A group of noted guest speakers will share their perspectives on threats to Indigenous food ways, the history of food deserts and what food sovereignty means to tribal communities during campus events honoring Indigenous Peoples Day.

Indigenous Peoples Day recognizes the histories, cultures, contributions and practices of the Western hemisphere’s First Peoples—Native Americans, Alaska Natives and Native Hawaiians—whose traditional territories include the present-day United States and its territories. The heritage month is celebrated nationally on the second Monday of October.

“We are honored to be among a collaborative group of partners bringing distinguished knowledge-keepers to CU Boulder so that students, staff, faculty and community members can learn about issues that are critical to sustaining Indigenous communities in Colorado and beyond,” said David Humphrey, assistant vice chancellor for diversity, equity and inclusion in the CU Boulder Office of the Senior Vice Chancellor for Diversity, Equity and Inclusion.

Campus events will include an Oct. 10 screening of the award-winning documentary “Crow Country: Our Right to Food Sovereignty” followed by a roundtable discussion featuring director and producer Tsanavi Spoonhunter and ethnic studies professors Clint Carroll and Angelica Lawson. The screening and roundtable will take place 4–6 p.m. in the Center for British and Irish Studies in Norlin Library and is free and open to the public.

Sponsors of the film screening include the Global Indigeneity and Land Struggle: Documentary Film for Sustainable Futures project (funded by a Research & Innovation Office seed grant), the Department of Women and Gender Studies, and the Center for Native American and Indigenous Studies (CNAIS).

Filmmaker Spoonhunter also will be one of three featured speakers at the Oct. 11 Honoring Indigenous Food Sovereignty: An Indigenous Peoples Day Event, which will highlight knowledge-keepers and activists who are preserving Indigenous food traditions. The food event will take place from 4 p.m. to 7:30 p.m. in the Kittredge Multipurpose A, B and C rooms. Participants are asked to register in advance.

Keynote Deanna EagleFeather of the Rosebud Sioux tribe will give a talk about food sovereignty and skill-sharing and highlight the historical and contemporary contexts that have produced the current climate around food rights and sovereignty in Native American communities. Breakout sessions will be led by Jacqueline White of the Northern Arapaho and Chippewa Cree tribes, who is the tribal relations consultant for the Wyoming Food Bank and will talk about food sovereignty, food insecurity and food ways. Spoonhunter will lead a second breakout session focusing on key themes from her award-winning documentary.

The Office of the Senior Vice Chancellor for Diversity, Equity and Inclusion is hosting the Honoring Indigenous Food Sovereignty event in partnership with CNAIS and Right Relationship Boulder, a group working to elevate Native voices and practice “right relationships” with Native peoples with historic and current ties to Boulder Valley. Funding sponsors include the College of Arts and Sciences and the city of Boulder.