Indigenous Food Sovereignty

While there is no universal definition for food sovereignty, it offers a long-term approach to addressing food security (Indigenous Food Systems Network, n.d.). Indigenous food sovereignty must address the underlying systemic issues and generational impacts on Indigenous peoples affecting their ability to "responding for [their] own needs for healthy, culturally adapted Indigenous foods" (Indigenous Food Systems Network, n.d.).

Principles of Indigenous Food Sovereignty (IFS)

The four key principles of Indigenous food sovereignty are based in the "related knowledge, values and wisdom built up over thousands of years" that guide the Indigenous food sovereignty movement today (Indigenous Food Systems Network, n.d.). 

Sacred or divine food As a gift from Creator, the right to food is sacred and upheld in our sacred responsibility to nurture relationships with All Our Relations that provide us with food. This cannot be constrained or recalled by Colonial laws, policies, institutions.

Indigenous Food Sovereignty | Indigenous Food Systems Network
Participation Daily action-based practices of cultural harvesting strategies at levels to maintain the viability and futurity of IFS of present and future generations

Indigenous Food Sovereignty | Indigenous Food Systems Network
Self-determination The ability for Indigenous people to respond to their own needs and make decisions concerning their food and self-reliance on their food, free from dependence on commercial food system.

Indigenous Food Sovereignty | Indigenous Food Systems Network
Policy IFS attempt to reconcile Indigenous foods and cultural values with colonial laws, policies, and mainstream economic activities to provide a restorative framework for policy reform in forestry, fisheries, rangelands, environmental conservation, etc.

Indigenous Food Sovereignty | Indigenous Food Systems Network