(Ethete, WY) – The Wind River Food Sovereignty Project (WRFSP) will be hosting a meeting on Monday, December 16 (from 6 to 7:30 PM), to get stakeholder input about the prospect of introducing traditional, Indigenous foods back into school cafeterias.
The meeting will take place at the Chief’s Tech Center at Wyoming Indian High School, located at 636 Blue Sky Highway in Ethete.
“This meeting is a wonderful opportunity for Elders, parents, students, and community members to come together and share their voices,” the WRFSP message shared on the Eastern Shoshone Tribe Facebook page states. “We are eager to hear your valuable ideas and insights regarding the types of Indigenous foods you believe should be featured in our school cafeterias. Your perspective is essential in ensuring our students access culturally relevant and nutritious food options.”
Back in June, the U.S. Department of Agriculture (USDA) awarded $2.3 million to five organizations that “support the service of Indigenous foods in school meal programs.”
One of those organizations was the Center for Popular Research, Education and Policy (C-PREP), which, as a part of the Wind River Food Sovereignty Project, will support four school districts on the Wind River Reservation in adding indigenous foods back into the cafeteria.
The four school districts include Saint Stephens, Arapahoe, Wyoming Indian and Fort Washakie.
The funds will help pay for training, supplies and technical assistance for the appropriate staff, so that students will have “increased access to traditional Indigenous foods of their cultures and region and will learn about Indigenous foods across North America.”
As for tomorrow night’s community meeting, the evening will include a “comprehensive presentation highlighting the importance of Indigenous foods, followed by an open discussion where you can share your thoughts and experiences.”
Kelly Pingree, Wind River Food Sovereignty Project Co-Director, stressed to County 10 that meeting organizers really want community input as they move forward with this process, so they are hoping for a big turnout and for people to share their thoughts/ideas.
“This gathering is not just a meeting but a chance for our community to come together, celebrate our rich food traditions, and make impactful decisions for our children’s nutrition.”