With the rise in commercial food markets, we forget that being Diné has always been about adapting with the land and centering our ancestral agricultural practices in our daily lives.
Food Sovereignty with Joshua Toddy
by Urbina Yazzie
Western culture has changed our views of how we seek food options. Driving to border towns, with some being two to three hours one-way, to get groceries is just a normal thing now. In the past, our ancestors used Dinétah to gather fruits and vegetables like corn, squash, and other herbs to feed our bodies. Joshua Toddy, from Pillow Ridge Farm, hopes to change the idea of how we feed ourselves by returning to traditional farming and agriculture. By using our land to plant our own food we would be able to save ourselves money. We can also educate our people on traditional planting by offering workshops. While planting and traditional knowledge around food preparation may still be present within many families, changing factors like land and climate change complicates once commonly held knowledge.
Leading The Way Vol. 23 No. 5
