Pokagon Potawatomi Co-hosts Great Lakes Intertribal Food Summit

In this demonstration at the Great Lakes Intertribal Food Summit in September 2016, wild rice is hand parched over a wood fire, a key step in the traditional processing of wild rice.

Published April 24, 2019

Summit includes indigenous food producers, harvesters and chefs

DOWAGIAC, Mich. —Tribal leaders from the Pokagon Band of Potawatomi Indians, including Chairman Matt Wesaw; representatives from the Intertribal Agriculture Council and the Native American Food Sovereignty Alliance and native food advocates are co-hosting the 2019 Great Lakes Intertribal Food Summit this week.

The Great Lakes Intertribal Food Summit is a regional, traveling summit brings together several hundred Native farmers, ranchers, gardeners, chefs, businesses, policymakers, tribal agriculture staff, Native non-profits working in agriculture, food producers and tribal leaders to share and learn together around traditional food and agriculture, and food sovereignty.

Four of 15 Onondaga Nation tribal citizend who came to share their culinary talents at the Great Lakes Intertribal Food Summit in Hopkins, Michigan at previous summit.

The event is open to the public, and begins Thursday, April 25 with immersive, hands-on workshops on topics such as sustainability, food security, production practices, traditional harvest and meal preparation. Additional workshops run through Friday, April 26. On Saturday, a day-long Intertribal Foods Festival includes small group demonstrations and food-tasting stations with interactive activities for all ages. On Sunday, a presentation and lunch will round out the program. A concurrent Youth Summit will also run throughout the event, open to high school-aged youth.

For more information on the Great Lakes Intertribal Food Summit, the youth summit, cost to attend, schedule of events or to register, visit https://iacgreatlakes.com/summit.

WHAT: Great Lakes Intertribal Food Summit

WHERE: Pokagon Band’s Rodgers Lake campus, 58620 Sink Road, Dowagiac, Michigan

WHEN: Thursday, April 25 through Sunday, April 28, 2019. Opening ceremony takes place at 8:30 am ET on Thursday in the dining tent, with workshops beginning at 9:30 am ET in assorted locations on campus.