In-Depth Notes on Food Sovereignty and Health Research
Introduction
Welcome address at the Center for Food Science and Nutrition.
Speaker introduced: Dr. Valerie Gruber Jernigan, Director of the Center for Indigenous Health Research and Policy at Oklahoma State University (OSU).
Dr. Jernigan's background: PhD from UC Berkeley, extensive research in food sovereignty and health issues in Native American populations.
Purpose of the Talk
Discussion on using food sovereignty as an approach to enhance health among Indigenous peoples.
Acknowledgment of hosting tribe (Dakota) and thanks to collaborative researchers.
Center for Indigenous Health Research and Policy
OSU’s Center launched in Tulsa, in partnership with the Cherokee Nation, to establish a tribally affiliated medical school.
Focus on integrating Western health research with Indigenous knowledge and practices.
Understanding Food Sovereignty
Definition: Right and responsibility of Indigenous peoples to access healthy and culturally relevant foods produced through traditional practices.
Emphasizes relational responsibilities towards land and food, contrasting with mainstream perspectives that may overlook these aspects.
Connection between food sovereignty and public health outcomes: eliminating food insecurity, restoring traditional food practices, and improving nutritional intake.
Health Disparities in Indigenous Populations
High rates of food insecurity among Native American communities (60% vs 10% in mainstream US).
Links between food insecurity and health conditions: diabetes, hypertension, obesity.
Need for more Indigenous models in health research to address these disparities.
Research Methodology: Randomized Controlled Trials (RCTs)
Dr. Jernigan's transition from Western approaches to an Indigenous methodology in health research.
Importance of understanding community needs and behaviors rather than imposing external dietary guidelines.
Examples of research projects, specifically the Thrive study focused on healthy retail interventions in convenience stores to improve food options without harming sales.
- Design: Cluster controlled trial with over 1600 participants, measuring environmental changes and health outcomes.
- Successful increase in healthy food options and sales, with no decline in overall revenue.
- Policy changes led to the permanent adoption of healthier practices in participating stores.
Next Initiatives
Partnership with the Osage Nation for a farm-to-school study linking local food growth to health outcomes.
Study design: weightless control with several head start centers to evaluate increased vegetable intake.
Findings revealed significant improvements in vegetable intake among children in intervention groups.
Efforts led to successful advocacy and funding for the sustainable expansion of the farm initiative.
Key Takeaways
Food sovereignty practice needs to extend beyond theoretical frameworks into practical, community-based applications.
Growing food is as meaningful as preparing and consuming it, fostering deeper connections and healing relationships with food.
Environmental and policy shifts are essential for addressing food system inequities; behavioral changes are insufficient without supportive infrastructures.
Mutual learning from other Indigenous communities enhances efficacy in implementing food sovereignty initiatives.
Conclusion
Reflection on the holistic approach to food as a sacred gift and the importance of individual and community connections to health and nutrition.
Lastly, ongoing RCTs aim to deepen understanding of the impacts of community-supported agriculture on health and wellbeing in Indigenous populations, while considering broader social determinants of health.