% increase in knowledge among participants, exceeding our anticipated outcome.
Moving forward, FEED is excited to collaborate with partners such as the Muckleshoot Community Garden staff and the Gen-G Leadership Team to further our mission of promoting food sovereignty and strengthening local food systems. We are grateful to all who participated in and supported the FEED Symposium, and we look forward to continuing this important work together.
