Established in 2018, the Indigenous Foods Knowledges Network (IFKN) connects Indigenous Peoples of the Arctic and the Southwest United States. Comprised of Indigenous leaders, citizens, and scholars (both Indigenous and non-Indigenous) who are focused on research and community capacity related to food sovereignty and resilience, IFKN aims to promote and carry out research that 1) utilizes Indigenous research processes, 2) embraces and respects Indigenous Knowledge systems, and 3) supports Indigenous communities. An Indigenous Steering Committee guides the network and research teams from the University of Colorado at Boulder (CU) and the University of Arizona (UA) provide coordination, technical support, and writing.
The kickoff meeting at the Gila River Indian Community included twenty-three Indigenous and non-Indigenous community leaders and scholars from the Southwest and Arctic. The primary goal of the meeting was to begin to articulate the core principles for the IFKN and establish an initial set of goals that could guide a network of Indigenous leaders, citizens, and scholars focused on the nexus of Indigenous foods and knowledge systems.
The Steering Committee and the Research Team drafted a network Charter, launched in late 2018. The IFKN Charter sets out guiding principles and network goals. The guiding principles begin with the fact that at its core, IFKN serves to support and promote Indigenous sovereignty. Other principles address research, languages, Indigenous Knowledge systems, research, data, ethics, and relationships. The network also established goals, including acting to connect community members across generations and to engage Indigenous scholars, both within communities and within academia.
This session will discuss the IFKN, its Charter, and network's efforts to connect Indigenous scholars and create innovative ways for students, new graduates, and advocates to live, learn, research, and grow within Indigenous communities.