Food Sovereignty
Grades 6-8 Curriculum Unit
Lessons
Unit Core Themes: Cultural Strengths | Relationship to Place
Teacher Background
Teaching food sovereignty in the context of Native American history requires a nuanced understanding of the cultural, historical, and environmental factors that have shaped Indigenous relationships with food systems. Teachers will utilize the California Indian Culture and Sovereignty Center’s Food Sovereignty Toolkit to support instruction. Read through this toolkit to prepare for this unit. The resource provides background to support teachers in delivering these lessons effectively and respectfully.
Click here to access the California Indian Culture and Sovereignty Center’s Food Sovereignty Toolkit.
Watch this video from the California Indian Culture and Sovereignty Center. Nicole Lim is discussing an overview of teaching Food Sovereignty.
Unit Summary
This unit examines the historical, cultural, and political dimensions of food sovereignty in Native American communities, tracing the evolution from pre-colonial food systems to present-day revitalization efforts. Students will explore how traditional foodways were intricately tied to ecological knowledge, community well-being, and cultural identity and how these systems were disrupted by colonization and federal policy.
