Douglas County launches Indigenous Food Systems Study and Action Plan – The Lawrence Times

Report on the Indigenous Food Systems Study and Action Plan in Douglas County, Kansas

1.0 Introduction and Alignment with Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs)

Douglas County, Kansas, has launched the state’s first Indigenous-led food systems plan, titled the Indigenous Food Systems Study and Action Plan (IFSSAP). This initiative is designed to restore and strengthen Native food traditions, directly contributing to several key United Nations Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs).

• SDG 2 (Zero Hunger): By focusing on food sovereignty and access to culturally significant foods, the plan aims to end hunger and ensure access to safe, nutritious food for the Indigenous community.
• SDG 10 (Reduced Inequalities): The plan directly addresses the historical exclusion of Indigenous peoples from local food system planning, promoting social and economic inclusion.
• SDG 11 (Sustainable Cities and Communities): The initiative works to safeguard and celebrate Indigenous cultural heritage, making the community more inclusive and sustainable.

2.0 Project Genesis and Development

The IFSSAP was developed in response to identified gaps in the county’s existing food systems plan, which lacked representation of Indigenous foodways.

1. Identification of Need (2023): Local Indigenous farmers approached the Douglas County Food Policy Council (DCFPC) to highlight the lack of resources and representation.
2. Securing Partnerships and Funding (2025): The DCFPC secured grant funding from the Kansas Health Foundation. This demonstrates a commitment to SDG 17 (Partnerships for the Goals) through collaboration with philanthropic organizations.
3. Formation of a Collaborative Team: A partnership was formed between the DCFPC, Haskell Indian Nations University’s USDA Extension Office, and the University of Kansas’ Office of Sovereign Partnerships and Indigenous Initiatives, further exemplifying SDG 17.

3.0 Leadership and Governance

The plan is distinguished by its Indigenous-led governance structure, ensuring that the project is for and by the community it serves. This approach aligns with SDG 16 (Peace, Justice and Strong Institutions) by promoting responsive, inclusive, and participatory decision-making.

3.1 Core Leadership Team

The team comprises a diverse group of Indigenous scholars, activists, and community leaders, including:

• Mackie Moore (Cherokee Nation)
• Christina Haswood (Navajo/Diné)
• Brett Ramey (Iowa Tribe of Kansas and Nebraska)
• Alex Kimball Williams (Aleut)
• Robert Hicks Jr. (Pyramid Lake Paiute)
• Angelina Rojas (Oglala Lakota, Crow Creek Sioux)
• Star Her Many Horses (Oglala Lakota, et al.)
• Lori Hasselman (Shawnee Tribe and Delaware Tribe of Indians)
• Alex Red Corn (Osage Nation)

4.0 Key Objectives and Community Engagement

The IFSSAP aims to achieve its goals through community-centered activities that promote health, cultural preservation, and sustainable practices.

4.1 Core Objectives

• Cultural Preservation: Reconnecting the community with traditional foods, ceremonies, and knowledge, which supports SDG 11.4 (Protect the world’s cultural and natural heritage).
• Food Access and Security: Addressing the challenge of sourcing traditional ingredients locally and exploring long-term solutions like a dedicated Indigenous grocery store. This directly targets SDG 2 (Zero Hunger) and SDG 3 (Good Health and Well-being).
• Sustainable Practices: Promoting traditional ecological knowledge through activities like plant walks, which contributes to SDG 12 (Responsible Consumption and Production) and SDG 15 (Life on Land).
• Community Building: Using food as a medium to foster dialogue, share stories, and strengthen community bonds, enhancing social cohesion as outlined in SDG 11.

4.2 Launch Event Activities

The launch event at the Douglas County Fairgrounds included:

1. Community introductions with stories, songs, and prayers.
2. Hands-on food processing stations for squash and native corn.
3. Guided plant walks to share ecological knowledge.
4. Preparation and sharing of traditional foods.
5. Facilitated discussions on food sourcing and cultural identity.

5.0 Conclusion and Future Outlook

The Indigenous Food Systems Study and Action Plan represents a significant step toward creating a more equitable, sustainable, and culturally responsive food system in Douglas County. By integrating traditional knowledge with community action, the project provides a model for achieving multiple SDGs at the local level. Future phases, including the potential establishment of an Indigenous grocery store, will further advance the goals of food sovereignty, cultural preservation, and community well-being.

Analysis of Sustainable Development Goals in the Article

1. Which SDGs are addressed or connected to the issues highlighted in the article?

The article on the Indigenous Food Systems Study and Action Plan (IFSSAP) in Douglas County connects to several Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs). The primary goals addressed are:

• SDG 2: Zero Hunger: The core of the article is about a food systems plan. It focuses on strengthening and restoring Native food traditions, which directly relates to food security, nutrition, and sustainable agriculture. The plan aims to address “gaps in access” to food for the Indigenous community.
• SDG 10: Reduced Inequalities: The initiative was created to address the “lack of representation and resources” for Indigenous communities in the county’s existing food system plan. By creating a plan “for, and by, Indigenous communities,” it directly targets the social and political inclusion of a marginalized group.
• SDG 11: Sustainable Cities and Communities: The project is deeply rooted in preserving cultural identity and heritage through food. The article states, “Indigenous food systems preserve cultural identity.” This aligns with the goal of making communities inclusive and safeguarding cultural heritage.
• SDG 17: Partnerships for the Goals: The article explicitly details the collaboration required to launch the plan. It mentions the partnership between the Douglas County Food Policy Council (DCFPC), Haskell Indian Nations University, the University of Kansas, and the grant funding from the Kansas Health Foundation, showcasing a multi-stakeholder partnership to achieve a common goal.

2. What specific targets under those SDGs can be identified based on the article’s content?

Based on the article, the following specific SDG targets can be identified:

1. Target 2.1: By 2030, end hunger and ensure access by all people, in particular the poor and people in vulnerable situations, including infants, to safe, nutritious and sufficient food all year round.
   • The plan’s focus on identifying “gaps in access” and ensuring Native communities have “local access to culturally significant foods” directly supports this target. The proposal for an “Indigenous grocery store” is a concrete step towards this goal.
2. Target 2.5: By 2020, maintain the genetic diversity of seeds, cultivated plants and farmed and domesticated animals and their related wild species, including through soundly managed and diversified seed and plant banks at the national, regional and international levels, and promote access to and fair and equitable sharing of benefits arising from the utilization of genetic resources and associated traditional knowledge, as internationally agreed.
   • The initiative aims to restore “Native food traditions” and the launch event included activities like shelling “Native varieties of white corn.” This demonstrates a focus on preserving the genetic diversity of traditional crops and the associated knowledge held by Indigenous communities.
3. Target 10.2: By 2030, empower and promote the social, economic and political inclusion of all, irrespective of age, sex, disability, race, ethnicity, origin, religion or economic or other status.
   • The entire project is a response to the “lack of representation” of Indigenous people. The plan is “Indigenous-led,” developed by “Indigenous leaders and knowledge-holders,” and will “guide local policymakers,” which is a clear example of empowering a specific ethnic group and promoting their inclusion in local policy.
4. Target 11.4: Strengthen efforts to protect and safeguard the world’s cultural and natural heritage.
   • The article emphasizes that the project is about “strengthening, celebrating and restoring the Native food traditions” and how “Indigenous food systems preserve cultural identity.” The creation of a culturally significant logo and community events centered on traditional foods are direct efforts to safeguard this cultural heritage.
5. Target 17.17: Encourage and promote effective public, public-private and civil society partnerships, building on the experience and resourcing strategies of partnerships.
   • The article highlights the collaboration between the Douglas County Food Policy Council (a public body), Haskell Indian Nations University and the University of Kansas (educational institutions), and the Kansas Health Foundation (a civil society organization providing funding). This is a model multi-stakeholder partnership as described in the target.

3. Are there any indicators mentioned or implied in the article that can be used to measure progress towards the identified targets?

The article implies several qualitative and quantitative indicators that can measure progress:

• For Target 2.1 (Access to food):
  • Indicator: The establishment of an “Indigenous grocery store.” The article mentions this as a potential “phase two of the project,” and its creation would be a clear measure of improved local access to culturally significant foods.
• For Target 2.5 (Preserving traditional knowledge):
  • Indicator: The number and type of community activities and workshops held. The article describes the launch event’s activities like processing squash, shelling native corn, and plant walks. Tracking the frequency and participation in such events would measure the dissemination of traditional knowledge.
  • Indicator: The number of native food varieties cultivated and made available locally. The mention of “Native varieties of white corn” and blue corn implies a focus on specific traditional crops.
• For Target 10.2 (Inclusion):
  • Indicator: The implementation of the “Indigenous Food Systems Study and Action Plan” itself. The adoption and use of this plan by “local policymakers” serves as a primary indicator of successful political inclusion.
  • Indicator: Continued leadership and participation of Indigenous community members in the Douglas County Food Policy Council and related initiatives.
• For Target 11.4 (Safeguarding cultural heritage):
  • Indicator: The number of community gatherings that “celebrate and share stories and food.” The launch event is one example; future events would indicate ongoing efforts to strengthen cultural practices.
  • Indicator: The use and recognition of cultural symbols, such as the initiative’s logo, which incorporates sacred imagery like corn and the medicine wheel.
• For Target 17.17 (Partnerships):
  • Indicator: The formalization and continuation of the partnership between the DCFPC, Haskell Indian Nations University, and the University of Kansas.
  • Indicator: The amount of grant funding secured and leveraged for the project, as mentioned with the Kansas Health Foundation grant.

4. Summary Table of SDGs, Targets, and Indicators

Source: lawrencekstimes.com