In a collaborative effort to delve into the local food system needs of Seattle's Urban Native and Indigenous population, a new document titled sləp̓iləbəxʷ (Rising Tides), has been released to the public. The report, a product of extensive dialogue and input from native voices in 2022 listening sessions, is set to shape the City of Seattle's updated Food Action Plan, which addresses Native food sovereignty amongst other concerns.
This initiative underscores a rectification process, for a history scarred by federal policies that stripped Native people of access to ancestral lands and traditional food sources. As highlighted in a recent report, such acts have left enduring impacts like food insecurity and cultural disconnection. Today, over 71% of Native people navigate the challenges of urban settings, seeking to reconnect with traditional foodways within a modern environment.
The sləp̓iləbəxʷ report reveals several key motifs, notably the imperative to renew Native people’s ties with the land, water, and their indigenous sustenance. Actions proposed range from the cultivation of plant medicines and native First Foods to the conservation and rehabilitation of the city’s natural resources. Participants expressed the value of these endeavors in restoring health, wellness, and cultural identity among urban Native communities.
Guided by Indigenous research methodologies, the report is a culmination of thoughtful and deliberate dialogues among 19 Native community members. These discussions illuminated paths for revitalizing cultural knowledge and practices, mending relationships with the land and waters, and addressing the turmoil stemming from intergenerational trauma. "The 2022 Native Foods listening session was guided by Indigenous Research Methods and Native sustainability values," a statement from Pah-tu Pitt of the Confederated Tribes of Warm Springs, Demarus Tevuk of the Inupiaq, depicts the respectful approach grounding the report's findings.
While the Seattle Urban Native & Indigenous community's insights have been nearly two years in the making, they are timelier than ever. With the City of Seattle poised to release its updated Food Action Plan later this summer, which now promises to explicitly incorporate Native considerations, the publication of this report is not just an academic exercise—it’s a step towards a more inclusive and respectful food system for all of Seattle's residents.
