A Douglas County-wide study on Indigenous food systems will launch this weekend to inform culturally aware policy and food action plans for the county and the City of Lawrence.
The study launch will take place from 1 to 4 p.m. Saturday, Nov. 22 at the Douglas County Fairgrounds in the Dreher Family 4-H Building, 2120 Harper St.
The plan “will provide critical data from Indigenous (Native American) food entrepreneurs such as: farmers, chefs, food retailers, value added producers, Indian Taco pop-ups, and agritourism businesses, to enhance the Indigenous foods sector in Douglas County, Kansas,” according to agenda minutes from the Douglas County Food Policy Council in October 2023.
The Douglas County Food System Plan, a policy guide adopted in 2017, took cultural equity into account, according to the minutes. Still, there was a lack of data on underserved Indigenous tribes and people.
“By carrying out this study and action plan, the next ten-year food system plan will include research-based food policies that support the needs of Indigenous food entrepreneurs and connected economic communities at large,” the agenda report reads.
Led by Indigenous experts, the study and resulting plan is a collaboration between the county, Haskell’s USDA Extension Office and the KU Office of Sovereign Partnerships and Indigenous Initiatives. The project is supported by the Kansas Health Foundation Hunger Free Kansas grant.
Here is the event schedule, according to the USDA Extension Program at Haskell:
• 1 to 1:30 p.m.: There will be a welcome session.
• 1:30 to 3 p.m.: Guests will participate in food processing, arts and a walking activity.
• 3 to 4 p.m.: Guests can engage with project leaders’ presentations and a world cafe.
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