Traditional Native American Foodways Workshop Set in Michigan

Native News Network Staff in Native Currents. Discussion »

HOPKINS, MICHIGAN – The Gun Lake Band of Pottawatomi, Jijak Foundation and the Great Lakes Lifeways Institute, in partnership with the Native American Institute, NAI, and MSU Extension, are pleased to invite you to attend an innovative weekend workshop on revitalizing access to traditional and healthy Native foods.

Wild Food Traditions

The two-day workshop will be held on May 12-13 at Camp Jijak, owned by the Gun Lake Band of Pottawatomi, in Hopkins, Michigan.

The camp will be limited to the first 100 participants. Sign up today!

This workshop will provide an opportunity for participants to share knowledge, learn a variety of traditional practices and processes and to discover effective food programs from tribal communities throughout the Great Lakes region.

Traditional food systems used for generations by native communities in the Great Lakes Region including foraging, hunting, fishing, and gardening have long provided a diverse and healthy diet. These traditional practices sustainably balanced human needs with those of the local environment and brought communities and extended families together to meet common needs. In today's world, the need to revitalize and build upon these traditional and sustainable practices is greater than ever.

The breakdown for the two-day workshops are:

Saturday Activities

Saturday activities will be primarily focused on wild food traditions. Participants will join Daisy Kostus of the James Bay Cree for a trip to the woods and wetlands to learn about foraging, preparing and preserving wild foods. George Martin, Lac Courte Oreilles Ojibwe elder, will present on traditional teachings and techniques for making Damnabo, corn soup prepared with wood ash. Jonesy Miller, Menominee, will share on wild rice processing, and a teaching on preparing feast bundles will be given by Punkin Shananaquet of Gun Lake Band of Pottawatomi.

Saturday activities will conclude with a traditional feast.

Sunday Activities

Sunday workshop activities will be focused on traditional and sustainable native gardening. Ted Skenendan of the Tsunhehkwa Organic Farm, Oneida Nation with Jonesy Miller will lead participants through the process of planting a Three Sisters garden. A seed exchange will also be held, so bring seeds to share of you have them.

The cost of the workshop is $35 for one day or $50 for both days. Registration cost includes lunches and Saturday evening feast and activities.

If you have any questions about the workshop or need to find local accommodations, please feel free to contact Kevin Finney at 616.644.3822

posted April 10, 2012 6:20 am edt